INDIANAPOLIS — Mario Manningham is no longer the New York Giants’ forgotten receiver.
Manningham emerged from the shadow of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz with a catch that will rival David Tyree’s Super Bowl helmet grab four years ago, helping the Giants knock off the New England Patriots 21-17 in the NFL championship game on Sunday.
Manningham’s catch wasn’t as improbable as Tyree’s grab that led the Giants to a 17-14 win over New England in 2008. It was just as clutch and just as timely, and Tyree was there to see it.
Running a go pattern up the left sideline on a first-and-10 from their own 12 and down 17-15, Manningham made a 38-yard over-the-shoulder catch between two defenders and right in front of Patriots coach Bill Belichick to help set up Ahmad Bradshaw’s game-winning 6-yard run with 57 seconds to go.
Belichick didn’t hesitate to challenge the catch, also contested by Sterling Moore and Patrick Chung. Referee John Parry reviewed it and saw that Manningham had both feet inbounds, putting the Giants at midfield.