Super Bowl 50: Top 15 quarterback performances of all-time
By John Buhler
7. Eli Manning, New York Giants, Super Bowl XLII
Eli Manning was forever stuck in the shadows of his older brother Peyton and his father Archie until he led the New York Giants to arguably the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.
Manning’s pass to never-used wideout David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII will go down as one of the five greatest plays in Super Bowl history, not just because Tyree needed his helmet to catch the football, but because Manning’s Giants beat then the undefeated New England Patriots, 17-14.
The 2007 New England Patriots are the best team to never win a Super Bowl. Tom Brady had a brilliant wideout in Randy Moss to heave touchdown passes to. The Patriots went 16-0 during the regular season and made it to the Super Bowl unscathed. New England entered Super Bowl XLII as a 12-point favorite over New York. Nobody outside of the Giants locker room thought that New York had a chance.
Instead, Manning rose to the occasion in the Arizona desert, completing 19-of-34 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Sure, Manning had a brilliant New York pass rush of Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora to count on getting pressure on Brady, but he still had to lead an offense that needed to put up points on the Patriots formidable defense.
Ironically, the giant-killer happened to play for the Giants in Manning. He would again lead the Giants to another Super Bowl victory over the same Patriots four years later in Super Bowl XLVI. However, it would be this game, particularly the improbable scramble that led to the Tyree helmet catch that will elevate Manning’s credentials when he is considered for Canton enshrinement.
Next: 6. Super Bowl III