Super Bowl XLVI: Eli Manning Wins the Hard Way

Giants quarterback Eli Manning has record for most 4^th quarter touchdowns in a season under his belt, and, after 2011, will go down as one of the most clutch performers in NFL history. The infamous helmet catch (that’s a drink for all of you keeping track at home) looks less like the rights guys being in the right places at the right time, and more like Eli doing what he does. How does he do it? The New York Times called him a mommas boy, and they were trying to be nice. It doesn’t help that he looks the part, or that his accomplishments are constantly dwarfed by his big brother. Eli, however, is now the proud owner of a major NFL record, two NFC Championship trophies, and an MVP-caliber season, which was over shadowed by the four other guys having MVP-caliber seasons. (Note that the two players who separated themselves from the pack, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, are not in the Super Bowl)

Unlike most of the other top QBs of his generation, who are polished pocket passers, Eli can take a hit, and while he doesn’t exhibit Ben Roethlisburger’s concrete endurance or Aaron Rodgers ability to walk off a sack like it was nothing, the pain on his face bellies a strength that is, in a way, more terrifying. Saddled with an offensive line built for run-blocking and not much else, Eli expects to be hit. While the other elite signal callers can plant their feet, scan the field, and hit the open man without fear of a grass stain, Eli knows he’s going to eat it and it won’t be one big hit that leaves him a bit woozy. No, they’re coming early and often. Peyton and Brady see sacks as either a profound failure on their part to get the ball out fast enough, or a dagger getting thrust into their backs by their linemen. For Eli, a sacks, tipped balls, and fumbles are things that happen when you play football. Protection and ball security are luxuries. It’s impossible for a defense to phase a man like that. No matter what gets thrown at him, he’s seen worse.

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