Now, That Was the Patriots

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»

Becoming first NFL team with 6 Super Bowl titles gives Pittsburgh a leg up

(NEWSER) - Move over, 49ers. Forget the Patriots and Cowboys. The Steelers have become the unrivaled kings of the NFL, the game’s greatest franchise, Charles Robinson writes for Yahoo Sports. “Dallas can be America’s team,” said Pittsburgh defensive end Brett Keisel. “You can just call us the team with six.” That’d be six championships—more than any other NFL squad. More»

NFL's title game has seen its share of stinkers

(NEWSER) - With the big game set for Sunday, Fox Sports remembers the 10 worst Super Bowl performances. A sampling:

• Tony Eason, Patriots, Super Bowl XX: The ’85 Bears were a defense to be feared, and Eason crumbled before them. He was benched in the second after going 0 for 6 passing with one fumble.
• Craig Morton, Broncos, Super Bowl XII: Morton had the distinction of being the first QB to start a Super Bowl with two different teams, but delivered a poor performance in a loss to the Cowboys.
• David Woodley, Dolphins, Super Bowl XVII: Woodley was the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, but was pulled out after going 4 of 14 passing for 97 yards.

How the younger Manning turned his vices into virtues with one improbable drive

(NEWSER) - It took a while for New Yorkers to warm to Eli Manning and his quiet intensity, Kevin Conley writes in a profile of the Giants quarterback in Men’s Vogue, but he turned the town around with one miraculous drive—and a Super Bowl win. Manning, who lives in Hoboken, is press shy, but among his team, he’s known as a prankster. More»