Led, as usual, by Manning himself.
He opened the game by becoming the first quarterback to complete his first nine attempts in a Super Bowl. And he finished the job by directing the nine-play, 88-yard TD drive that put New York ahead with 57 seconds left.
“That was quite a drive that he was able to put together,’’ Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “He deserves all the credit in the world, because he really has put his team on his shoulders all year.’’
This late drive, so reminiscent of the way New York beat New England in the 2008 Super Bowl with Manning as MVP, started on the Giants’ 12, with a little more than 3 ½ minutes left and the Patriots ahead 17-15. It closed with running back Ahmad Bradshaw easing into the end zone from 6 yards out. The Patriots decided not to contest the run, trying to save some time on the clock for a final drive — a risky and desperate decision by Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
But New England couldn’t get the ball back in the end zone, with Tom Brady’s final heave from his 49 falling barely beyond the grasp of tight end Rob Gronkowski.
“We had this goal to finish, finish, finish,’’ Coughlin said, “and win the fourth quarter.’’
That’s precisely when Manning takes over.
In the regular season, he threw an NFL-record 15 TD passes in the final period.
He also led six game-winning drives to bring New York back from fourth-quarter deficits.
“He’s become confident over time; kind of grew into it,’’ Manning’s father, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie, told The Associated Press after Sunday’s game. “I always felt like you have to experience those situations before you become confident. He’s certainly had his share.’’
That’s true. Manning’s even done it before in the Super Bowl.
