Eli Manning: Top 10 Performances Of His Career

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Dec 22, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) gives a play in the huddle during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Giants beat the Lions 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

1. Super Bowl XLII vs. New England Patriots

Final Score: 17-14

We’ve hit the plateau of Manning’s top 10 games and it’s come down to arguably one of the biggest upsets in sports history, Super Bowl XLII. In a game where the Patriots were entering with no losses and looking to become NFL’s first ever team to go 19-0, Manning had to spoil the party. It came in 2008, only Manning’s third year in the big league and this showed the world what he was really about.

Again, like Super Bowl XLVI, it wasn’t his stat line that makes the list, but his unwillingness to go down. This game will forever credit Manning’s ability comeback no matter what. It wasn’t the best game for Manning stat wise as he threw for 255 yards on 19 completions scoring two touchdowns and throwing one interception. Manning’s clutch performance is what got the Giants’ third Super Bowl and his first ring.

The Giants were down 14-10 with only three minutes to play and starting at their own 17-yard line, Manning threw which is probably the biggest pass ever in his career. After the Giants managed to get on their own 44 yard line, Manning was looking downfield, but had no open targets. Manning scrambled in and out of the pocket and threw up the ball that would land on the sure helmet of David Tyree who held on the ball for dear life with one hand.

After the amazing grab that nobody, not even Manning could believe, the Giants found the endzone and scored. Manning found Burress in right end for 13 yards that would be the decisive touchdown. After, Brady couldn’t get in the end zone and the Giants were crowned champions.

It’s games like these that people will forever remember, especially Manning. Till this day, Manning is regarded as one of the key players in that Super Bowl victory, which is the reason why he was awarded MVP.

There’s been many more games in which Manning has excelled, but these top 10 no doubt define his career. No, he will never reach the stats of the legend quarterbacks, but he will go down in history as one of the greats. Manning set the tone for comebacks in any sport and he’s done it when it matters the most– the championship game.

Next: Eli Manning: 5 Reasons He Will Be A Hall Of Famer

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