Top 5 defining moments

After an action-packed Super Bowl XLVI, sportsnet.ca takes a look at the five defning and memorable moments from the New York Giants' 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots.

1) Mario Manningham makes 38-yard catch:

The Patriots focused on stopping Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks but it was Mario Manningham that stepped up for New York.

With the Giants trailing by three in the final three minutes, Eli Manning found Manningham down the left sideline for a 38-yard catch. Manningham, who finished with five receptions for 73 yards, beat two New England defenders to make a tough over-the-shoulder catch on a perfectly thrown ball from Manning.

The game-changing catch set up New York's game-winning score and will be remembered as the David Tyree moment from Super Bowl XLVI.

2) Wes Welker's costly drop:

The Patriots had the opportunity to put the game away with four minutes to play in the final quarter. Brady found a wide-open Wes Welker down the left sideline on a second-and-11 but the reliable wide receiver couldn't hang onto the ball.

If Welker came up with the catch, the Patriots would've received a new set of downs inside field goal range. But the Patriots ended up punting and giving possession back to the Giants.

Welker, who has been the Patriots' most reliable receiver over the past four seasons, took the bulk of blame after the game.

"It hit me right in the hands," Welker said. "I mean, it's a play I never drop, I always make. Most critical situation, I let the team down."

3) Ahmad Bradshaw's game-winning touchdown

After New England called a timeout with 1:04 left to play, Ahmad Bradshaw took a handoff from Eli Manning on the Pats' six-yard line, but the Patriots decided they would be better off allowing the Giants to score and give the ball back to Tom Brady with more time.

Bradshaw had a clear lane to the end zone, but he didn't realize that he wasn't supposed to score until it was too late. The Giants running back tried to go down and run more time off the clock but Bradshaw couldn't control his momentum and fell into the end zone.

"Eli (Manning) was telling me to go down," Bradshaw told the Newark Star-Ledger. "He was saying, 'Don't score! Don't score!' I grabbed the ball and it really didn't click at the one-yard line, so I tried to put myself down. But my momentum just took me in."

4) Chase Blackburn's interception:

The most important play that no one seems to be talking about was the impressive coverage downfield from unheralded Giants linebacker in the fourth quarter.

On the play, Tom Brady amazingly escaped pressure from Justin Tuck and launched a pass down the field to an open Rob Gronkowski. But, the tight end's banged-up ankle affected his mobility and couldn't come back for the ball when Brady underthrew it.

Blackburn amazingly showed the range to stay with Gronkowski down the field and his interception ended up being a massive momentum swing after the Giants had allowed three straight scores and played a large role in the Giants' comeback victory.

5) Tom Brady penalty leads to safety

The Patriots surely didn't get off to the fast start they were looking for. On New England's first offensive play, Tom Brady was under pressure and desperately had to get rid of the ball. He couldn't find anyone open and launched the pass to an open area.

Unfortunately, Brady was flagged for intentional grounding and the Giants were awarded two points for the safety. Those two points ended up hurting New England down the stretch as the team could've been within a field goal instead of having to rely on a Hail Mary pass at the end of the game.