Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowl XLVI: Live Score, Analysis, Video and Commentary
QBs Eli Manning and Tom Brady shake hands during the November 2011 matchup.
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Final score: Giants 21, Patriots 17
Eli Manning wins Super Bowl XLVI MVP.
The New York Giants have won Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17, and are now World Champions!
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The Patriots came into Super Bowl XLVI looking for revenge from their loss to the Giants just four years ago. Brady was hoping to out-duel Manning, and assert himself as the best postseason QB of all time.
But it wasn't to be, as the Giants jumped out to a 9-0 lead early, and made plays when it counted. They were the more clutch and composed team down the stretch.
While the Patriots dropped passes late in the fourth quarter, the Giants receivers caught everything in their area and Manning was the mastermind behind a late 88-yard touchdown drive to give them the lead with under a minute remaining.
It was the second time Manning led his team to a game-winning drive against New England late this season.
And remember when head coach Tom Coughlin was on the hot seat? Yeah, he has now matched Bill Parcells with two Super Bowl wins for Big Blue.
Both teams employed conservative gameplans, looking to limit the turnovers, and it worked. The only turnover in the game was a Brady interception. The Giants did fumble twice, but recovered each time, which was key in their victory.
Manningham and Nicks made plays late in the game when their team needed them. Welker, Branch and Hernandez didn't, and that was the difference.
And, most importantly, Manning (30-of-40 passing, 296 passing yards) outperformed Brady (27-of-41, 276 yards). This is now Manning's eighth fourth quarter comeback this season! That's clutch.
The Giants are now 4-1 in Super Bowls in franchise history. And they trailed at the half in each and every game, too!
The New York Giants have won Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17, and are now World Champions!
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What a game! This one was close throughout, and was a one-score game for almost the entirety of the matchup.
Hakeem Nicks finished with 10 catches for 109 yards, and Mario Manningham finished with five for 73 yards.
And didn't that 50-yard Manningham catch feel like the one David Tyree made just four years ago in Super Bowl XLII?
But it was Manning who was the oil that fueled the Giants' automobile. He was efficient, completing 30-of-40 passes, and didn't turn the football over once.
The Giants have turned the ball over only one time in the entire playoffs, and that's why they are Super Bowl XLVI Champions.
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The Giants are now on the field celebrating, and family members and friends are flooding the field!
And who else would be in the very middle of the frenzy, but Eli Manning.
He deserves it, as he's now surpassed Peyton in Super Bowl rings!
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AND ELI MANNING WINS SUPER BOWL MVP!
This was no surprise, as either he or Nicks deserved it most.
Manning completed 30-of-40 passes for 296 yards (1 touchdown). Most importantly, he didn't turn the football over once.
So all of the Giants players are enjoying touching the Lombardi Trophy.
Tom Coughlin was just compared to Parcells, and said he is "Thankful and grateful to be the coach of the New York Giants."
Here's a crazy statistic: Giants have trailed at the half in all five Super Bowls they've played in. Yet they are 4-1 in said games.
That's pretty clutch.
(Stat courtesy of NFL Football Info.)
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The Giants made the plays late in the game when it counted, and the Patriots didn't. It's plain and simple.
Manningham made an exceptional grab to lead the Giants to victory, while Branch could not make the necessary adjustments when he was streaking through the open-field and could have run all the way down to the red zone, or maybe even scored.
The young receiver made the play, and the veteran receiver didn't.
Keep it here for all of the postgame action. We still have the MVP presentation and the Lombardi Trophy to come!
What a game. Looks like the Giants do own the Patriots, after all.
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BRADY AVOIDS THE RUSH, AND LAUNCHES A BOMB DOWN THE FIELD FOR HERNANDEZ .... AND THE BALL IS TIPPED ...
But Gronkowski can not come up with it, as the ball lands just inches from his fingertips, incomplete.
Giants win Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17
Giants jump offside and Brady airs it out down the sideline for Hernandez to try to make them pay. It doesn't work.
Brady will attempt a Hail Mary with five seconds remaining, FOR THE WIN!
Brady finds Hernandez for an 11-yard gain near midfield!
But that won't stop the clock, and Brady must run up and spike the ball with just under 15 seconds remaining.
And Hernandez drops a pass on second down!
Followed by a Jason Pierre-Paul SACK to force 4th-and-16. Can the Giants taste victory? Or will Brady come up big in the clutch?
BRADY SEES A WIDE-OPEN DEION BRANCH COMING OPEN OVER THE MIDDLE, but the pass was tipped and sails just behind Branch!
That play could have gone for 50 yards. As no defensive back was in the area. That could come back to haunt New England, big-time.
Belichick made the right call there electing to let the Giants score.
It would have been a chip shot field goal from 20-25 yards out, and you have to play the percentages and give Brady the football back there.
There are now 57 seconds remaining, and the Patriots have one time out. They receive Tynes' kick and will start from their own 20-yard line.
80 yards, 57 seconds remaining. #BradyTime
AND BELICHICK ELECTS TO LET THE GIANTS SCORE, and Bradshaw plays right into the trap!
He tries to go down at the one-yard line but falls down into the end zone for the TOUCHDOWN!
Giants 21, Patriots 17
Manning to Nicks again! The 4-yard gain moves the chains and the Giants are now at the NE 7-yard line.
Giants will set up for the field goal.
Hakeem Nicks and Eli Manning have ice water in their veins! The two have been huge in clutch scenarios today.
Manning found him for his ninth reception of the game. This one was good for 14 yards and a first down.
The Giants are on the NE 18-yard line. They will, inevitably, set up for a Tynes field goal for the win here!
2nd-and-10 from midfield, and Manning (again) finds Manningham for a first down!
Giants are in field goal range, on the NE 34-yard line.
Will Gilbride go conservative here and set up for the field goal? Probably.
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ON FIRST DOWN, MANNING AIRS IT OUT DOWN THE SIDELINE FOR MANNINGHAM, WHO MAKES THE GRAB AND KEEPS HIS FEET IN BOUNDS!
The result would be a 50-yard gain if the play stands. Belichick has thrown the challenge flag, but it looks like the play should stand.
Giants will start at their own 12-yard line, needing only a field goal.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN ELI?
And the Giants defense comes up with a huge stop!
Eli Manning will have just under four minutes to manufacture a game-winning drive.
He only needed 90 seconds in Foxborough back in November!
Wow! Brady finds a wide-open Welker for what would have been a first down inside the 20-yard line!
That's a huge drop and may come back to haunt New England.
3rd-and-11 coming.
And then Brady hits his other tight end!
Huge completion to Hernandez moves the chains and brings up a first down.
Patriots close to midfield, facing a 2nd-and-9.
What does Brady do? Target his tight ends. And he hits Gronkowski for a 5-yard gain.
Huge third down coming here.
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