2008 Woodie Awards
From goat to glory: Eli Manning delivers an upset of "Giant" proportions
Zack Gugenheim
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
If someone asked me which five quarterbacks I would want to lead a drive with two minutes left in the Super Bowl, I'd immediately say Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as my top two. The other three would have to be debated for a while; however, I know exactly who I wouldn't want in the huddle… until now.
Eli Manning, with a little luck, delivered one of his best performances in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl XVII, as he completed 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards and threw two touchdowns, including one to Plaxico Burress for the game winning score with 35 seconds left in the game. Not only did he engineer the two long drives in the final stanza, but Manning also gave us one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, as he scrambled away from what seemed like the entire defensive line to complete a 32-yard pass to wide receiver David Tyree. Tyree, who didn't have a single touchdown in the regular season, caught a touchdown pass as well as the remarkable jump-ball reception, with safety Rodney Harrison trying to pry the ball away as he fell to the ground.
Not to be forgotten in this amazing performance was the defense, particularly the defensive line, which held the most prolific offense in NFL history to a meager 14 points. They sacked Brady 5 times and made the three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback merely average. To be honest, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Jay Alford (all four recorded sacks on the New England signal caller) should have shared the MVP trophy for the game. Not only did this line get the sacks, but they knocked him down on over a dozen other plays, something that clearly rattled Brady throughout the game.
Even as an Eli hater, I can't just dismiss this game as "the Patriots blew their shot." Yes, the Patriots didn't play their best game. They probably came out a little flat, and weren't as creative offensively as in the past. They also went up against a team that has improved more than any other team over a playoff run. Since their 38-35 loss in the Meadowlands, the Giants have been on a mission to prove that they belonged in the discussion as one of the League's best teams. Eli didn't play the best, but he played well when it counted. And now, the Giants, and not the Patriots, are the best team in the League. They are the Super Bowl Champs.
Eli Manning, with a little luck, delivered one of his best performances in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl XVII, as he completed 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards and threw two touchdowns, including one to Plaxico Burress for the game winning score with 35 seconds left in the game. Not only did he engineer the two long drives in the final stanza, but Manning also gave us one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, as he scrambled away from what seemed like the entire defensive line to complete a 32-yard pass to wide receiver David Tyree. Tyree, who didn't have a single touchdown in the regular season, caught a touchdown pass as well as the remarkable jump-ball reception, with safety Rodney Harrison trying to pry the ball away as he fell to the ground.
Not to be forgotten in this amazing performance was the defense, particularly the defensive line, which held the most prolific offense in NFL history to a meager 14 points. They sacked Brady 5 times and made the three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback merely average. To be honest, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Jay Alford (all four recorded sacks on the New England signal caller) should have shared the MVP trophy for the game. Not only did this line get the sacks, but they knocked him down on over a dozen other plays, something that clearly rattled Brady throughout the game.
Even as an Eli hater, I can't just dismiss this game as "the Patriots blew their shot." Yes, the Patriots didn't play their best game. They probably came out a little flat, and weren't as creative offensively as in the past. They also went up against a team that has improved more than any other team over a playoff run. Since their 38-35 loss in the Meadowlands, the Giants have been on a mission to prove that they belonged in the discussion as one of the League's best teams. Eli didn't play the best, but he played well when it counted. And now, the Giants, and not the Patriots, are the best team in the League. They are the Super Bowl Champs.