INDIANAPOLIS — In a move reminiscent of Terrell Davis‘ fourth-quarter run in Super Bowl XXXII, the Patriots let Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw score the go-ahead TD with 57 seconds left to allow Tom Brady one last chance at the Super Bowl XLVI title.

Of course, it was the Packers who let Davis score in a similar situation (a 1-yard run with 1:45 left) in the 1997 game, and that plan backfired: John Elway and the Broncos won their first Super Bowl title when Brett Favre couldn’t lead a game-winning drive. It didn’t work for the Patriots, either, as Brady’s last-gasp pass fell to the ground amid a scrum of Giants and Patriots in the end zone.

But it seemed Bradshaw didn’t know how to react against the passive Patriots defense, and he almost stopped 1 yard short of the goal line. But he didn’t, going in from 6 yards out, and the Giants took a 21-17 lead.

The touchdown was made possible by Mario Manningham‘s ridiculous catch on the opening play of the drive. Manningham hauled in beautiful deep ball from Eli Manning for a 38-yard gain, moving the chains to midfield.

– David Ely

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