New York Giants Parade 2012: Giants Will Finally Get Credit They Deserve

As the New York Giants get set for their victory parade Tuesday in lower Manhattan, you can bet the streets will be flooded with fans as they kick off at Battery Place and Washington Street.

Starting at 11 a.m. EST, Giants players will make their way through the area as countless New Yorkers cheer them on.

And we thought they were going to miss the playoffs.

The Giants hadn't received much credit since their improbable Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots in 2008. They lost in the divisional round to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and didn't make the postseason altogether the last two seasons.

Through Week 15 this season, the Giants appeared to be headed in the same direction, holding an unimpressive 7-7 record and a loss away from going home unhappy.

But the Giants rose at the end of the season, knocking off the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys in their final two regular-season games and going on to blast through the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and, finally, the Patriots.

Now, as they parade down the city streets, they are champions of the world for the second time in four years. Funny how things happen sometimes.

Eli Manning has in many ways symbolized the New York Football Giants this season. Headed into Super Bowl XLVI, he was an elite quarterback, but we were constantly reminded he was no Tom Brady. He was still Peyton's little brother and he had endured a great deal of criticism throughout the years. He was doubted during the regular season and he was doubted before he took the field against Brady's Patriots. In fact, the Giants were underdogs in Indianapolis.

Now, after all their struggles, the Giants will glide through the city and all that will be left to do is smile and take it all in.

That is, until next season.