Giants-Patriots joins list of memorable rivalries

The Red Sox and Yankees have been going at it since Babe Ruth was sold from Boston to New York at the start of the Roaring Twenties.

The Celtics and Knicks have hooked up for some memorable NBA playoff series and the Bruins and Rangers boast a rich history against each other as original NHL franchises.

But when it comes to high-octane sports rivalries, the epic showdowns between the Patriots and Giants set the current standard.

"It always comes down to one or two plays in these games,'' New England quarterback Tom Brady said after Sunday's 21-17 Super Bowl setback. "If you make it, you're celebrating. If you don't, you don't sleep for a week.''

Once again, Eli Manning and the Giants did the heavy lifting on the NFL's biggest stage, hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second time in four years at New England's expense.

The Patriots entered Lucas Oil Stadium as slight favorites, riding a 10-game winning streak and seeking to avenge that shocking 17-14 Super Bowl loss to the Giants in the Arizona desert in 2008.

But after reeling off 17 consecutive points to build a 17-9 advantage, the Pats couldn't make critical defensive stops late as Manning earned his second Super Bowl MVP award.

"It's just fitting,'' said defensive tackle Justin Tuck, who registered both of New York's sacks against Brady. "The New York-Boston rivalry is at its height right now. I don't know why, but when we get together, it's going to be a nail-biter.''

Giants coach Tom Coughlin raised his record against Bill Belichick to 5-1 and the last four games in this fierce Nor'easter have been decided by a total of 14 points.

Besides providing a national audience with two thrilling Super Bowl finishes, the Giants and Patriots have split a pair of riveting regular-season matchups in recent years.

New York used a 38-35 loss to New England in the 2007 finale as a springboard for an improbable championship run. A late Randy Moss touchdown catch helped the Patriots close out the NFL's first perfect season since the '72 Dolphins, but Manning gained confidence after throwing four touchdown passes that night at the Meadowlands.

Three months ago, the Giants rallied late for a 24-20 victory at Gillette Stadium that snapped a 20-game home winning streak for the Patriots.

"These games go right to the absolute wire,'' said Coughlin, who at age 65 became the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl. "They're just incredible games between two teams that are very talented, two teams that play very hard against each other.''

As the confetti tumbled down Sunday evening, it was easy to remember Mario Manningham's wondrous 38-yard sideline grab that sparked the winning drive. A key drop by the league's premier possession receiver, Wes Welker, is likely to haunt Brady's sure-handed slot target all summer.

But what may be forgotten is just how illogical it is for Coughlin and crew to be the last team standing after a 2011 season marked by prolific passing attacks and record-breaking TV ratings.

At 9-7, the Giants posted the worst regular-season record of any Super Bowl winner. They are the only NFL champion, dating back to the league's 1920 start, with a negative scoring differential (minus-6) during the regular season.

Still, they had enough fortitude to win their final six games and torment a noted Super Bowl rival with yet another last-minute comeback.

"Mental toughness, resiliency, resolve,'' Coughlin said Monday morning, explaining how the Giants remained focus after a 7-7 start that fueled rumors of wholesale changes in 2012. "We keep playing. We keep fighting. We have a highly competitive group of players who have great trust in each other. We feel all our power is generated from team.''