Eli Manning holds the Lombardi Trophy in Reebok Super Bowl gear.

words // Brandon Richard

Once again with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning delivered. Picking apart the New England Patriots’ secondary with crisp passes to Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, Manning set up a six-yard Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown run to give New York a 21-17 lead with with less than a minute to play. That drive will live on as one of the most memorable in NFL history, as it was the Super Bowl XLVI clincher.

Manning was just about as sharp as one could ask their quarterback to be, completing 30 of his 40 passes for 296 yards in the game. Hakeem Nicks caught 10 passes for 109 yards, while Mario Manningham came up huge in the fourth quarter, including an incredible 38-yarder in the fourth quarter that set the game-winning drive in motion. Ahmad Bradshaw led all rushers with 67 yards and a touchdown.

At times, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looked like the 3-time Super Bowl Champion we’ve come to know. Other times, not so much. During a stretch between the second and third quarters, Brady completed 16 straight passes, breaking Joe Montana’s previous record of 15. Tom also helped the Patriots tie a Super Bowl record, leading the team to a 96-yard scoring drive prior to halftime. However, Brady also made a few uncharacteristic throws that certain had a hand in how the game played out. At the start of the 4th quarter, he under-threw a deep ball to tight end Rob Gronkowski that was intercepted. Brady also misplaced a throw to a wide open Wes Welker later in the fourth, though Welker still should have made the grab. Even with all of that taking place, the Patriots had a chance to win the game late, but a last-second Brady Hail Mary pass was batted to the turf.

With 15 players remaining from the 2008 Giants team that beat the Patriots, this game served as somewhat of a repeat. One of those players was Eli Manning, who not only shut the door on any debate of him being an elite quarterback, but opened the door on a Hall of Fame selection. Do you think Eli is heading to Canton?

Before we close the door on the 2011-2012 season, read on for a look at the football cleats worn in Super bowl XLVI in today’s NFL Watch. We’ll be back for the 2012 NFL Combine!

Eli Manning warms up in Reebok football cleats.

Rob Gronkowski fought through an ankle sprain in heavily-taped Nike Zoom Alpha Talon cleats.

Victor Cruz salsas in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite.

Aaron Hernandez wearing Nike Super Speed.

Tom Brady celebrates the pass in Under Armour football cleats.

Danny Woodhead catches a touchdown pass in the Nike Zoom Vapor Carbon Fly.

Hakeem Nicks makes a grab in the Nike Zoom Alpha Talon.

Wes Welker drops a critical pass in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite.

Justin Tuck celebrates a sack in Zoom Flyposite Nike football cleats.

Mario Manningham makes the catch of his life in Vapor Talon Elite 3/4 Nike football cleats.

Ahmad Bradshaw scored the game-winning touchdown in Reebok Zig football cleats.

images via Yahoo