Super Bowl XLVI - Recap

NY Giants 21 New England 17

Super Bowl XLVI was another one for the ages. When it was all said and done, the 2011 NFL season ended with the New York Giants hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. The Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl for the 2nd time in 5 years, this time by a final score of 21-17. This made the G-Men just the 5th team in NFL history to win 4 or more Super Bowls.

Eli Manning completed the best season of his career by winning his 2nd Super Bowl and 2nd Super Bowl MVP. Eli officially moved outside of Peyton's shadow as he was 30-40 for 296 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INT. This included a beautiful 38-yard pass to Mario Manningham on the Giants' final drive that will go down in Super Bowl lore. Manning also received plenty of help from his defense. The Giants D made Tom Brady look uncomfortable throughout the game. On the Patriots 1st play from scrimmage Brady was called for intentional grounding in his own end zone, resulting in a safety. From that moment on you could sense that this could be the Giants' night.

The Giants lead 9-0 after the 1st Quarter. Following the safety, Eli Manning lead his team down the field and finished it off with a TD pass to Victor Cruz. Tom Brady promptly answered by putting 10 points on the board for New England to give them a 10-9 lead at the half. The Patriots opened up the 2nd Half with another TD drive to extend the lead to 17-9. Lawrence Tynes tacked on a couple FGs later in the 3rd Quarter to cut the deficit to 17-15 heading into the final 15 minutes. The Patriots had a chance to put the game away with about 5 minutes to play and the score still 17-15. With the ball already in Giants territory, Tom Brady had a wide open Wes Welker that would have got the ball down to the Giants 20. In atypical Brady fashion, the ball was thrown a bit high and behind Welker. And despite the ball hitting the sure-handed Welker in the hands, Welker dropped the ball giving the Giants life. Eli took over at his own 12-yard line and lead the G-Men on an 88-yard TD drive that included the miraculous pass to Manningham, and ultimately won the Super Bowl for the Giants.

Eli Manning made the comment before the season started that he was an elite NFL QB. Many snickered at that notion. Nobody is doubting that anymore. Eli is certainly among the NFL's top QBs. His coach, Tom Coughlin also won his 2nd Super Bowl, which possibly took him from the hot seat to the door step of the Hall of Fame. The Giants were 7-7 at one point in the season, and finished as Super Bowl Champs. Proving once again that you just have to get hot at the right time to earn a ring. The Lombardi Trophy is returning to the Big Apple for the 2nd time in 5 years, as the New York Giants are wold champions!