Super Bowl XLVI Eerily Resembles Game of Four Years Ago

It was déjà vu as the New York Giants faced off against the New England Patriots at the Super Bowl yesterday and the Patriots were hoping that this time around, the story would have a different ending. Instead, the game played out in eerie synchronicity to the game of four years ago — right up to the suspenseful finish.

The New York Giants came onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis yesterday ready to win the game. With an early safety penalty that put them up two nothing within minutes of kickoff, it looked like it might just be a matter of watching the clock run out. With the Patriots making uncharacteristic mistakes and a touchdown by Eli Manning, the Giants were up 9-0 at the end of the first. And let’s remember, this is a team that wasn’t even supposed to be in the playoffs this year.

But the New England Patriots apparently shook it off in between quarters, as it was almost a different team that came out onto the field in the second. Not even at the halfway mark, Stephen Gostkowski put the Patriots on the board with a field goal; and with only eight seconds left in the quarter, Tom Brady threw the ball four yards to Danny Woodhead for a touchdown, putting the game at 10-9, this time for the Patriots.

It was during the second half of the game though, that the two teams looked the most evenly matched, with both putting in their very best efforts. On the side of the Giants, Lawrence Tynes got two field goals, putting his team up to 15; and Tom Brady’s touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez put the Patriots ahead to 17. And it looked as though the Patriots were going to rewrite fate after all.

With New York down by two points, the fourth quarter of this game has got to go down as one of the most exciting of all Super Bowls. With the Patriots having possession, Wes Walker fumbled the ball at the 20-yard line, turning the ball over to Manning and the Giants – what came next is already being called one of the greatest Super Bowl moments of all time.

With nothing but sheer accuracy, Manning threw the ball 38 yards to Mario Manningham, who had two Patriot defensive backs barreling down on him. Taking the hit from the Patriots’ defense, and with most of his body going out of bounds, Manningham managed to keep both feet within legal play, even if it was just by a toe or two. It was a move that was very reminiscent of the time David Tyree kept the ball on the Giants’ side by trapping it against his helmet while bending backwards. Still, Manningham’s catch counted, and at a time when the Giants needed it to the most.

And just like four years ago, momentum was back on the Giants side and if they could avoid mistakes, the game would be theirs. But not without some quick calculating by Bill Belichick. He figured that his team could almost lead the Giants into the end zone and let them have the field goal. As Ahmad Bradshaw made his way, he understood what was happening and nearly sat down on the 1-yard line in order to keep the clock running.

Nope, didn’t work and Brady gets the ball. And he’s going to have to be more Brady than ever. Unfortunately for the Patriots, Brady got sacked once before making one last attempt to try and hike the ball into the end zone. It did make it into the end zone, but it met a gaggle of Patriots offense and Giants defense before being knocked around to the ground.

The pass is called an incomplete, and the Giants win the Super Bowl against the Patriots. Again. And now, with two successful Super Bowls under his belt, there’s no longer any question as to whether or not Eli Manning is an elite quarterback.

Categorized in: NFL