The 49ers defense blew the lead - twice - and Alex Smith had to pick up the slack.
Alex Smith is NOWHERE near the QB that Eli or Flacco is...
But on the same token, people are quick to label Eli and Flacco "elite" because those guys' TEAMS carried them to a Super Bowl victory, but Alex is considered a "game manager" when over the last couple seasons he's outgunned Stafford (2x), Eli, Rodgers, Drew Brees, Big Ben, Andy Dalton, Russell Wilson, Michael Vick, Freeman, and set NFL records in the process...
\
While I agree that the elite moniker is thrown around too freely, I don't see how you can say that the Giants defense or running game carried Eli to the Super Bowl XLVI.
In 2011, I bring up the close to 5,000 yards thrown. The 27nd ranked defense and the 31st ranked rushing. But you still say that the Giants carried Eli. How?
You bring up the game against the 49ers and he still threw for 300 yards, 2 TDs and no INT. He threw for 3 TDs against the Falcons and 3 TDs against the Packers. I mean it just seems that the only game you really paid attention to was the NFC Championship.
In the Super Bowl, who cares that he only scored 1 TD, he had 75% completion out of 40 throws. Almost 300 yards. No turnovers. Tell me again how Eli was just around for the ride.
If this was 2008, it'd be a different story but Eli had a pro bowl season that year. Again, I don't care if you call him elite or not, but you make it sound like Eli is just lucky and relies on a stellar defense. But in 2011, the defense wasn't there during the regular season.
I'm obviously a Giants fan but I'm not misguided. I know Eli's regular season numbers aren't near his brother or Brees or Brady. But he's a 3 time pro bowler, has thrown the most 4th quarter TDs in a season, most yards in the post season, 2 time SB MVP. On track to 40k-50k yards and 300 tds.
I mean if you have a problem with the word elite that's fine, but his resume is up there.