Post by rainman on Feb 4, 2008 7:23:53 GMT -5
Manning's coronation is complete with stunning victory
By Vic Carucci | NFL.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It took 39 seasons, but New York has a new miracle-worker.
His name is Eli Manning. His team is the Giants.
Joe Namath and the Jets made history and changed what we know as the National Football League forever with a victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. It was as much a win for the credibility of the American Football League as it was for the Jets.
But Manning and the Giants altered history in the making by beating the heavily-favored New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
"Eighteen-and-one!" yelled several Giant assistant coaches as they sprinted through the press box to an awaiting elevator after the final second ticked off on their 17-14 triumph. "We beat the unbeatable!"
The outcome was supposed to have been a given, right? The Patriots would close out the greatest season the NFL has ever seen by winning their fourth Super Bowl to go 19-0, right? The only quarterback who would command the spotlight would be Tom Brady, the quarterback who had commanded it all season, right?
I mean, wasn't that how so many "football geniuses" presumed it would all play out under the roof of University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday night?
"Nobody gave us a shot," Plaxico Burress said before being overcome with emotion. "It came down to one play, and we made it."
Actually, it came down to two difference-making plays, both of which allowed Manning to clinch a well-deserved Super Bowl MVP award and created an amazing story that parents will tell children and grandparents will tell grandchildren many, many years from now.
The first came when the Giants, trailing 14-10, faced a third-and-5 from the Giants 44 with 1:15 left. Manning was under siege and looked as if he was about to be sacked by defensive linemen Jarvis Green and Richard Seymour. Instead, Manning ripped out of Green's grasp, rolled to his right, and heaved a pass down the middle of the field. David Tyree out-jumped safety Rodney Harrison, got his hands on the ball and clutched it over his helmet as he fell on his back for a 32-yard reception.
"Eli did an unbelievable job," Tyree said. "I honestly don't know how he got out of it. And when the ball is in the air, you have to go get it. That's the job."
The second difference-making play came four snaps later, when, facing an all-out blitz, Manning calmly threw a 13-yard pass to Burress -- who was wide open on a fade route after putting a terrific fake on Ellis Hobbs -- for a touchdown with 35 seconds left.
"The heart of a champion," Burress said of Manning.
Now, he has the championship to go with it.
Let's be clear: The Giants' defense did a tremendous job in this game. Without that unit consistently shutting down the Patriots' scoring machine, largely on the strength of a relentless pass rush that pounded on Brady all night, we would not be talking about the achievements of Manning or any other Giants player.
Manning delivered
But it was the sort of game that required a quarterback to step up and deliver big-time plays. Not many. Just enough to complement an off-the-charts defensive effort.
Manning did exactly that.
When he entered the NFL as the top overall pick of the 2004 draft, he was supposed to achieve what he did Sunday night. The question was, when?
"I didn't know when it would happen," Manning said. "You have to be patient with these things. You've got to be in the right spot. This year, it all came together and, with so many clutch players on this team and big wins throughout the whole season to get us to this point."
Still, through most of his first four seasons, it looked as if he might never get there. He looked like the Manning who didn't quite get all of the considerable football skill that is synonymous with the family name. That point seemed to be driven home a year ago, when older brother Peyton led Indianapolis to victory in Super Bowl XLI and was that game's MVP.
Eli was criticized for being inconsistent. Teammates and media ripped him for not being strong enough of a leader.
Manning completed 19-of-34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Full story
Manning struggled mightily at times during the 2007 regular season, but he seemed to come into his own with a four-touchdown performance in the Dec. 29 finale against the Patriots.
After that, Manning showed his performance wasn't a fluke. He showed that he had finally arrived as a big-time quarterback, leading the Giants to road playoff victories over Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay.
Still, a monumental challenge remained. Manning had to beat the 18-0 Patriots … the team that led the league in scoring and yards … the team with the quarterback who set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes … the team with Randy Moss, who set a league record with 23 scoring catches … the team with the three Vince Lombardi trophies.
In the end, Manning proved he was up to the challenge. He had good numbers, completing 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns while throwing an interception. But more than anything, he had the poise and confidence to hold up under the extreme pressure that goes with playing in a Super Bowl.
The Patriots defense did everything possible to rattle Manning. It changed up fronts and coverages. Yet, receiving mostly good protection, he stood tall in the pocket and made the throws he needed to make. When the Pats turned up the heat late in the game, he still hung tough.
You see it was fine for the rest of us to express our doubt in the Giants' chances of pulling off a miracle. Manning and his teammates always believed otherwise.
It was why Burress had predicted a Giants victory during the week. It was why the Giants had been so loose in the days leading up to the game.
"We're always believing and having faith in each other and having faith in our team," Manning said. "We believed the whole time … and we made it happen."
"We shocked the world," linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "But not ourselves."
By Vic Carucci | NFL.com
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It took 39 seasons, but New York has a new miracle-worker.
His name is Eli Manning. His team is the Giants.
Joe Namath and the Jets made history and changed what we know as the National Football League forever with a victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. It was as much a win for the credibility of the American Football League as it was for the Jets.
But Manning and the Giants altered history in the making by beating the heavily-favored New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
"Eighteen-and-one!" yelled several Giant assistant coaches as they sprinted through the press box to an awaiting elevator after the final second ticked off on their 17-14 triumph. "We beat the unbeatable!"
The outcome was supposed to have been a given, right? The Patriots would close out the greatest season the NFL has ever seen by winning their fourth Super Bowl to go 19-0, right? The only quarterback who would command the spotlight would be Tom Brady, the quarterback who had commanded it all season, right?
I mean, wasn't that how so many "football geniuses" presumed it would all play out under the roof of University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday night?
"Nobody gave us a shot," Plaxico Burress said before being overcome with emotion. "It came down to one play, and we made it."
Actually, it came down to two difference-making plays, both of which allowed Manning to clinch a well-deserved Super Bowl MVP award and created an amazing story that parents will tell children and grandparents will tell grandchildren many, many years from now.
The first came when the Giants, trailing 14-10, faced a third-and-5 from the Giants 44 with 1:15 left. Manning was under siege and looked as if he was about to be sacked by defensive linemen Jarvis Green and Richard Seymour. Instead, Manning ripped out of Green's grasp, rolled to his right, and heaved a pass down the middle of the field. David Tyree out-jumped safety Rodney Harrison, got his hands on the ball and clutched it over his helmet as he fell on his back for a 32-yard reception.
"Eli did an unbelievable job," Tyree said. "I honestly don't know how he got out of it. And when the ball is in the air, you have to go get it. That's the job."
The second difference-making play came four snaps later, when, facing an all-out blitz, Manning calmly threw a 13-yard pass to Burress -- who was wide open on a fade route after putting a terrific fake on Ellis Hobbs -- for a touchdown with 35 seconds left.
"The heart of a champion," Burress said of Manning.
Now, he has the championship to go with it.
Let's be clear: The Giants' defense did a tremendous job in this game. Without that unit consistently shutting down the Patriots' scoring machine, largely on the strength of a relentless pass rush that pounded on Brady all night, we would not be talking about the achievements of Manning or any other Giants player.
Manning delivered
But it was the sort of game that required a quarterback to step up and deliver big-time plays. Not many. Just enough to complement an off-the-charts defensive effort.
Manning did exactly that.
When he entered the NFL as the top overall pick of the 2004 draft, he was supposed to achieve what he did Sunday night. The question was, when?
"I didn't know when it would happen," Manning said. "You have to be patient with these things. You've got to be in the right spot. This year, it all came together and, with so many clutch players on this team and big wins throughout the whole season to get us to this point."
Still, through most of his first four seasons, it looked as if he might never get there. He looked like the Manning who didn't quite get all of the considerable football skill that is synonymous with the family name. That point seemed to be driven home a year ago, when older brother Peyton led Indianapolis to victory in Super Bowl XLI and was that game's MVP.
Eli was criticized for being inconsistent. Teammates and media ripped him for not being strong enough of a leader.
Manning completed 19-of-34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Full story
Manning struggled mightily at times during the 2007 regular season, but he seemed to come into his own with a four-touchdown performance in the Dec. 29 finale against the Patriots.
After that, Manning showed his performance wasn't a fluke. He showed that he had finally arrived as a big-time quarterback, leading the Giants to road playoff victories over Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay.
Still, a monumental challenge remained. Manning had to beat the 18-0 Patriots … the team that led the league in scoring and yards … the team with the quarterback who set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes … the team with Randy Moss, who set a league record with 23 scoring catches … the team with the three Vince Lombardi trophies.
In the end, Manning proved he was up to the challenge. He had good numbers, completing 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns while throwing an interception. But more than anything, he had the poise and confidence to hold up under the extreme pressure that goes with playing in a Super Bowl.
The Patriots defense did everything possible to rattle Manning. It changed up fronts and coverages. Yet, receiving mostly good protection, he stood tall in the pocket and made the throws he needed to make. When the Pats turned up the heat late in the game, he still hung tough.
You see it was fine for the rest of us to express our doubt in the Giants' chances of pulling off a miracle. Manning and his teammates always believed otherwise.
It was why Burress had predicted a Giants victory during the week. It was why the Giants had been so loose in the days leading up to the game.
"We're always believing and having faith in each other and having faith in our team," Manning said. "We believed the whole time … and we made it happen."
"We shocked the world," linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "But not ourselves."
