Super Bowl 2012 Highlights: Reviewing Two of the Game's Most Critical Plays

Mario Manningham reeled in a 38-yard pass from Eli Manning on the New York Giants' game-winning drive, an epic display of athleticism, focus and god-given skill that easily was the most amazing play of Super Bowl XLVI. 

Let's take a closer look at this unreal sideline grab and one other stunning play from yesterday's thrilling Super Bowl. 

Manningham's catch 

The play occurred on 1st and 10, when the Giants were pinned inside their own 15-yard-line, down by two points with 3:46 remaining. 

Because they were backed up in their own end, New York had a max-protection group on the field to almost ensure Eli Manning wouldn't be flustered in the pocket. 

Tight end Bear Pascoe and running back Ahmad Bradshaw stayed back to help with blocking assignments, giving the Giants seven blockers to the Patriots' five pass-rushers.

Manning's initial look was to the right side of the formation, in which Victor Cruz was running an intermediate corner route. Hakeem Nicks ran a short jerk route, but based on his nonchalant way of running that route, it seemed to be a decoy to possibly get Cruz open down the field. 

Even with the max protect, protection began to fail on the right side of the Giants' offensive line, and Manning, who apparently didn't see an open Cruz was almost forced to go to the other side, where Mario Manningham was running a "go" route. 

Because the Patriots were in a Cover 2 defense, (two safeties deep with outside responsibilities) defensive back Sterling Moore wasn't as worried with Manningham going deep because he knew he had help—in his case safety Patrick Chung—over the top. 

But because Manning spent the first second or so looking to his right, Chung wasn't paying attention to Manningham who was breaking into his zone. 

That second allowed the pass to be completed. 

You couldn't have placed the ball in a better spot and Manningham did a tremendous job hauling in the ball, holding on and keeping his feet in bounds, knowing he was probably going to take big hit. 

Masterful. 

Justin Tuck's safety on Tom Brady's intentional grounding

The Giants set the tone in the early going in Super Bowl XLVI, actually on the first offensive play for the Patriots. 

New England came out with Deion Branch split out wide, Wes Welker in the slot and Rob Gronkowski standing up tight to the right tackle, and Nate Solder set back as an additional blocker. 

It was a designed play-action pass, and the fake handoff worked. A few members of the Giants secondary bit and the linebackers were frozen. I count ten guys within five yards of the line of scrimmage as Brady is faking the BenJarvus Green-Ellis run play. 

The Giants' defensive backfield did a great job recovering by the time Brady whipped his head around and starting scanning the field. 

Apparently his first and second reads were not open. 

Along New York's defensive line, Linval Joseph, primarily a run defender, pushed center Dan Connolly and right guard Brian Waters to the outside. 

Justin Tuck was working against Sebastian Vollmer who stymied the great edge rusher at the initial point of attack, driving him back a yard. 

Because both the center and guard were working on Joseph who got surprisingly good penetration, a gaping hole opened in the middle of the offensive line for Tuck to attack. 

He got low and bounced off left guard Logan Mankins on his way to Brady, who was standing two yards in the end zone. 

Although it seemed like he didn't have anywhere to throw the football, No. 12 looked to be okay as Tuck approached. 

Then disaster struck. 

As you can see, when Tuck reached the goal line—a good two to three yards from Brady— he was shoved directly into the Patriots quarterback by Vollmer, almost causing a sack and ultimately resulting in the intentional grounding penalty that cost New England two points.

Sometimes it's the little things that have the biggest impact.  

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