It’s deja Blue all over again!
Eli Manning led another heart-stopping, fourth-quarter drive as the Giants upset the New England Patriots, 21-17, in last night’s Super Bowl in Indianapolis.
Ahmad Bradshaw’s 6-yard touchdown run with 57 seconds left capped the breath-taking rally.
“We know who the most loyal fans are in the league are — Giants fans — and this is for you!’’ jubilant team co-owner John Mara declared.
The Giants seemed to be long shots just to make the playoffs seven weeks ago.
COMPLETE GIANTS SUPER BOWL COVERAGE
They had to win two do-or-die games to cap the regular season and qualify for postseason play. Big Blue seized the opportunity, beating Atlanta, Green Bay, San Francisco and New England to win it all.
“I want everybody in New York, New Jersey, around the world [to know], this is for you guys,” co-owner Steve Tisch said. “This team played their hearts out for you!”
On the winning drive, Manning hooked up on an improbable 38-yard pass to Mario Manningham, who miraculously kept his toes in bounds. The Pats couldn’t believe their eyes and challenged the play, only to have it upheld on video review.
The catch brought back memories of four years ago, when David Tyree made a remarkable, helmet-clutching grab to help Big Blue beat the then-undefeated Pats.
“It’s been a wild, wild season, but we’ve got a great, tough bunch of guys — guys that never quit, have great faith in each other,” the ever humble Manning said.
Big Blue’s QB now has two Super Bowl titles, overtaking his acclaimed brother Peyton Manning — winning last night in his big bro’s Indianapolis stadium, no less.
The little brother — and now two-time Super Bowl MVP — refused to gloat about winning the big one in Peyton’s shadow.
“It just feels good to win a Super Bowl,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you are or what stadium.”
Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks said Big Blue never lost hope, even when the team looked dead in the water this season at 7-7.
“We never got discouraged, kept [our] faith and kept [our] confidence and just fought to the very end,” he said.
It was a back-and-forth game all last night.
Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes put the foot back into football with a field-goal barrage in the third quarter. He connected on two boots to bring the Giants to within 17-15.
The Pats drew first blood after halftime when Tom Brady found Aaron Hernandez, for a 12-yard touchdown pass and a 17-9 New England lead.
Big Blue seemed to be in control the entire first half, but it was New England that went into the locker room on top.
Brady found his little big man, Danny Woodhead, for a 4-yard scoring strike with moments left before intermission, and New England sprinted into halftime with a 10-9 lead.
New York scored the game’s first points on one of the rarest plays in football, a safety.
Pretty boy QB Brady turned yellow under a moderate Big Blue pass rush and threw the ball away — drawing an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone.