Manning up

Two Mannings, two years, two Super Bowl trophies.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published February 4, 2008

Giants quarterback and game MVP Eli Manning celebrates after his 13-yard touchdown to Plaxico Burress in the final minute that led New York to a stunning victory.
	[AP photo]

ADVERTISEMENT [Getty Images] Eli Manning breaks the grasp of Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour before throwing a 32-yard pass to David Tyree during the winning drive. [AP photo] Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after one of five sacks, this one by defensive end Michael Strahan in the third quarter. [Getty Images] Giants receiver David Tyree celebrates his 5-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

GLENDALE, Ariz.

Talk about a perfect ending.

Eli Manning, the underachieving brother from a famous family of quarterbacks, provided one of the most fantastic finishes in Super Bowl history Sunday.

Manning denied the New England Patriots their undefeated season by throwing a 13-yard touchdown to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds remaining in a 17-14 win in Super Bowl XLII at the Unversity of Phoenix Stadium.

One year after watching older brother Peyton hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the Indianapolis Colts, Eli became his own Manning.

"I love that young boy and the composure he had to throw the ball the way he was throwing it," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said.

"And he is the two-minute king. When we got the ball, I got everyone and was begging them to repeat to me that we were going to win it 17-14. And that was because we believe in Eli and we know he's going to do it. He's done it time and time again and it's unbelievable - a Manning last year and a Manning this year are Super Bowl champions."

Cue the music and the slow-motion images of the younger Manning, tearing away from Patriots defenders for the signature drive of his career.

The fact that he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history against the model quarterback - Geek vs. Chic, as one columnist described it - well, it only makes it more unbelievable.

Taking over at the Giants 17-yard line with his team trailing 14-10 with 2:39 left, Manning led his team on an improbable 83-yard drive in 12 plays.

It included a Houdini-like escape from Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour and a 32-yard completion to receiver David Tyree, who pinned the football to his helmet.

After completing a 12-yard pass to rookie Steve Smith for a first down, Manning got cornerback Ellis Hobbs to bite on a pump fake before throwing to an open Burress in the end zone.

One of the most beleaguered players in the league after throwing 20 interceptions during the regular season, Manning was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

The Patriots (18-1) lost a chance at immortality. Instead, the 1972 Miami Dolphins retained their title as the only undefeated team in NFL history. The Giants (14-6) won their third Super Bowl and their first in 17 years.

"I've talked about it before with Peyton about what situation do you want to be in," Eli Manning said. "You want to be down four where you have to score a touchdown. If you're down three, you might just settle for a field goal. You've got to like being down four when you know you have to score to win the game in the Super Bowl. You can't write a better script."

The storybook ending appeared to belong to Tom Brady, Mr. Perfect, who was sacked five times and soundly beaten up by a fierce pass rush.

But as he had done in his three previous Super Bowls, Brady led a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 10-7, Brady did what Brady always does, with a methodical 12-play, 80-yard drive in 5:12. His 6-yard touchdown to Randy Moss with 2:42 remaining in the game wasn't enough this time.

"It isn't something we really prepared for, but anytime you go into a game you know somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose," Brady said.

After the game, Giants players showered Manning with as much praise as champagne.

"The heart of a champion," Burress said. "Guys were jumping on him, pulling him down by the back of his neck, horse-collaring. Somehow he managed to break free."

The Giants, who were classified as the road team after having won a single-season record 10 consecutive road games, the Giants frustrated Brady by whacking him on nearly every pass attempt. He finished 29-of-48 for 266 yards with one touchdown, but the sacks took their toll.

"Our team is extremely disappointed," said Brady, whose Patriots were 12-point favorites. "Coach (Bill) Belichick is extremely disappointed. It's one thing if I felt we weren't prepared or didn't work hard or give it our all, but we did. We left it all out there. Guys were spent, guys played extremely hard, played hurt. I am sure it will be tough for us to swallow in the coming months."

Belichick's decision to forego a 48-yard field goal on fourth and 13 in the third quarter proved costly as Brady threw incomplete to Moss, ending an eight-minute-plus drive.

[Last modified February 4, 2008, 00:57:09]