Super Bowl XLVI 

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The confetti began to fall all throughout Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the post-game festivities, of that have become a custom for Super Bowls, began. The Giants had done it again, yet again trouncing the New England Patriots, the second time this season, and the second time in a Super Bowl in the last five years. The G-men pulled it off and until the last moment of the game where a Super Bowl championship was a few inches out of the grasp of New England tight-end, Rob Gronkowski, it was a tight bout. The rematch proved to be just as good and equally as exciting as the original Super Bowl meeting between the two teams 4 short years ago.

Personally this was one of the most exhilarating and heart-wrenching Super Bowls that I have ever witnessed, and I can honestly say it did live up to the hype. The pre-game hype began immediately after the NFC and AFC contenders were decide two weeks ago in their respective championship games. The rematch that so many had hoped for (except or Jets fans that is!) was finally set to happen. The beauty of it that there were so many relevant and interesting story lines going into the game. Where the Patriots finally going to get their revenge against their new rival the New York Giants, despite having their shot earlier this season in a home game? Could Eli Manning cement himself as the better Manning brother with a win, giving him one more Super Bowl ring than his older brother Peyton? Was Rob Gronkowski's ailing ankle going to keep him from playing, and how effective would the Pats offense be without him?

After a week of the same questions being asked, answered, analyzed, and re-analyzed, it was time to put all the talk and pre-game banter aside, and take it to the field. The beauty of sports is that you can talk about a game and analyze every aspect of it for two straight weeks, but when it comes down to it, the actual game has to be played and what is said before it means absolutely nothing once the clock starts.

The Patriots won the coin toss and elected to deffer, as they have for thirty consecutive games, giving the Giants the ball to start the ball game. The Giants first stint on offense for this game was rather uneventful after reaching the patriots 33-yard. The offense lost steam after three consecutive losses that put them out of field goal range and forced them punt the ball away to the dangerous Patriots offense. Giants punter Steve Weatherford was a beauty pinning the Patriots inside of their own ten yard line. The Giants however would be right back on offense getting a huge break on an intentional grounding call on Tom Brady inside the Pats end zone, resulting in a safety putting the Giants up 2-0. The Giants would capitalize big on this fast start as Eli Manning would drive the Giants down the field and capping the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to receiver Victor Cruz. This put the Giants to a strong and promising 9-0 lead over the mighty Pats.

The Patriots would strike right back with a 29-yard field goal off the boot of kicker, Stephen Gostkowski. Two drives by each team resulting in punts would do nothing but eat away some clock, and after another beautiful punt by Steve Weatherford, the Patriots would be given the opportunity to take the lead going into the half. The Patriots capitalized big time with a 14-play drive that took the Patriots 96-yards downfield and resulted in a touchdown pass from Tom Brady to running back Danny Woodhead. This would put the Patriots up 10-9 going into halftime.

After an interesting, to say the least, performance by Madonna and several other artists, the two teams would resume play for the second half.  With the Patriots deferring to open the game, they would be receiving the ball at the start of the second half. The Patriots would get off to a fast start with a quick drive, that saw no incompletions on the part of Tom Brady and would end with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight-end Aaron Hernandez, putting the patriots up 17-9.

On the ensuing drive the Giants would start on their own 35-yard line and reach the Patriots 20-yard line where they would settle for a 38-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes. The Giants defense would go on to stop the Patriots offense on a three and out that would end with a Justin Tuck sack of Tom Brady.  The Giants on the ball yet again, would mount a dangerous drive all the way to the Patriots 9-yard line. Threatening to put themselves on top with a touchdown the Giants were slowed down a bit after a sack on third down which would force them to settle for another field-goal, making the score 17-15 Patriots sill on top.

The three next drives were uneventful for both teams with the biggest play being an interception by linebacker Chase Blackburn on a pass downfield to injured Pats tight-end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski  with his infamous ankle injury was unable to out-leap Blackburn who caught the in mod-air. This interception would give the Giants yet another opportunity to separate themselves from the Pats but the following drive would result in a punt, as would the following Patriots possession.

After another unsuccessful Patriots drive, the Giants would regain possession on their own 12-yard line. To win this game yet another signature Eli Manning game-winning drive would be necessary. Sure enough this drive would be a prime example of why Eli Manning should be considered as and in fact is, an elite NFL quarterback. Eli would drive the team 88 yards down the field in a drive that would be highlighted by a huge catch by receiver Mario Manningham and give running back Ahmad Bradshaw an opportunity to push the football into the end zone, which he would do in an interesting fashion. This put the Giants up 21-17, a lead that would not diminish.

The Patriots would get the ball back with 57 seconds left on the clock, more than enough time for an elite quarterback such as Tom Brady to win the game and bring redemption to the Patriots. However, this would not happen. The Giants defense would hold strong and as the final whistle was blown on the field and the clock showed no time remaining, they would become champions yet again. For the second time in five years the New York Giants would best the New England Patriots and bring home another Super Bowl championship.