Super Bowl XLII Retrospective: Eli Manning's Escape

Posted Jan 30, 2009 2:30PM By Matt Snyder (RSS feed)

In anticipation of Cardinals-Steelers, FanHouse takes a look back at some forgotten storylines from past Super Bowls.

The play of Super Bowl XLII was easily the catch made by David Tyree, holding onto the ball for dear life between one hand and his helmet. The Giants would go on to slay the giant and knock off the previously undefeated New England Patriots. Let us pause for a second and think about what would have happened had Eli Manning not even made that throw. He broke away from what appeared to be a sure sack. What if he didn't?

As you can see from the picture, the Patriots actually had a hold of brother Eli. Had the two defenders in the vicinity successfully brought Manning to the ground -- or the referee made the call that Manning was "in the grasp" and the blown the whistle -- the Giants would have been looking at a fourth down play with probably about 13 yards to gain. They had two timeouts left, but the clock would have been running once the ready-for-play whistle was blown -- and there was only 1:15 or so on said clock.

Simply put, this football game was over if Manning allowed those defenders to bring him to the ground.

Can you imagine the implications of this occurrence? Let's run down all that would have been altered if Eli was taken down:

- The 2008 Patriots would definitely be considered the best football team of all-time, having run the table with 19 consecutive victories.

- Tom Brady would have easily cemented his legacy as the best quarterback of all-time. He's already in the discussion for many fans, but having four Super Bowl rings in only six seasons to go with the record-setter wouldn't even leave much argument for anyone else to those fans with a brain.

- Eli Manning would be a "bum who can't win the big game" in New York, especially after losing at home to the Eagles recently with home field advantage throughout the playoffs. He'd have to deal with constant scrutiny in these "big" games, along with comparisons to Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, and his dear brother.

- Tom Coughlin would be just as maligned as his quarterback -- again, especially after the home loss to Philly this season.

- It's possible Michael Strahan would not have retired, while Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison probably would have.

- Last, but certainly not least, we'd never have to hear from the freaking '72 Dolphins ever again.

Instead, Manning eluded the two Patriot defenders, threw a wobbling prayer, and had it answered by also-ran receiver, David Tyree.

Now Eli's a "big-game quarterback" who is about to sign a $100 million contract, some people still doubt Brady as the best ever, Coughlin had a virtual free pass this past season in New York, and we still have the pleasure of dealing with those old Dolphins losers every year when the last undefeated team loses. Oh, and the Fox pre-game show has at least one watchable person on the broadcast now (Strahan).

Isn't it amazing what one little moment can do to sports history?

Super Bowl Heroes and Goats

Goat: Eugene Robinson, Atlanta Falcons, Super Bowl XXXIII
Sure, Robinson (right) struggled in the Falcons' 34-19 loss to Denver -- including getting smoked on this 80-yard Rod Smith score -- but he made bigger news before the game. The morning prior to the Super Bowl, Robinson was arrested by an undercover cop for trying to solicit sex from a prostitute.

Tony Ranze, AFP / Getty Images

Hero: Joe Namath, New York Jets, Super Bowl III
Namath guaranteed an upset win over the Colts, then delivered. Broadway Joe won the MVP (despite not throwing a TD pass) after guiding the AFL's Jets to a stunning 16-7 victory.

Darryl Norenberg, WireImage

Goat:Scott Norwood, Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl XXV
Norwood's "Wide Right" moment is etched in NFL lore, alongside things like "The Catch" and "The Drive." Norwood's last-second miss in Super Bowl XXV gave the Giants the championship -- and Buffalo the first of four straight runner-up finishes.

Phil Sandlin, AP

Hero: Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl XLI
Dungy took his Colts to the top of the NFL's mountaintop with a 29-17 victory over Chicago. In doing so, Dungy became the first African-American head coach to claim a Super Bowl crown.

David J. Phillip, AP

Goat: Neil O'Donnell, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XXX
The Cowboys won their third title in four years on Jan. 28, 1996, but not without help from Pittsburgh's quarterback. O'Donnell chucked three interceptions, including a pair to game MVP Larry Brown, as the Steelers lost 27-17.

Doug Mills, AP

Hero: Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XIV
Bradshaw led the Steelers to four titles and won the Super Bowl MVP award in both Super Bowl XIII and XIV. In 1980, against the Rams, Bradshaw threw for 309 yards and two TDs -- one year after his three-touchdown performance beat the Cowboys.

Andy Hayt, Getty Images

Goat: Jackie Smith, Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XIII
In a back-and-forth matchup with Pittsburgh, Smith had a chance to tie the game at 21 in the third quarter. Instead, he dropped a wide-open touchdown pass, Dallas wound up kicking a field goal and the Steelers went on to win by four.

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Hero: Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowl XVI
Montana won his first of four Super Bowls -- and three game MVP awards -- in 1982 against the Bengals. The QB scored on a one-yard run early, threw a second-quarter touchdown pass and the Niners held on for a 26-21 win in Detroit.

Goat: John Kasay, Carolina Panthers, Super Bowl XXXVIII
Adam Vinatieri grabbed the spotlight with a game-winning kick, but Kasay's miscue may have cost Carolina the game. After the Panthers rallied to tie New England at 29 in a wild fourth quarter, Kasay booted the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, setting up the Pats' game-winning drive.

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Hero: Adam Vinatieri, New England Patriots, Super Bowl XXXVI
On the final play of the game, Vinatieri drilled a 48-yard field goal, giving New England a surprising 20-17 win over heavily-favored St. Louis. Just for good measure, Vinatieri repeated the feat two years later, hitting a 41-yarder in the final seconds to knock off Carolina.

Amy Sancetta, AP

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-30-2009 @ 2:38PM

rlau290541 said...

Eli's escape was more precarious than Bradshaw's during the 'Immaculate Reception'73' hookup with Franco Harris via Fucua/Tatum. I'm a Steeler fan but I have to admit that Eli's throw and Tyree's amazing catch was the best ever.

1-30-2009 @ 5:02PM

tyesha1992 said...

WELL ELI DID MAKE THE cATch N C0UGHLIN IS A G0OD cOAcH.

LETS SEE IF MANNING DIDN'T BREAK THE TAKLE WE WULD'VE JUST BEEN IN O.T.
N IF WE LOST WE WULD'VE STILL HAD STRAHAN, STILL WULD'VE HAD A FEW OTHERS, MADE TAKLES ON PHILLY THIS SEAS0N, AND WE WULD'VE WON
S0 WE WuULD'VE BEEN iiN THE S.B.

BUT SINcE WE DID WIN THERE'S NO NEED TO GO INTO THE "WAT iiF" cATEGORY

{{I JUS WANNA GIVE cREDiiT TO JACOBS, NOBODY NOTICED IT BUT HE BLOCKED ON THAT LAST WINNING TOUCHDOWN PASS PREVENTING MANNING FROM GETTIN SACKED. SO BIG UPS TO HIM}}

1-30-2009 @ 6:51PM

George said...

It wasn't a throw,it was a 'hail mary' after he should have been called down by the 'in the grasp' rule. The 2007 Patriots are still the best team ever until somebody else reels off 18 wins in a row in the same season. Eli makes one lucky play his entire career and now he is worth 100 mil a year? Give me a break,we saw how much he sucked at the end of last year lol. That was the worst team in history to win a SB.

2-01-2009 @ 8:47AM

mm33cs said...

i cant agree with you more george.. that play was pathetic.. never mind the non calls ... remember toomer ( i think it was him) grabbing gay or hobbes by the facemask and throwing him down, then making a catch on the sidelines for a 1st down... ridiculous