His older brother built this house.

Sunday, Eli Manning raised the roof.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning, the MVP of Super Bowl XLVI, celebrates with the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Patriots, 21-17, on Sunday in Indianapolis. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press / February 5, 2012)

The sleepy-eyed New York Giants quarterback woke the past, beating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in four years -- a 21-17 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium.

In the 2008 game, the signature play was an against-all-odds completion to David Tyree, who pinned the ball to his helmet as he fell to the ground, a catch that set up the winning touchdown in the final minute.

This time, the rub-your-eyes reception was a 38-yarder dropped into the hands of Mario Manningham on the first play of the drive to another last-minute winning TD. He beat two defenders and just got his feet in before tumbling out of bounds. The play was unsuccessfully challenged by the Patriots.

"I knew as soon as the ball hit my fingertips, I was going to have to freeze my feet," Manningham said. "I kind of knew I was in."

The deciding touchdown was a six-yard run up the middle by Ahmad Bradshaw with 57 seconds to play. The Patriots allowed him to score in order to get the ball back in the hands of Tom Brady for one more chance.

Bradshaw attempted to stop just short of the goal line so the Giants -- who trailed 17-15 and needed only a field goal to win -- could use more of the clock, but his momentum carried him and he tumbled backward into the end zone.

Brady, who was going for his fourth ring, took possession with 57 seconds left after a touchback on the kickoff, and got his team to midfield, but his Hail Mary heave on the final play fell incomplete.

"We fought to the end," Brady said. "I'm very proud of that. We just came up a little short.

"It always comes down to one or two plays in this game. If you make it, you're celebrating. If you don't, you don't sleep for a week."

Once again, Manning was named the game's most valuable player, after completing 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown on the same field where his older brother Peyton, a four-time NFL MVP, has orchestrated so many victories for the Indianapolis Colts.

Source: LA Times | Sam Farmer