SBNation.com - Giants Top Patriots In Super Bowl XLVI Behind MVP Performance From Eli Manning

'That Was The Game', Referees Said After Wes Welker's Drop In Super Bowl XLVI

2012-02-09T17:10:14Z

A few players, coaches and referees were mic'd up for Super Bowl XLVI and the result is this fascinating under-the-hood look at the New York Giants victory over the New England Patriots.

From Wes Welker's drop to Bill Belichick telling his defense to make Eli Manning go to Mario Manningham (before Manningham made the catch of the year), here are the highlights of Sound FX on Super Bowl XLVI:

"Super Bowl. Steve Young, Montana, Aikman. We're here now. It's our turn." Victor Cruz talking to the camera as he stretches in pregame.
"Nice try, Vince." One of the referees to Vince Wilfork after the Patriots defensive lineman tried to hop on a fumble that was already ruled down. A Giants offensive lineman was later called for holding and Wilfork told the refs it was a bad call.
"It's like throwing in a forest, dude. Those guys arms are like..." Tom Brady sitting on the bench after Jason Pierre-Paul batted down one of his passes.
"Way to get us started. That's what I'm talking about. That's why we got you." Brady to Chad Ochocinco after the Patriots receiver caught his one and only pass of the game.
"How about a seven minute drive for a touchdown and end this on our terms, huh?" Brady as he's readying the troops for what turned out to be the second to last drive of the game for New England.
"This is still a [Victor] Cruz and [Hakeem] Nicks game. I know we're right on him, it's tight but those are still the guys. Make him go to [Mario] Manningham, make him go to [Bear] Pascoe. Let's make sure we get Cruz and Nicks." Bill Belichick talking to his defense. He probably wishes now he could take back that bit about not worrying about Manningham.
"Oh, that was the game" Two referees talking about Wes Welker dropped the pass from Brady in the fourth quarter.
"He caught it." Brady looking at the replay of Manningham's catch.

Super Bowl 2012: From Wes Welker's Drop To Mario Manningham's Catch

2012-02-06T16:57:45Z

From Wes Welker's drop to Mario Manningham's catch, there were more than a few memorable moments in Super Bowl XLVI. We take a look at 10 things of note to come out of the Giants' second title game victory over the Pats.

The New York Giants did it again beating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in the last four years. Like the other Giants-Patriots Super Bowl, this was a game to remember. From Chase Blackburn's interception to Wes Welker's drop to Mario Manningham's catch to Ahmad Bradshaw's accidental touchdown, there's a lot to remember from this game.

But we'll stick to 10 things of note ...

Follow @sbnation on Twitter | Like SB Nation on Facebook | Sign up for our Newsletter

Reassessing Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin's place in history. Two Super Bowl victories for the QB-coach combo which means I think we may have ourselves a pair of Hall of Famers. Manning is only 31 so he should have several more years of playing at a high level and Coughlin is one of the oldest coaches in the league but no signs of retirement. Most of the quarterbacks who start multiple Super Bowls, let alone win 'em both and win the MVP in both, are in the Hall of Fame. It may not come for another decade or more, but we'll be seeing Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin inducted into the Canton one day.

Reassessing the Patriots place in history. They are now 3-2 in Super Bowls in the last 10 years, instead of improving to 4-1. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are still going to the Hall of Fame one day. This is still one of the greatest dynasties of all-time. But I think you have wonder reassess where exactly on that list of great dynasties they fit. Are they No. 1 after simply making five Super Bowl appearances? Do you know them down a peg for losing two title games? We're not quite ready to figure out their place in history because they very well could be back next year. This isn't a dynasty that's about to fall apart. The Patriots will keep winning and Belichick and Brady may very well have a chance at a fourth Super Bowl. It's a tough loss but it doesn't make us forget that this team is on one of the all-time great runs in the last 11 seasons.

Eli Manning joins the exclusive two-time Super Bowl MVP club. Your members are Joe Montana (three times), Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady and now Eli Manning. We're talking about two of the greatest quarterbacks in the last three decades in Montana and Brady. And Manning seems to have that presence about him late in the game that makes quarterbacks special. Whatever "it" is, Eli has it when the clock is ticking late in the game.

Eli Manning takes another MVP from Justin Tuck. Quarterbacks get all the blame when their team loses yet they also get all the praise when their team wins. So Eli Manning as the Super Bowl XLVI MVP isn't a big surprise. But for the second time, Manning overshadowed a terrific performance by Justin Tuck. Four years ago Tuck had two sacks in the Super Bowl and was instrumental in holding the Patriots to just two touchdowns. And in the most recent Super Bowl, Tuck once again had two sacks. Tuck's though process late in the game: "Eli's going to steal my MVP again." Joking, of course.

Were the Giants really the best team? They won the Super Bowl so obviously they're the NFL champions but were they really the best team this year? Pregame.com says if the Patriots and Giants played again, New England would be a 2.5 point favorite. Both the Packers and Saints would be a 3.5 point favorite over the Giants, so Vegas still doesn't think they're the best team.

More: NFL Mock Draft | Giants Super Bowl Parade | Bomani Jones On Tom Brady

When the Patriots lost the game. Talk about Brady's performance at the end. Talk about the Patriots defense giving up an 88-yard drive late in the game. But the Giants may never have been in position to win the game if Wes Welker hadn't dropped a pass on 2nd-and-11. With just over four minutes remaining, Brady found Welker streaking into a hole in the Giants defense. The ball was thrown just over Welker's shoulder and it looked like he turned the wrong way to try and make the catch. As you can see in this video, he had his hands on the ball but it slipped out. Incomplete. The Patriots eventually had to punt but, if Welker had caught that ball, we may very well be sitting here talking about Tom Brady's legacy as a four-time Super Bowl champion. It's very unfortunate because the Pats may not even be in the Super Bowl without Welker but that drop will follow him for the rest of his life.

When the Giants won the game. The Mario Manningham catch. We'll remember this one for a while. On the first play of the Giants comeback drive, Manning went deep to Manningham putting the ball in the perfect spot as Manningham was able to haul it in over his shoulder with a defender directly behind and in front of him. The replays make you appreciate how improbable it was that he A.) made the catch and B.) dragged his feet in bounds. All the while he had a safety streaking right in front of him. That 38-yard pass set the Giants up at mid-field and you know what happened after that. If you haven't seen the video, don't worry -- they'll be playing it over and over again.

Eli Manning knows how to make a Patriots game entertaining. All three were victories and all three included Giant comebacks in the final minute. Players develop reputations in Super Bowls and Eli's is one of a clutch player. It helps that he just looks cool, calm and collected out there when the pressure should be at its highest.

And the Patriots know how to make a Super Bowl exciting. This four-point margin was the largest point margin in any Super Bowl the Patriots have played in the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era. The first three Super Bowls were all three-point victories. The 2008 Super Bowl was a three-point loss. And now this one, four points, another loss. Say what you want about the Patriots but they have provided us with some of the most exciting Super Bowls in history.

Tom Coughlin has Bill Belichick's number. After Super Bowl XLVI, Coughlin is now 5-1 against Belichick and 2-0 in Super Bowls. Is he a better coach? Maybe head-to-head but Belichick gets my overall vote based on his entire body of work.

Wes Welker's Drop, And The Moment The Patriots Lost The Super Bowl

2012-02-06T03:09:04Z

The Patriots were driving into New York territory, the Giants couldn't stop the clock, and Tom Brady spotted Wes Welker wide open for a first down. Brady floated it over his back shoulder, Welker twisted his body around, and the Giants and their fans looked on helpless while the Patriots went for the kill shot.

But then the whole thing fell apart, and so did the Patriots' Super Bowl. Video is below.

You couldn't ask for a better set up if you're the Patriots: A blown coverage by the Giants on the biggest drive of the game, and the greatest QB of this generation throwing to his favorite receiver, Wes Welker. And that's part of what makes the whole thing so cruel.

Cris Collinsworth: "Wes Welker makes that catch 100 times out of 100."

[...]

Al Michaels: "That must've been the 101st."

That one's gonna sting for a long time. The Patriots bench reacts below...

And you know what happened next.

Super Bowl 2012 Final Prop Bet Results: Giants Beat The Spread, Final Score Takes The Under

2012-02-06T02:58:10Z

The New York Giants came away with the win in Super Bowl XLVI, beating the New England Patriots in their huge rematch. Here's the final results of the odds and prop bets on the game. The Giants picked up the 21-17 win for their second title in five years.

Follow @sbnation on Twitter | Like SB Nation on Facebook | Sign up for our Newsletter

The Giants easily beat the spread, which had them pegged as losing by between 2.5 and 3 points. The over/under, which seemed high, was set at 54, but the final combined score of 48 was well under that.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ended up with the over on both completions and pass attempts. The over/under on his pass attempts was set at 39.5 and he ended up making 41 attempts. The over/under on his completions was set at 25.5 and he made 27. He was also set for the over on interceptions. The midline was set at 0.5 and he threw one pick in the game.

For more on the Patriots and their Super Bowl run, check out SB Nation's Patriots blog,Pats Pulpit as well as SB Nation Boston. For more on the Giants and their Super Bowl appearance, visit Giants blog Big Blue View and SB Nation New York. For all news and information regarding Super Bowl XLVI, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated Super Bowl hub.

Super Bowl XLVI Final Score: Giants Edge Patriots In Instant Classic, 21-17

2012-02-06T02:56:55Z

The New York Giants have won Super Bowl XLVI over the New England Patriots, 21-17, in an instant classic.

Follow @sbnation on Twitter | Like SB Nation on Facebook | Sign up for our Newsletter

With a minute left, the game was in Tom Brady's hands. If the Patriots' superstar quarterback could lead New England on a touchdown drive with less than a minute left in the game, he could have gotten the Patriots their fourth Super Bowl victory, and secured his third Super Bowl MVP.

And he tried. But the Giants' defensive line did just enough to stop him, with a massive sack by Justin Tuck on third down that forced the Patriots to take a timeout and enough pressure throughout the final drive to force the Patriots to try a Hail Mary on the game's final play.

It fell incomplete, just feet in front of Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots' record-breaking tight end. And for the second time in four years, the Patriots fell just short of the NFL's ultimate prize, leaving the Giants to claim it.

VIDEO: Mario Manningham's Catch In Giants-Patriots Super Bowl

2012-02-06T02:52:36Z

The New York Giants had David Tyree making the improbable catch off of his helmet four years ago in their win over the New England Patriots and this time around they'll have Eli Manning's pass to Mario Manningham.

The Giants took the ball on their own 12 yard line with just under four minutes remaining in the game and down by two to the Patriots. On the first play from scrimmage, Manning hit Manningham for a beautiful 38-yard pass and catch. Check out the video:

It's hard for video to even do this play justice. The over the shoulder catch is one of the most difficult in football, let alone when someone behind you is chopping their hand on your shoulder and a safety is coming in for the hit. Oh, and he held onto the ball when he hit the ground.

It won't be as famous as the David Tyree catch but it's up there in New York.

For more on the Patriots and their Super Bowl run, check out SB Nation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit as well as SB Nation Boston. For more on the Giants and their Super Bowl appearance, visit Giants blog Big Blue View and SB Nation New York. For all news and information regarding Super Bowl XLVI, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated Super Bowl hub.

ANIMATED: Ahmad Bradshaw Scores Accidental Touchdown

2012-02-06T02:50:54Z

We all wondered when the New England Patriots would let the New York Giants score. The Giants had driven all the way into the red zone and were basically in chip shot range with time winding down. In order to give Tom Brady and the offense a chance, the Patriots had to part and let the Giants score.

So they did, and Ahmad Bradshaw tried his hardest to resist the end zone. He seemed surprised when nobody tried to tackle him, and in the process of attempting to sit down at the one-yard-line, he fell into the end zone. It was probably the best moment of the game.

This is just the best. It's like he's so completely confused that he has no idea what to do next. The result is an adorable, accidental touchdown.

2012 Super Bowl, Giants Vs. Patriots Score: New York Leads By Four, Under A Minute Remaining

2012-02-06T02:48:38Z

Tom Brady has pulled off some serious miracles in his career, but if he can somehow lead the New England Patriots to victory in this Super Bowl, it'll be his biggest comeback ever. Thanks to some absolutely incredible work by Mario Manningham and Eli Manning, the New York Giants lead by a score of 21-17 with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

The defining play of the drive was the first play of the drive, a spectacular pass from Manning to Manningham for 38 yards, which got the Giants down to the 50-yard line. The play was challenged by the Patriots, but Manningham barely got two feet in bounds to make the catch, and it stood as called on the field. Manningham made two more receptions on the drive, while Hakeem Nicks also made two big catches to set up the touchdown.

Follow @sbnation on Twitter | Like SB Nation on Facebook | Sign up for our Newsletter | SI.com: Live Super Bowl Boxscore

Knowing that the Giants could run the clock down significantly, giving them virtually no time to score, the Patriots allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to score a rushing touchdown. Realizing what his opponents were doing at the last second, Bradshaw tried to go down at the one, but rolled across the plane to score.

The Patriots will receive the ensuing kickoff with 57 seconds remaining and one timeout. Brady hasn't looked great in the fourth quarter, while Wes Welker dropped a ball on the last drive and Rob Gronkowski has been virtually invisible.