New England quarterback Tom Brady dropped back, slipped a tackle and fired a long bomb downfield.
As the ball soared through the air, it looked identical to the last time the Patriots and New York Giants met in Super Bowl XLII, when Giants quarterback Eli Manning completed a pass to wide receiver David Tyree’s helmet. 
The bad news for the Patriots — the pass didn’t end the same way it did for the Giants in ’08.
Substitute teacher-turned-Giants starting middle linebacker Chase Blackburn picked off Brady, who was eyeing tight end Rob Gronkowski deep in New York territory.
New York showed glimpses of their last Super Bowl win, as Manning once again methodically drove down the field for the go-ahead touchdown late in the game.
New England coach Bill Belichick let Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw score from six yards out with 57 seconds, left thinking that was more than enough time for Brady to lead a drive for the ages down the field for the go-ahead touchdown.
His thinking didn’t pan out.
Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez dropped two passes, and Brady’s Hail Mary on the last play fell just short of Gronkowski’s outstretched arms in the end zone as the Giants celebrated their second Super Bowl win in five seasons.
Missed opportunities were the story of the game for the Patriots.
Wes Welker dropped a pass from Brady late in the fourth quarter that could’ve led to a score. But the pass wasn’t the greatest, and blame should not be placed solely on Welker.
Once again, Giants coach Tom Coughlin got the best of Belichick and deserves credit for leading this team to another miraculous playoff run.
It should be noted that Coughlin drove his team to win in the playoffs and on the road in Green Bay and San Francisco.
But the biggest praise for the Giants’ triumph over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI goes to Manning.
The playoff magic that Brady possessed earlier in his career is now Manning’s. In his last two playoffs, Manning threw only two interceptions.
Skeptics can talk all they want about Manning’s inconsistent play during the season, but there’s no denying he’s one of the clutchest performers in all of sports.
Instead of the media focusing on Eli the week before the game, Peyton was the talk of the town.
I have no doubt Peyton was upset that, leading up to perhaps the biggest game of Eli’s career, little brother wasn’t getting the attention he deserved.
After his performance Sunday, the media probably won’t leave Eli alone for the next couple of weeks.
It’s way too soon to say he’s a Hall of Fame lock or he’s a better quarterback than Brady or Peyton.
But, Eli still has a shot to go down as one of the best winners in NFL history. The Giants have a young, solid offensive core for the future, and the team’s defensive front is one of the best in the league.
It’s comical that both Manning and Coughlin were doubted earlier in the season and some considered they might be on their way out of New York.
Both can relax now as the Big Apple will most likely be the place they spend their impressive NFL careers.
Micah Bedard is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Houma. Follow him on Twitter @DardDog.
 
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Contact Micah Bedard at [email protected].