Manning wins another Super Bowl MVP

Indianapolis, IN – Is Eli Manning elite? That's likely no longer a concern for the New York Giants quarterback.

Manning won his second Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award Sunday after leading the Giants on another game-winning drive against the Patriots.

He orchestrated an 88-yard march that ended in Ahmad Bradshaw's go-ahead six- yard touchdown with 57 seconds remaining that lifted New York to a 21-17 win.

Of course, Manning also led an 83-yard drive to capture the 2008 Super Bowl over the Patriots, which ended New England's hopes of a perfect season and ended with Manning winning MVP.

Just as New York's winning drive four years ago had an instant-classic play, this one got its goosebumps moment with 3:39 remaining.

It was Mario Manningham's 38-yard catch near the left sideline on the first play of the drive, which took the Giants to midfield. Manningham got behind cornerback Sterling Moore, and took a hit from safety Patrick Chung, but kept his feet in bounds for the catch.

The play was upheld upon review, with Manningham scraping his back foot on the turf before he tumbled head-first out of bounds.

"A remarkable thing," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

Manning was 5-of-6 for 74 yards on the drive and passed big brother Peyton by winning his second Super Bowl ring.

He finished the game 30-of-40 for 296 yards and a touchdown pass to Victor Cruz in the first quarter, capping an improbable run that began when the Giants made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season.

"I'm proud of these guys, proud of the way we fought all year," said Manning. "We never got discouraged."

Manning joined Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Hall of Famers Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana as the only players in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP multiple times.

In the process, he fully put to rest any lingering doubts over his standing as an elite NFL quarterback, doing so six months after stirring criticism by saying he considered himself on equal footing with Brady.

"This isn't about one person," Manning said. "This is about a team coming together, getting this win. I'm just proud of our guys."