Super Bowl MVP balloting typically is just a matter of the voters being able to identify the winning quarterback. (It's a good thing this Giants fan was not asked to cast a vote.) But there are a number of unsung heroes who often go unnoticed. Here is a look at some of the biggest ones for the Giants:
Chase Blackburn
Tom Brady probably couldn't believe it when he saw Blackburn -- who didn't even start the season with the Giants -- trying to keep up with Rob Gronkowski 50 yards downfield. But Brady underthrew the ball and Blackburn made one of the most unlikely interceptions in Super Bowl history.
On NFL Network
"NFL Replay" will re-air the
Giants' 21-17 win over the
Patriots in
Super Bowl XLVI on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. ET.
"I had to carry Gronkowski," Blackburn said after the game. "I heard the crowd go wild a little bit, and I thought we had a sack. But I continued to see Gronk go up the field, and I just tried to stay with him. When I saw him look back, I looked back for the ball, and when I spotted it, I tried to just block out and go up for a rebound like in basketball."
Justin Tuck
Some could say Tuck deserved the Super Bowl MVP award in the Giants' previous Super Bowl win over the Patriots four years ago. He might have been even better in Super Bowl XLVI. Tuck again sacked Tom Brady twice and there were a number of times when he sent Patriots sprawling to the ground just after Brady threw the ball.
Mario Manningham
Manning has benefited from having his receivers make some incredible plays, starting with David Tyree's helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII. Manningham came close to duplicating the feat with his feet as he contorted himself like a Cirque Du Soleil acrobat on a 38-yard over-the-shoulder grab on the Giants' winning drive.
"After I caught that, I figured we're going to win," he said.
The only question was if he really did get his feet down. Patriots coach Bill Belichick immediately challenged the call, but Manningham indeed pulled off yet another big-time play.
Steve Weatherford
Al Davis thought so much of special teams, he once used a first-round pick on Ray Guy. So it seemed like a fitting homage to the late Raiders owner that Weatherford would have a huge impact on the game. Weatherford pinned the Patriots on the 6-yard line with his first punt of the day. The Giants got a safety on the next play.
Who knows what could have happened if Weatherford had booted the ball into the end zone, but this led to the Patriots' slow start. A huge play in the first quarter is just as big as one in the fourth quarter, however, no way a punter is going to be selected as the Super Bowl MVP.
So who was the biggest unsung hero of the game? And no, you can't vote for Bernard Pollard.
Follow Adam Rank on Twitter @adamrank.
