The New York Giants now can say their stunning victory over the New England Patriots four years ago was not a fluke.
Eli Manning can assert he did not get lucky the first time around.
And Tom Coughlin is entitled to be called a coach every bit as great as Bill Belichick, whom he has beaten twice in the Super Bowl.
The Giants, who squeaked into the NFL playoffs, put a stamp on another miracle run through the postseason with a 21-17 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
With the victory, the Giants became the first team that went 9-7 in the regular season to emerge as Super Bowl champion. And at 65, Coughlin passed Dick Vermeil (63) as the oldest coach to win the Super Bowl.
The Patriots could not avenge their loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, when Manning pulled off the upset of the century with a game-winning drive that ruined New England’s shot at a perfect season.
In winning the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player award Sunday, Manning upstaged Tom Brady, who was denied a fourth ring that would have tied him with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks to win that many.
Manning, who won on the field his brother Peyton called home, became the 11th quarterback to start and win multiple Super Bowls. He also became the fifth player to win multiple MVP awards, joining Montana, Bradshaw, Brady, and Bart Starr.
“This isn’t about one guy,” Manning said. “This is about the team coming together and getting this win.”
Brady will have to settle for being Manning’s equal on this night, although his team wasn’t. At 31, it isn’t beyond reason to suggest that Peyton’s little brother will be back on this stage with a chance at ring No.3.
Manning was magnificent. He completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown. He did not toss an interception and completed passes to nine receivers. He ended the season in much the same way he played it, by driving the Giants to a fourth-quarter comeback victory.
And he did it again in the Super Bowl. Manning and the Giants got the ball back late, trailing, and again they put together a drive for the ages.
“We’ve won so many games like this, though, at the end of the game, the fourth quarter,” Coughlin said. “We talk about finishing all the time and winning the fourth quarter, being the stronger team, making the plays in the fourth quarter. It happened again tonight.”
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