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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»

Tom Brady has minute to win it, but New England Patriots can't pull it off

(AP) - Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute score to beat New England 21-17 for New York's fourth Super Bowl title. It was a rematch of the 2008 NFL championship, when Manning led New York past New England to ruin the Patriots' bid for a perfect season. This was the first Super Bowl with two starting quarterbacks who previously won the big game's MVP award—and they took turns being brilliant. More»

Ravens miss last-minute, 32-yard field goal

(AP) - Tom Brady has the New England Patriots back in the Super Bowl. The Patriots beat the stunned Ravens 23-20 in the AFC championship game today after Baltimore's Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal attempt with 11 seconds remaining that would have tied the score. Brady scored the winning touchdown when he leaped over the vaunted Ravens defense in the fourth quarter. More»

No miracles, as New England crushes Denver 45-10

(NEWSER) - This time, there were no miracles, no 3:16s, and no Hail Marys—Tim Tebow was dispatched from the NFL playoffs as suddenly as he entered, as the New England Patriots routed the Denver Broncos 45-10, reports the AP . Instead of passing for 316 yards , as in Denver's victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers , Tebow completed just 136, as the Broncos fell behind early and never mounted a serious challenge to New England. "We just weren't able to get it going," said Tebow. More»