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Eli Manning's first of many game-winning TD drives (video)

Leg of Theismann : 1/24/2020 3:47 pm
Against Dallas in '04.

I never thought about the fact that this was the last game Wellington Mara ever saw (as John Mara recounted today, Wellington said to him: "I think we got our guy"). How fitting that the final game he saw was Eli's first comeback and a foreshadowing of all the great things to come in Eli's career.

What a gutsy audible by Eli running the ball at the end there. Equally as gutsy a lot of those winning TD passes he threw with & lt; 2 min to go actually. If Tiki doesn't get in there the clock very well could have run out and flat out ended the game (no TD, no FG, nothing). Classic Eli just living in the present moment, living on the edge, saying fuck it and just going for the win.

Like Peyton said: Eli always wanted the ball in his hands, and he wanted the TD, not just the "Field goal to tie." And as Peyton said a lot of guys like to talk/act like they have that type of mentality and have what it takes to get it done but when it comes down to it very few actually do.
Giants vs. Dallas 2004 - NYG final drive - ( New Window )
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SFGFNCGiantsFan : 1/24/2020 3:49 pm : link
That was an awesome win & definitely gave us some optimism heading into '05.
I was there that day  
JohnB : 1/24/2020 3:57 pm : link
tickets were dirt cheap and I scored two in the lower part of the stadium. A great win.
I was surprised when I heard John say that  
Chris684 : 1/24/2020 3:58 pm : link
all these years I always thought the Denver game was Wellington's last football memory.

I guess we know now that while Wellington was still alive for the 05 season, apparently he was unaware of what was going on with the games.

But still, last memory being 04 finale is a good one!
RE: I was surprised when I heard John say that  
Leg of Theismann : 1/24/2020 4:05 pm : link
In comment 14792745 Chris684 said:
Quote:
all these years I always thought the Denver game was Wellington's last football memory.

I guess we know now that while Wellington was still alive for the 05 season, apparently he was unaware of what was going on with the games.

But still, last memory being 04 finale is a good one!


I guess either one would be a pretty great last game to send Wellington out on! I wonder if John meant it was the last game Wellington saw in person. But I suppose it is possible his health had deteriorated to a point that he wasn't aware of the '05 Denver game.

Either way, like we said, both were great drives. If both the last one he saw in person AND the last one he saw on TV (or was at least alive for) were dramatic Eli game-winning TD-drives I'd say you couldn't ask for anything better than that, nor anything that could epitomize Eli and what was still to come any better than that.
Tiki and the offensive line  
Keyser : 1/24/2020 6:01 pm : link
The real stars of this drive were Tiki Barber and the offensive line.

I forget sometimes how good Tiki Barber really was.
Tiki  
Ike#88 : 1/25/2020 6:31 pm : link
had a great run as his career was winding down. Very productive and defenses had to be focused on him as job one.
Thanks Leg  
5BowlsSoon : 1/25/2020 6:47 pm : link
I loved it! What a memory....and I forgot that too.
Amazing to see Eli on the sideline  
BBelle21 : 1/25/2020 10:57 pm : link
Before that drive talking to Coughlin. He looked like a young college rookie with a slight shoulder slump, a bit disheveled and unsure. His body even looked a little underdeveloped. His jersey was a bit crinkled over it.

To see him there and then see the field general he transformed into is incredible. Everything about him by the end looked like a sharpened diamond. The five star captain patch, Walter Payton patch, shoulders back. A look of complete confidence and leadership in his face and body. Fascinating to see him transform into an icon.
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