ESPNews's Mike Rosenhouse looks at the key moments that secured the Giants 21-17 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

By Mike Rosenhouse

It's tough for a game to live up to two weeks of hype. It's tough for a game to come down to a final play. It's tough to be a rematch that's as classic as the game before, but this Super Bowl was just that.

The New York Giants are NFL champions for the second time in four years, and just like their win over the Patriots in 2008, it was a thrilling finish that sealed the win. Here's a look at how the Giants became champions again.

Bridging the Halves

It wasn't the most exciting first half as the Giants jumped out to a 9-0 lead, and after that, the game stalled a bit. However, just before halftime, New England quarterback Tom Brady led a 96 yard touchdown drive, and suddenly the Patriots were ahead 10-9.

After Madonna lit up the stadium at the break, New England continued to grab the momentum. Brady's 12-yard touchdown to Aaron Hernandez put the Pats in front 17-9.

The Almost Catch and THE Catch

The game was headed for a nervy ending as the Patriots led 17-15 going into the fourth quarter. With just more than nine minutes left in the game, Brady was putting together what looked to be the championship drive. His offense was running time off the clock and moving the ball down the field. Then came the key play - with about four minutes left to play, Brady threw a pass that was just, and I mean just, too high for Wes Welker. The ball went off the wide receiver's hands. It would have been a first down and put the Patriots into scoring range. Instead, the Giants had the ball two plays later.

So, here we are with 3:46 left on the clock. As he's done all year, Giants quarterback Eli Manning owned the fourth quarter. On the first play of the drive, he turned everything around. Manning threw a 38 yard pass to Mario Manningham, and the receiver made a stellar catch down the sidelines. Just like that, New York were threatening. It all felt eerily similar to Super Bowl XLII, where Manning kept a drive alive against the Patriots with a 32 yard pass to David Tyree.

After a couple more plays, Ahmad Bradshaw ran in a touchdown to give the Giants a 21-17 lead with 57 seconds left.

Hail to the Victors

Tom Brady is famous for his game winning drives, and this would have added to his legend. He opened the drive with two passes that his receivers simply dropped. Eventually though, Brady got the Patriots into a position to have one shot at the end zone.

He threw the "Hail Mary" pass, and at that moment, all American Football fans had their hearts skip a beat. When the ball fell incomplete in the end zone, it was all over. The Giants had won their fourth Super Bowl title. Eli Manning got his second MVP award. The Patriots were on the losing end of a nail biter again.

It's tough for a game to be exactly what sports fans wanted, but this one was. It was close. It was dramatic. It was football at its finest.