Yes, Eli was great. Two touchdown passes, and who in their right mind can really place the interception on him?
After all, the ball did hit the receiver directly in the hands before being knocked straight to the defender.
At times it seemed as if Houdini himself was leading that last drive. Magically evading sacks, dodging bullets in the form of fumbles, heaving up a prayer after being dead-to-rights…and then having it caught!
All just another day at the office for a Manning. This time though, it was the younger brother, Eli. MVP? Perhaps he was most deserving. I have no problem with that.
I had to humble myself a bit, as I once was an Eli-hater. But after last night’s performance I witnessed the “other” Manning come to life and direct his team in all aspects of leadership to take over the game on that last drive.
Plaxico caught two passes, none bigger in his career than the second, the game-winning touchdown that capped-off an 80-plus yard drive as precious seconds were rolling off the clock. That clutch play erased every memory from earlier in the game, when pass after pass had been hurled in his direction but was dropped or misjudged or for whatever reason incomplete.
MVP for Plaxico? Well, he did come up clutch in the end, but went under the radar for most of the game. Not to take away from the play, but I believe any receiver could have had the advantage with that play call and one-on-one match-up.
Strahan led the defense with a vengeance unlike any other. There is no doubt about that at all. That defense locked down the best offense in the history of the NFL. Tom Brady witnessed most of the game from two positions: on the bench and on his back. I cannot recall the last time I saw an NFL QB so pressured, especially not in such a big game.
The defense sacked Brady five times, not to mention the 20-plus times they knocked him off his feet. Strahan, MVP? Arguably he had his moments, but I don’t think anyone thought twice about giving it to him.
In humor, I have heard that some would like to give it to Tiki for getting out so the Giants could actually succeed, and so Eli could take over as the true leader and commander of this team—which he has done without a doubt!
8 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Totally agree!
Manning had a good game, but not a great game. He was sacked, he fumbled, and he was intercepted, though as you say it really was 'on him'. What was he, 19-34? Not great.
But with such a low-scoring game, why would they consider giving it to an offensive player. The defense was getting to Brady like no other team has done all season. Tuck's play was powerful and an indicator that the game was won for the Giants by the defense, not the offense.
So by all means, Jason Tuck, the undeclared unofficial Super Bowl MVP!
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yellow fever about 1 year ago
you people make me want to puke. You guys are all over tom brady and his super bowl mvps. for example, why should brady have gotten the superbowl mvp against the rams??????? 16 of 27 145 yards and 1 td??????
he was god for doing that........but really it was the defence that won the game then too.... I can't stand this double standard that brady gets......
and to top things off..... Brady only had to drive into field goal range to win it...... Manning did it when his team was losing and HAD to score a TD!!!!!! be consistent please....... give a monkey a computer and this is what happens.......
I almost puked when I read this...
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Timothy Croley about 1 year ago
Well, Yellow, go ahead and puke. No one asked you to come and read this article. I write what I write because I believe it. I have never thought that Tom Brady was a god, by any stretch. In fact I always thought it was a disgrace how he even got the QB job at New England. That was Drew Bledsoe's team.
And where in the world do you get off talking about double standards and all that crap? I mean did I even once mention Tom Brady being great? No, never. I have never liked Brady. I assume that just because you saw where I once did not like Eli automatically makes me a Brady lover? No, not at all. In fact most every QB in the NFL is overrated.
Reading your response makes me want to puke. I have always been and ever will be a defensive guy! That's what wins championships. So if you think I am a monkey for writing about how dominate a defense was Sunday in shutting down what everyone has been calling the best offense in the history of the NFL, then by all means go ahead with your belittling of my article.
It's funny though, how you call me a monkey, yet you are the one who cannot even spell "defence"....it's D E F E N S E !
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David Williams about 1 year ago
I think the same thing happened last year with Peyton Manning. He wasn't the best player on the field for that day (you could argue for Addai or Rhodes ahead of Manning) but he's the face of the franchise and plays the most glamourous position in football. For the Giants, Eli Manning isn't the face of the franchise - Strahan is - but it does help that he plays quarterback. I think he got the MVP because he played well and had that game-winning 83 yard touchdown drive. Tuck or Strahan may have been more deserving but not by too much.
Tuck played out of his mind though
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Timothy Croley about 1 year ago
Without a doubt David, Tuck was a beast. I just can't remember a defensive performance like that from an individual in the Super Bowl in a long time.
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julien laguerre about 1 year ago
they dont score, we win... they dont score we win...
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Julien Laguerre 9 months ago
Eli Manning deserves the MVP award. Down 14-10 with 2:39 remaining Justin Tuck and Micheal Strahan was on the sideline preying Eli leads the Giants to victory. ON THE SIDELINE!! Sorry home boy... Just asked Micheal and Tuck who should be the MVP and they will tell you Eli. Defense should have stopped the pats at 10-7. You cant win a Super Bowl 14-10 as the final.
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Timothy Croley 9 months ago
Thanks for commenting on my article from FEBRUARY! I had forgotten I even wrote this. Thanks for reminding me. And I hope they were not PREYING Eli. That would be nasty. I mean if they wanted to PRAY that would be okay. But to PREY on ELI, now that's just wrong. If they really did PREY Eli, then I would give them whatever they wanted, joint MVPs for Strahan and Tuck, all my money, or whatever. Just leave me alone. I really don't taste that good.
Thanks Julien!!
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