NFL

In clutch, Giants QB was Eli the elusive

It is rare when an incomplete pass at a key point in the game is described as such an important development, but a pass Eli Manning did not connect on late in the 24-20 comeback victory over the Patriots “might have been the play of the game’’ in the eyes of coach Tom Coughlin.

After a 20-yard pass interference penalty put the Giants, trailing 20-17, on the New England 1-yard line with 30 seconds remaining, Manning was forced to roll to his left and run for his life as linebacker Gary Guyton broke free and had a clear path to the suddenly scrambling quarterback.

Manning was able to avoid what would have been a devastating sack and, throwing across his body, could not get enough on his pass into the left corner of the end zone intended for Jake Ballard. The sinking pass barely eluded the grasp of the diving Ballard. The misfire, though, was far better than Manning getting dropped for a loss.

“I mean, they hit us, we have kind a crazy name for that blitz, but Guyton was right on top of him, I mean, point-blank range,’’ Coughlin said, “and not only does he avoid and roll to his left, but he almost throws a strike. That ball arguably is a catchable ball. It’s off-balance, it’s to his left and he makes a heck of a play.’’

UPDATES FROM OUR GIANTS BLOG

Earlier on the game-winning drive, Manning did what he rarely does, scrambling 12 yards for a first down. Right guard Chris Snee joked: “Eli showed his speed and scrambled for 20 yards or so.’’

* A video posted on the Giants website revealed a wild, jubilant scene inside the visitors’ locker room at Gillette Stadium.

“Listen now, you’re nine-point underdogs and there’s no way you can win,’’ Coughlin said. “Listen, listen, listen, we’ve got a good football team when we play together like that and we have the physical nature to the game and we get after it, when we believe in ourselves, we’re never out of it!”

Coughlin also couldn’t resist looking ahead when he said, “One thing here now, that team next week now [the 49ers], we ain’t going [on a] six-hour ride not to bring back a victory.’’