Giants defense comes up big; NY claims Super Bowl 21-17
Monday, February 06, 2012
Most pre-game predictions thought Super Bowl XLVI would find a way to set some scoring records, especially with the way both teams moved the ball all season long.
But wouldn’t you know it, in a record-setting season for passing yards, defense dug in and earned a little respect, finding a place within all of the offensive fireworks. In the end, it was the defense belonging to the New York Giants standing tall in a 21-17 victory over New England in Indianapolis.
With New England winning the coin toss and choosing to receive in the second half, New York grabbed early momentum. On 3rd and 13 from the NE 36, Mark Anderson sacked Eli Manning for a six yard loss, forcing a punt on the opening drive. Backed up against their own six yard line, on the first offensive play Tom Brady had time to throw from his end zone, but threw the ball away downfield. Intentional grounding was called on the play, resulting in a safety – with Brady in the end zone – and New York grabbed a quick 2-0 lead. Following the ensuing free kick, the Giants moved the ball to the Patriots’ 11, where Victor Cruz fumbled and the Pats recovered. However, NE had 12 men on the field during the play, which gave the ball right back to the Giants. Two plays later, Manning found Cruz in the end zone from two yards out, and NY had a 9-0 lead, with 3:24 to play in the first quarter.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Patriots had run only one offensive play to this point…and gave up two points on that play in the process. Not exactly how a blueprint to victory might read.
Stephen Gostkowski got the Patriots on the board early in the second quarter, with 13:48 to play on a 29 yard field goal after a 10-play drive stalled at the NY 11. From this point, both defenses began to settle in…the Giants stopping NE cold, and the Patriots forcing two Giant punts. Beginning a drive at the four with 4:03 to play in the period, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski over the middle for 20 yards for a first down just before the two minute warning. Finding Aaron Hernandez for 12 yards on 3rd and four gave the Pats a first down at the NY 33, and a Wes Welker catch put the ball at the 22 with :29 seconds left before halftime. On third and three from the four, Brady – with forever and a second to throw the ball – hit Danny Woodhead for the touchdown to give New England its first lead at 10-9 just before the half.
The 96 yard touchdown drive (covering 14 plays) tied a Super Bowl record for the longest scoring drive in a championship game.
On the first play of the second half, Brady found Chad Ochocinco for 21 yards to the Patriot 42 yard line. BenJarvus Green-Ellis carried around end for 17 more to the NY 33, and five plays later Brady hit Hernandez from 12 yards out for the score and a 17-9 lead with 11:20 to play in the 3rd quarter.
Eight plays, 79 yards to open the second half – a much better start than the beginning of the game, to be sure.
The Giants, however, weren’t ready to give it up. After Patrick Chung put a huge hit on Hakeem Nicks to break up a potential big play, Sterling Moore also put a big hit Mario Manningham on a third down attempt, forcing Lawrence Tynes into a 38 yard field goal.
Bend, but no break. 17-12 New England with 6:43 to play in the period.
After forcing the Patriots to punt, the Giants moved to the Patriot 11 on a Manning completion to Bear Pascoe. On 3rd and eight from the nine, Anderson and Rob Ninkovich sacked Manning for a six yard loss, and Tynes came on to connect again – from 33 yards out to make it 17-15 with :35 seconds remaining in the quarter.
On the second play of the 4th quarter, Brady scrambled to avoid a sack and threw downfield for Gronkowski, only to be picked off by Chase Blackburn at the NY eight for the games’ first turnover. Beginning a methodical, measured drive from that point, the Giants reached the New England 38 before Moore broke up a pass intended for Manningham that appeared to have some early contact. No call came from the officials, and the defense held again.
Now, it was Brady’s turn to begin a march. Starting at their eight yard line, the Patriots moved to the NY 44 where the drive stalled, after Welker couldn’t hold onto a high pass at the 20. The drive took 5:24 off of the clock, but didn’t result in any points…and NY found itself in position to play for the win with 3:46 to play.
Déjà vu, anyone?
On the first snap from their own 12, Manning hit Manningham on a tremendous throw and catch for 38 yards to midfield. It had to be a perfect play – and it was. With the sounds of Super Bowl XLII ringing in their ears, Manning found Manningham again for 16 yards to the Patriot 34, and Nicks for 14 more to the 18 at the two minute warning. After yet another first down against a weary NE defense at this stage, the Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw scored on a six yard run – and looked like he forgot to get down on a knee short of the goal line. Perhaps the Patriot plan was to let the Giants score? NY failed on a two-point conversion try, leaving it 21-17 with :57 seconds left…after a nine play, 88 yard masterpiece of a drive.
A 4th and 16 attempt by Brady to Deion Branch kept a last-ditch drive alive with 32 seconds left, but with time running out the Patriots could not get any closer than their own 49. The final attempt from 51 yards away was tipped in the end zone but fell incomplete, giving the Giants the win, and their 4th Super Bowl championship.
And, their second championship win over New England in four years...which for the Patriots, no doubt, was no less painful than the first.
Post Game Notes
Manning was named the Super Bowl XLVI MVP, throwing for 296 yards and a touchdown, completing 75% of his passes (30-40)...the Patriots are now 17-3 when leading at halftime in post-season games…Woodhead’s TD reception in the second quarter was the first this year by a NE running back…Brady completed 10 straight passes on the drive, which actually covered 98 yards after a false start penalty on the offensive line. He would eventually complete a SB record 16 straight passes before an incompletion…Manning’s nine straight completions to start the game set a Super Bowl record…the Giants lost tight end Travis Beckum to a torn ACL in the second quarter…the NY safety scored following the Patriots’ first play of the game was the first in the Super Bowl in 25 years…New York becomes the third franchise in the league with a pair of head coaches with at least 2 Super Bowl victories (Bill Parcells led the Giants to wins in Super Bowls XXI and XXV). The 49ers won 5 Super Bowl titles with Hall of Famer Bill Walsh (3) and also George Seifert, while 4 of the Cowboys’ 5 Super victories came under the guidance of Hall of Famer Tom Landry (2) as well as Jimmy Johnson (2)…In the now 46 Super Bowls played to date, the combined turnover differential for the winning teams is an astounding plus-94 as the champions have combined for only 51 miscues while the 46 losing teams have turned over the ball an incredible 145 times. And 16 of the 45 winning teams went turnover-free enroute to winning a championship. In the 37 games in which there was a difference in the amount of turnovers, only 3 times did a team lose the battle of mistakes and come away with a championship, the latest the Steelers (2) over the Seahawks (1) in Super Bowl XL. The Patriots had one turnover in SB 46, the Giants none...
