In what will be thought of as the biggest play of Super Bowl XLVI, Mario Manningham pulled in a 38-yard pass from Eli Manning to move the Giants to midfield with 3:39 left in the fourth quarter.

The Giants once again were knocking on the door in the third quarter, this time with a touchdown giving them a Super Bowl lead over the Patriots. But New England’s defense once again came up key plays to keep New York out of the end zone.

It looked like the Giants were on pace to score answer the Patriots with a second-half touchdown, but then Patrick Chung laid the wood on Hakeem Nicks.

In building their 9-0 lead over the New England Patriots in the first quarter, the New York Giants benefited from two key plays. The first came from their defense and the second was a mistake from the Patriots.

The Giants’ defense drew first blood, but it was their offense that deepened the wound late in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLVI.

The Giants’ first drive started out with promise, with Eli Manning marching them inside the Patriots’ 40-yard line. But New England’s defense stood up.

We’ve covered a lot of Super Bowl XLVI pregame, but let’s round up a few final notes.

We’re less than two hours away from kickoff, and Lucas Oil Field is starting to get hot.

Celebrated chef John Besh spoke with NFL.com on Friday and played a little word-association game involving the Patriots, Giants and some of the NFL’s biggest stars.

You wouldn’t expect Eli Manning to embrace the pressures of playing quarterback in New York. But to hear Manning talk, it’s all about being himself.

Our friends at EA Sports simulated Super Bowl XLVI on Madden 2012, and as many have predicted the game came down to a final fourth-quarter drive.

We are two days from the Super Bowl. It’s a magical number for quarterbacks, because signal-callers who win two Super Bowls seem almost destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Volunteers around the city haven’t failed to greet fans and media members with “Have a Super Day” during Super Bowl week, and that spirit of Midwestern hospitality has extended to the University of Indianapolis, the Giants’ practice home.

For a team that’s gone a combined 8-24 in the past two seasons, the Carolina Panthers sure are a confident bunch. Of course, that’s what happens when a player like Cam Newton bursts onto the scene.

Bill Romanowski, four-time Super Bowl winner, is pounding a smoothie as we begin our conversation. The former linebacker has a few things to say about preparing for the biggest game of the season.