enlarge The Associated Press

Giants quarterback Eli Manning holds his MVP trophy at a news conference Monday, a day after engineering a late drive for the winning TD against the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

PHOENIX — Eli Manning picked up his trophy and his car Monday morning as the MVP of Super Bowl XLII. And in listening to him and New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin, you could have sworn you were listening to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

Ever so humble, praising his teammates and coaches for their resiliency and dedication, Manning was as impressive at the podium as he was in directing the Giants to their stunning 17-14 upset of the New England Patriots Sunday night, ending the Patriots' hopes of completing the first 19-0 season in NFL history.

"We just had a great will on this team and it was the right group of guys," Manning said. "It was a special group of guys. We were determined and we had great faith in ourselves.

"Everybody knew their role and their responsibility and no matter what happened, what we've been through, it helped that a lot of the players have been together the last three or four years and we've learned to deal with adversity.

"We've had to overcome mistakes or bad play or disappointment and had to put it behind us."

Manning completed 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter. He found Plaxico Burress for the winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining.

Manning spent Sunday night with his family and friends, reliving the game and watching the highlights on television.

"I didn't get much sleep," he said. "I finally got into my room and I had to turn on the TV and watch some of the highlights, watch the game again.

"When I finally made the commitment to get some sleep, I just kind of sat there with my eyes wide open, replaying plays in my head."

He especially needed to see the 32-yard catch by David Tyree, not only the pivotal play of the game but one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

The Giants were facing a third-and-5 at their 44. Manning dropped back was swarmed by the Patriots' rush.

Adalius Thomas brushed him, Jarvis Green grabbed the back of his jersey at the neck. Still, Manning didn't go down.

"People were asking me how I got out of that jam I was in and I really don't know," said Manning. "They never pulled me down. I felt them holding me, but I never felt anybody pull me to the ground."

Manning somehow broke free, stumbled back out of the scrum and righted his feet. Then he heaved it downfield to Tyree, who leaped and got two hands on the ball.

Safety Rodney Harrison plowed into Tyree, bending him backward, and Tyree's left hand came off the ball. But his right hand didn't and the ball somehow stuck to his helmet. As Tyree fell he grabbed the ball - still on his helmet -with both hands and held it.

When asked Sunday night how he did it, Tyree said: "Some things I can't naturally explain but some things I can supernaturally explain."

Manning said he'll remember everything about that final 83-yard drive. Each play is etched in his memory and he knows the contribution of every teammate.

Of his MVP trophy, he said: "If I could give it to the whole team, I would. To win a championship, everybody has to do their role and everybody has to do their part."

Manning, who chose a Cadillac Escalade hybrid as his car, said his goal now is to become a better quarterback.

"Toward the end of the season I was playing well, but I've got to do it over a whole season and cut down on my mistakes," he said.

When asked how his life has changed, he said: "I'm a Super Bowl champion."

THERE WAS a moment of levity at the postgame press conference. Manning was asked how he planned to spend the next couple of weeks. He said he planned to rest and that he didn't know when the offseason conditioning program would start. "Coach (Tom) Coughlin will have all those details," Manning said. "Hopefully we get a little break."

Coughlin, seated to Manning's left, said loudly enough...