Can Matty beat Brady?
HOUSTON — No one else has ever beaten the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady Patriots in a Super Bowl. Eli Manning has done it, not once, but twice, in a five-year span.
So, what is the magic Eli and the Giants possess?
“No, I don’t think there’s a secret formula,’’ Manning said Friday. “It’s not be down by two or be down by four with two minutes to go, can you create that scenario, then hit a couple of very contested throws at the end of the game to win. I don’t think that’s how you want to draw it up. Just kind of the way it worked out those games.
“Obviously Seattle was right there and was one yard away from winning a few years ago. I don’t think there’s a special formula.’’
The Giants were able to beat the Patriots after the 2007 and 2011 seasons by utilizing an identical formula: Keeping it close and lowscoring and, in the closing minutes, putting the ball in Manning’s hands.
Manning said the Giants also succeeded because they did not go into Super Bowl XLII and XLVII viewing the Patriots as unbeatable.
“We didn’t look at ‘em in awe and say ‘It’s the Patriots, it’s Bill Belichick and Tom Brady,’ ’’ said Manning, who will learn Saturday night if he is to win the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said earlier in the week that Manning, via text messages, offered advice on how to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LI. Ryan a few days later downplayed the “advice’’ aspect of the exchange with Manning.
“We’re buddies,’’ Manning said of Ryan. “Last Super Bowl we were in San Francisco, played golf together earlier in the week. Kind of been texting him through the playoffs a little bit. They’re playing well, excited for him being in the Super Bowl.’’
Manning always stops by the Super Bowl host city for promotional appearances and he admitted attending this year, with the Giants going 11-5 before getting bounced out of the playoffs by the Packers, is more difficult. “Yeah, it’s hard, especially making the playoffs and then kind of watching some of the playoff games, that desire and that want is definitely there,’’ he said. “Obviously this year we made improvements and got closer to our goal.
“I am encouraged. You win 11 games, you’re doing good things, [but] it doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed for next year.’’
Manning last year was one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which recognizes an NFL player for excellence on and off the field. No Giants player ever has won the award. Eli’s older brother, Peyton, won it in 2005.
The two other finalists this year are Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Panthers tight end Greg OlsEn. Manning, after his strong showing last year, is the favorite to win it this time around. He devotes time and energy to many worthwhile endeavors, focusing mainly on children’s charities.
“I think it’s different, it’s not like winning a Super Bowl,’’ Manning said. “If you’re just considered, it is good, it’s good enough. [It is not] win it, and say now I don’t have to do any more charitable works, I’ve reached my goal. My award is seeing the results in the research and the funding and the children’s smiles and the difference you’re making in the community. That’s the award.’’