Eli Manning's Giant Win 'Feels Good'

Feb. 4, 2008 — -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning led his teammates to a giant upset over the New England Patriots Sunday night in Super Bowl XLII, with the 27-year-old finishing his rival's previously undefeated season with one simple, perfect spiral.

"It feels good," Manning said today on "Good Morning America." "You can't describe it. You jump up for joy and that's what we did."

The Glendale, Ariz., desert duel wasn't decided until the final minute of the fourth quarter, when the Giants came from behind to beat New England quarterback Tom Brady and his comrades, 17-14.

For Manning, who was voted the game's most valuable player, the thrill of being at the Super Bowl and watching a team grab the championship was a familiar feeling. Last year he watched his older brother, Peyton Manning, lead the Indianapolis Colts to the title.

"I was there for him last year. I know how fired up he was for [me to win]," Manning said.

Peyton Manning returned the favor and cheered his younger brother on from box seats during the game and eagerly greeted him afterward.

"He came in the locker room and said, 'I'm so proud of you. I know what you are going through,'" Manning said of his brother.

Manning said his brother told him his final 13-yard touchdown throw to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left would go down as one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

His feat was all the more impressive because the Patriots, who were 18-0 before their loss, were favored heavily to win the game and had beaten the wild-card Giants during the regular season.

Brady, the two-time Super Bowl MVP, helped his team best the 1972 Miami Dolphins' number of wins, but the Dolphins remain the the only team to finish a season undefeated after winning the Super Bowl to complete a perfect 17-0 season.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin wanted his team to know what it was like to have a victory, Manning said. The team had a series of ups and downs throughout the season, which began with two losses and some pundits calling the Giants one of the worst teams in the league.

But New York and New Jersey fans never seemed to give up on their home team and joyfully chanted "18-1" throughout streets after the game.