Super Bowl 2012 Highlights: Sizing Up Mario Manningham vs. David Tyree

There was a "Here we go again..." moment in Super Bowl XLVI. It happened at the precise moment when Mario Manningham made a brilliant catch up against the left sideline late in the fourth quarter.

As soon as it happened, everyone was thinking the same thing: This was David Tyree all over again.

Sure enough, just as Tyree's amazing catch in Super Bowl XLII led to a game-winning touchdown, Manningham's brilliant catch in Super Bowl XLVI led to a game-winning touchdown. Folks in New York cried tears of joy, and folks in New England cried plain old tears.

Inevitably, the question is going to be asked: Which catch was better, Tyree's or Manningham's?

If you don't mind, I'd like to answer that question. Here's how I break both catches down, starting with Manningham.

Mario Manningham's Catch

Difficulty: 9

Manningham made this catch look easy, but it was anything but an easy catch.

There are a couple of key reasons why this catch was so difficult. First and foremost, Manningham was right up against the sideline when he caught it. One more step, and he's probably out of bounds and the Giants are facing a 2nd-and-10 on their own 12-yard line.

The catch itself wasn't easy, as Manningham caught it with his fingertips and then had to pull it in and secure possession as he was heading to the ground. Had he bobbled it even a little bit, it probably would have been ruled that he didn't maintain possession.

In addition, Manningham caught this in between two defenders, one of whom was making a beeline for his exposed right side. Had he heard Patrick Chung's footsteps, Manningham could have flinched and messed this up.

Skill Needed: 8

We've seen receivers make plays that require more body control and/or better hands. We've also seen receivers have to adjust to poorly-thrown passes.

In terms of body control and hands, Manningham's catch is nothing short of exemplary. He knew exactly where the sideline was, and he managed to keep his feet to the right of it while leaning his body to the left so he could get in a position to catch the ball. He made a tough catch much easier.

However, let's give Eli Manning a little credit here. He made an absolutely perfect throw, and that too made Manningham's job much easier.

Luck Needed: Little

Luck had very little to do with this catch. It was the product of a great throw by a great quarterback and a compilation of impressive pass-catching skills by a solid wide receiver.

This was not a miracle. This was two men doing work.

Wow Factor: 8

When this catch happened, I recall Twitter blowing up. People couldn't believe what they had just seen. 

To be honest, though, this catch looks much better in real time than it does in slow-motion. When the play is slowed down, you can see that Manningham had it all the way. Once again, there was no real luck involved.

Was it a great catch? Yes.

Is it among the greatest catches in Super Bowl history? No.

Clutch Factor: 9

This play took the Giants from their own 12-yard line to midfield, and it took just a couple of seconds off the clock. Seeing as how the Giants had less than four minutes to go the length of the field, it was pretty huge.

If Manningham doesn't catch this ball, we're probably talking about the Patriots as Super Bowl champions.

David Tyree's Catch

Difficulty: 10

This is about as difficult as it gets. 

The key difference between this play and the Manningham play is that Tyree's catch came on a broken play. Once the pocket collapsed around Manning, it was every man for himself. Tyree just happened to find himself in the middle of the field surround by defenders, and Manning happened to toss it in his general direction.

To catch the ball, Tyree had to get as high as his 6'0" frame allowed, and then he had to snag the ball with his fingertips. A 5'11" man probably doesn't make this catch.

Then he had to hold on to it with one arm while Rodney Harrison was trying to pry it loose. Then he had to keep it from hitting the ground.

There are a lot of things that could have gone wrong on this catch, and none of them did.

Skill Needed: 7

Ever play three flies up?

That's basically what this catch was. This is not an example of how to run routes, nor is it a perfect example of awareness and body control, a la Manningham's catch.

By comparison, Tyree's catch is far more instinctual. It consisted of him going up for a jump ball, catching it and then holding on to it using simple brute strength.

It's a great catch, but not a thing of beauty.

Luck Needed: A lot

Let's not overlook the fact that Manning could have easily been sacked on this play. If that happens, Tyree does not go into the books as a Super Bowl legend.

This is also a case of a guy being at the right place at the right time. If Tyree is elsewhere, there's no telling what Manning could have chosen to do with the ball.

As for the catch itself, you have to give Tyree all the credit in the world for hanging on, but things change entirely if the ball hits the ground. It didn't hit the ground because Harrison's body padded Tyree's fall. If he hits the turf, the ball probably comes out.

Wow Factor: 11

Going over 10 for this one. It deserves it.

Unlike the Manningham catch, the Tyree catch is actually more impressive in slow-motion than it is in real time. You can see just how high he had to get to catch the ball, and you can also see how hard it was for him to hang on to it as he was going to the ground.

The fact that Tyree's catch capped one of the most improbable scrambles in NFL history also helps.

Clutch Factor: 10

This play came on a 3rd-and-5 with the Giants trailing by four with a 1:15 to play.

By the time it was over, the Giants had a first down inside the New England 25-yard line with less than a minute to play. They went on to get a game-winning touchdown catch from Plaxico Burress.

Consider the alternative. If Tyree doesn't catch this pass, the Giants are facing a fourth down in their own territory with less than a minute to play.

This is why it's one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

Winner: Tyree

It's close, but the wow factor and the clutch factor tip the scales in Tyree's favor. His catch truly is one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history. By comparison, Manningham's is a notable footnote.