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Eli Manning Says Two Super Bowl Wins Over Patriots Still Bother Tom Brady

In Wednesday’s Hot Clicks: how Tom Brady feels about losing two Super Bowls to Eli Manning, rare footage of Kobe Bryant and more.

Dan Gartland

Rub that in his face, Eli!

Only one quarterback has won two Super Bowls against Tom Brady: Eli Manning. The Giants’ two upset victories over the Patriots are the highlights of Manning’s otherwise slightly-above-average career and constitute the entirety of his Hall of Fame case.

But when Manning finds himself in a room with the undisputed greatest football player of all time, he doesn’t rub the two rings in Tom’s face. But that doesn’t mean that the topic doesn’t come up.

“It’s one of those things, it’s not something I ever say or ever think a lot about,’’ Manning told the New York Post when asked about his 2–0 record against the G.O.A.T. on the game’s biggest stage. “I’ve been around Tom numerous times, and I’ve never brought up a Super Bowl or our games versus them. He actually brings it up. It still bothers him a little bit, especially the ’07 one when they had the chance to go down as the greatest team of all time.

“But I don’t have any bragging rights with Tom. This is his 10th Super Bowl, and I’m so impressed with his whole career.’’

Really, Eli? Your Houdini-like escape and subsequent throw to David Tyree for the helmet catch is one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history. It was a miracle that denied a team a perfect 19–0 record. You deserve to hold that over the head of the guy you beat. As a little brother, you should know to seize any opportunity to brag.

It’s not surprising that Brady’s Super Bowl losses still sting. According to Google Trends data, people didn’t start anointing Brady as the greatest quarterback ever until he led the Patriots back from a 28–3 deficit against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI to win his fifth ring, surpassing Joe Montana’s record. Imagine how much sooner Brady would have been recognized as the best to ever do it if he hadn’t lost back-to-back Super Bowls to a guy who led the league in interceptions three times. 

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A good song

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Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).

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