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Five years ago today, New York Giants stunned New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI

Manning-to-Manningham sealed Giants’ fourth championship

By Brandon Estrict
Super Bowl XLVI

With the New England Patriots back in the Super Bowl tonight against the Atlanta Falcons, there’s no more appropriate time to remember the New York Giants Super Bowl XLVI victory over Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and crew.

On this day five years ago, the Giants shut New England out in the first and fourth-quarters en route to a 21-17 upset-win and their fourth world championship.

It was the second time in four years New York had defeated New England on the NFL’s grandest stage and, in doing so, established the blueprint universally recognized as the key to beating the Patriots: use a four-man rush to dial up pressure on number 12. Big Blue jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after Tom Brady was called for intentional grounding in the end-zone.

It was a defensive-purist’s dream throughout much of the contest from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. but a 38-yard Eli Manning to Mario Manningham strike is the play burned into the memories of Giants fans.

Ed Valentine called it the third-greatest Super Bowl moment in Giants’ history.

New York Giants Super Bowl moments: No. 3 -- Manning to Manningham | Big Blue View

The Giants trailed, 17-15, and had first down at their own 12-yard line with 3:46 to play when Manning surveyed the field, finally turned to the back side of the play and uncorked a deep ball for Manningham. A quarterback cannot make a better throw than Manning did on this play, squeezing the ball into a teensy, weensy window to a double-covered Manningham within inches of the sideline. Manningham caught the ball over his shoulder, somehow managed to drag both feet in bounds and clearly controlled the ball going to the ground. Even Dean Blandino couldn't have overruled that one.

Super Bowl XLVI

The throw and catch were as close to perfect as a throw and catch can get, and set up Ahmad Bradshaw’s almost-too-soon game-winning six-yard touchdown run.

Whether or not Brady and Belichick make history tonight by winning their fifth Super Bowl together, two Giant losses will forever be part of the modern-Patriots dynasty.

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