Super Bowl XLVI Recap: Giants Rally To Beat Patriots 21-17 In Thrilling Super Bowl

Indianapolis, IN – Game MVP Eli Manning led an 88-yard, go-ahead touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, and the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday. The victory was the New York franchise’s fourth Super Bowl title, and its second in five years.

Out of time-outs and with the Giants in position for a potential game-winning field goal, New England allowed New York running back Ahmad Bradshaw to score uncontested on a 6-yard touchdown run with 1:04 to play. Given the opportunity to win the game on the final possession, Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady had 57 seconds to lead New England to a touchdown. After helping his team move the ball near midfield, Brady’s desperation pass into the end zone was knocked away as time expired.

Brady’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez with 11:20 left in the third quarter had given the Patriots a 17-9 lead, but Mannning and the Giants got field goals of 38 and 33 yards from Lawrence Tynes to pull within 17-15 heading into the final quarter.

Manning completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown. New York’s Hakeem Nicks caught 10 passes for 109 yards, while teammate Mario Manningham had five catches for 73 yards, including a spectacular 38-yard grab on the final drive which helped propel the Giants to victory. Bradshaw carried 17 times for 72 yards and the game-winning score.

Brady completed 27 of 41 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Hernandez caught eight passes for 67 yards and a score. New England’s Wes Welker had seven catches for 60 yards, but he couldn’t haul in a pass deep in Giants’ territory on the Patriots next-to-last drive that could have kept New York from getting the ball back at the end of the game.