Manning Comes Through [J. Mark English]

After Samuels interception in the first half, which put the Patriots up 21-3, Manning was perhaps at the lowest point of his career. He was well on his way to losing yet another game in the playoffs, at home, and to the Patriots. But for the first time, he did something he has never done before. He never did it at Tennessee, and never before in Indy. He showed that he could will a team to victory when it mattered the most.

In the spirit of Rocky, he showed the eye of a tiger, and looked deep within for that extra something, that special thing that great players posses, and average players lament that they don't have. He spearheaded a gutsy comeback. And every time the Colts tied the score, after the Patriots would retake the lead, he kept fighting. He kept his team alive. He used the worst moment of his career to redefine who he was as a player. And now he may be remembered as not only a great quarterback, but as a winner.

As a Giants fan, knowing that Eli Manning was in a luxury box watching the game, I can only hope that he learned something from this game. That no matter how hard things are, you can still fight back. You can still win.