Patriots Edge Out Ravens, Go to Super Bowl

But in Super Bowl XLVI, Manning made a hero of himself

(NEWSER) - Last night's big game was intensely fought, undeniably exciting—and a little mystifying, thanks to Eli Manning's unusual brand of heroism. Analysts weigh in on the game's place in football history:

• Last night brought us "the most Eli Manning moment of Eli Manning’s career." During the game-winning touchdown, we saw "a hero shot in which the conqueror looks totally confused by his conquest," with "arms half-raised in quasi-triumph." His quiet humility was the polar opposite of Tom Brady's "aggro posture," but it remains "difficult to understand," writes Josh Levin at Slate .

Bundchen defends Tom Brady after Patriots' Super Bowl loss

(NEWSER) - Gisele Bundchen made headlines last week when she asked friends and family to pray for her husband's team to win the Super Bowl, but as we all know, those prayers went unheard. Bundchen was decidedly less sappy in her post-game comments last night, caught on tape as she left the VIP suites on her way to comfort Tom Brady. "My husband can not f****ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time," she said as she was heckled by Giants fans. "I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times." The Insider has the video. More»

(AP) - Pittsburgh used its dominating defense to beat the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14, in tonight's AFC championship game and return to the Super Bowl, the AP reports. Santonio Holmes scored on an electrifying 65-yard catch-and-run in the first half, and hard-hitting safety Troy Polamalu returned an interception 40 yards for a clinching TD with 4:24 remaining for the Steelers (14-4). More»

Fans ignore poor weather for send off at Foxboro

(NEWSER) - There's been a Tom Brady sighting—and this time he was neither limping nor wearing a boot. The star quarterback and his teammates today took part in a pep rally at Gillette Stadium before leaving for next week's Super Bowl XLII in Arizona. Today he proclaimed himself ready to play, certainly to the delight of Pats fans everywhere. More»

Star QB missing during media sessions for second straight day

(NEWSER) - Send out the search party. Tom Brady wasn't at practice or in the locker room for the second straight day during the media's allotted time, fueling speculation about the severity of an apparent ankle injury suffered earlier in the playoffs. And as usual, New England coach Bill Belichick offered no insight into his star quarterback's absence during a press conference. More»