Few defensive players know Giants QB Eli Manning any better than Eagles CB Asante Samuel.

When Samuel faces Manning today, it will be the fifth time in the past 379 days that the two have squared off. That’s five times in their past 22 games.

The two players went against each other in last season’s regular-season finale, then again in the Super Bowl, then twice more this season, splitting the four games.

Sunday’s game will be the rubber match, and Samuel, who played for the Patriots last season, has the chance for revenge.

Think back to last season’s Super Bowl. One play before Giants WR David Tyree made the catch that’s remembered as the greatest play in Super Bowl history, Samuel had a Manning interception in his hands that would have clinched the game and a 19-0 season for the Patriots. The usually sure-handed Samuel dropped it.

It’s the play that most people forget because of Manning’s pass to Tyree moments later. But Samuel had the football and history in his hands, and both slipped away.

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