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Burress said of Manning: "He showed the heart of a champion"I've said it before after the
Dallas and
Green Bay playoff wins; and the Giants have ended up making me look stupid.
This was the greatest game that has ever been played. It was the greatest game ever played after a string of great games. When you factor in the flair of dramatics and what was at stake, no game will ever again come close. I've put off writing this very post because the words I put down locked forever on this blog will not be able to do this beauty of a ballgame justice. One thing I can say is the Giants have given anyone who has followed their team the most extravagant and beautiful of gifts. Winning a championship is one thing, winning a championship in that fashion is just a completely different spectrum in sports; one that we have not entered yet.
How about Eli Manning? I've watched this kid grow up since his rookie year (the first year I began dating a girl from New Jersey and having interest in this Giants team). I told my father-in-law that before the game as we chatted (refferring to when we saw Eli get his first win as a starter live in 2004 on a sunday night game against the Cowboys to end the season). My father-in-law responded that Eli was 'part of the family'. For me, that sums it up pretty well. I think Eli is about as good of a guy there is as a pro athlete. Laid back, soft spoken, proper. A man's man, but one you'd very much like to root for.
In terms of the game he put together last night; it was the most amazing Super Bowl performance I've seen in my 25 years.
I actually predicted the Giants holding a lead late in the game and then Tom Brady taking the football and sticking it in the end zone for the winning score late. I just saw Eli Manning intially putting the Giants in position to win. Everyone will have their magical take of this ballgame, but my point is; I thought he'd play well and the story would go down that Eli Manning played well enough to beat Tom Brady--but the defense let him down. The legendary Montana-like drive would go to Brady.
I looked at my friend before the Brady drive and told him that all we could hope for was 'Eli Manning with the ball in his hands with 2:00 left and a chance to win the Super Bowl'. Eli Manning has been unreal at the end of halves and at the end of ballgames in his career. In the 2-minute offense he has an Elway-like look to him. He looks better than Peyton. Last night, I would get my wish.
When Eli Manning took over, he had that look that would lead me to have some confidence in him. I was not worried or nervous. I thought of it in a very deep manner. I came to the conclusion that Eli Manning--whether he won or he lost--was put on earth to construct a drive as a NFL quarterback in the final 2 minutes to decide a Super Bowl. The greatest quarterback family in league history's youngest son. Here he was. This was sports destiny. This destiny was bigger than the game and the rules and the Patriots perfect season for those 2 minutes and change.
And that is something else I want to talk about. People will want to talk about how perfection was not achieved in Super Bowl XLII; but I think in missing perfection themselves, the Patriots did help achieve it.
Aside from what I listed above; the youngest son of the first family of football coming out of older brother's shadow and eclipsing him in one dramatic last minute drive, there were plenty of moments that gave me chills.
The first moment was the most amazing football play I've ever seen. Eli Manning on 3rd and 5 was in the grasp of the entire Patriots defensive line. If he goes down right there it's pretty elementary and the Patriots complete their perfect season. Instead, Manning completed a dramatic scramble where you could see him will his way out of the hands of Seymour and company. Manning wasn't going to have this taken from him. The irony was that a guy who's heart has been questioned countless times by the New York media and fan base showed more of it than any player involved in Super Bowl 42.
The second part of the play was an unreal display of individual will as well.
David Tyree.
Before the game started a few of us at my Super Bowl bash talked about who would be the unsung hero of the ballgame. Every Super Bowl has one. A figure who isn't someone you'd expect that makes the game changing play. I said Chase Blackburn. Another said Steve Smith (and that 3rd down catch on the final drive for 11-yards up the sideline would qualify). Never did it cross my mind of the most obvious choice.
David Tyree.
He also was a figure who
my father in-law and I spoke a lot about that night back in 2004 that the Giants defeated the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. My father in-law mentioned Phil McConkey. He mentioned that every team needs a guy who sneaks on the squad as a special teamer and ends up making an impact elsewhere. Tyree had a nice game that night as a receiver and has in spells over the last few years but mainly was a forgotten man on special teams.
David Tyree.
After Eli escaped and threw a hollywood pass (you know, a pass that seemed to hang in the air in slow motion like it does in movies), Tyree leaped just an inch higher than Rodney Harrison. Harrison did absolutely everything he could to dislodge the ball from Tyree; but the Giant would not be denied. I don't know how he hung onto the ball, using his helmet as a prop. He came down with it and in disbelief my living room exploded. Wow.
After that play, I simply thought that the Giants had to pull it out, although they still had some 30+ yards to go. There could be no other result.
Then we head back to talking about the perfection of the moment that was achieved in the Patriots missing it.
Little brother Eli would come out of Peyton's shadow by leading a last minute drive in the game's brightest stage. Only Joe Montana had ever thrown 2-4th quarter touchdown passes in a winning effort before last night. Only Montana had ever led a scoring drive in the final minute of play to win a Super Bowl.
Eli's throw to Plaxico Burress was one I'd seen before. It took me a moment to remember where I'd seen it, but I'd definitely seen it. I later remembered that it was the identical play that Eli had beaten the Philadelphia Eagles on in 2006 in Philly in overtime. It was to the same receiver. Find the play on YOUtube, it's the same throw. It's a throw that Manning was shown working on before the game to Plaxico. Burress' double-move worked to perfection, with the New England defender slipping just a bit. Touchdown Giants. Everything goes nuts as the Giants take the lead with :35 left to play. A shot pans of Peyton Manning and more perfection was seen in that moment, as Peyton was near tears for his little brother. Another moment of chills.
Although Manning was the story and will always be what I remember; you can't lose sight of the way the Giants defense and more prominently their defensive line in particular played. I've never seen Tom Brady take hits like that in a ballgame. More irony followed as after the game, a poll was talking about the greatest dynasties in NFL history, as the 2000's Patriots were listed as if the run were over. Isn't it amazing how so much can be magnified and changed forever in just a few plays of destiny.
For the rest of time, I don't need another championship. Sure I'd like to see my Browns win one. But I don't plan on ever seeing something again close to the fashion I saw it done last night. Eli Manning delivered for us all the greatest Super Bowl victory of all time.
