NFL

Giants survive Patriots Hail Mary

INDIANAPOLIS — The ball hung in the air for what felt like a lifetime, even longer for any Giants player or fan in Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Giants know all about improbable Hail Mary’s, using one successfully before halftime in their Divisional round win over the Packers. The Patriots tried one of their own on the final play of Super Bowl XLVI, with the jump ball nearly pulled in by tight end Aaron Hernandez.

“We knew it was going to be a toss-up and I saw it in the air and the defender got up more than me,” Hernandez said, referencing Giants safety Kenny Phillips, who knocked the ball away to preserve the 21-17 Giants win.

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Defensive end Justin Tuck had to watch helplessly after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady flicked the ball 60 yards down the field. Tuck had helped kill some of the Patriots’ time with a sack on the final drive that forced New England to use its final time out.

The Patriots allowed Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw to cruise into the end zone with the go-ahead touchdown with 57 seconds left to leave Brady and the offense more time. Bradshaw tried to stop when he realized the situation, but his momentum carried him into the end zone.

“We knew they were going to try and go deep,” Tuck said. “Brady did a nice job of avoiding us and getting time to throw a deep pass. We knocked it down.”

Hakeem Nicks, who caught the ball in Green Bay, couldn’t do anything watching from the sideline, hoping his defenders prevented a miracle ending for New England.

There would be no miracle, the ball hitting the turf after getting deflected and sending blue and red streamers to the turf.

“I hope they don’t catch it. I was hoping they don’t catch the ball,” Nicks said. “Defense did a great job all game, controlling them against a good quarterback, Tom Brady. We deserved it.”