Manning-To-Manningham In Super Bowl XLVI Takes Us Into The End Of The Workday
ELI DIMES!!! I know that the Helmet Catch gets picked apart by the bitter little trolls of the internet that claims Eli was lucky he wasn't ruled down, the ball wasn't intercepted, and that the ball was caught/held onto by David Tyree. Do I think luck may have played at least a small roll in the greatest play in Super Bowl history from being possible? That's not for me to say even though I guess every day on this planet is a miracle in its own special way. And if you still complain about holding not being called during that play, you should be forced to watch the All-22 of every NFL play ever and write a strongly worded letter to the commissioner for every holding violation that was missed.
However, anybody that calls the Manning to Manningham play lucky is, to borrow a phrase, an idiot. A fucking idiot. That is a Big Boy throw and a Big Boy catch on the biggest stage in sports. The catch is obviously tremendous considering Super Mario got both feet in bounds while catching a ball dropped directly in his breadbasket in between two defenders.
But today is about the guy who showed off a little bit of fancy footwork and an absolute hose uncorking that ball flawlessly where the only person in the universe that could have caught it was Mario Manningham. That's not the throw of a lucky man. That's the throw of a stone cold assassin that led the league with five 4th quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives in a season where he threw for 4933 yards, connected on 29 touchdowns, and dragged a team that had by far the worst rushing offense in the NFL as well as the 25th-ranked defense.
Yes, both the rushing attack and defense did improve in the playoffs. But neither was All World during the postseason while Eli was still nails for the entire Super Bowl run as he outdueled Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith (and the 49ers defense), and Tom Brady (with Bill Belichick) on the way to his 2nd Super Bowl MVP.
That's pretty good, I guess. Wait, what was that?
Eli Manning: Certified legend.
I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't shout out to the legendary Bob Sheppard for his call of Manning-to-Manninghahhhm, which remains my favorite PA announcer call other than "Number 69 reports eligible" during the Rich Seubert Era which made The Meadowlands crowd go WILD every single time.
For anyone that has some more time to burn before the end of their workday, here is the full game.
As well as highlights for people that don't have hours of work left.
For anyone I may have helped burn out their workday, feel free to pay it forward by using some of that paycheck and buying this lovely shirt that is back on sale for a limited time and almost 50% off.
