2. 2011 NFC Championship Game
What even needs to be said about this game? Years from now when the debate over Eli Manning’s Hall of Fame candidacy reaches fever pitch, this will be the performance most point to in his favor.
The San Francisco 49ers sported one of the league’s best defensed in 2011 and they were on fire during the NFC Championship Game, pounding Manning into the ground on what seemed like every play.
In the days, weeks, months and years after, Manning’s teammates would admit and still admit they didn’t expect him to get up at certain points. But Eli never wavered, never complained and never dressed down his teammates. In true iron man fashion, he kept getting up and kept playing.
This game is arguably one of the best in Giants history and each time you watch it, it becomes more evident why.
Ultimately, a few special teams miscues would doom the 49ers, leaving Lawrence Tynes to kick the Giants back into the Super Bowl, once again coming in overtime.
There are many heroes from this game not named Manning, but it’s hard to overlook the significance of his performance. Still, Victor Cruz, Lawrence Tynes, Jacquian Williams, Devin Thomas and several others all deserve a tip of the cap.