"Super Bowls most often are won and lost at two points of the game.

The first point is the beginning. That's when teams make statements, establish patterns and take control or lose it.

In the opening minutes, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was so precise you would have felt comfortable if he were putting a scalpel to your sternum.

He was, in fact, operating on the Patriots.

He completed his first nine passes, which set a Super Bowl record. More importantly, he helped the Patriots to a 9-0 lead, first by setting up his defense for a safety, and then by completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz.

Early on, the only way to prevent Manning from completing a pass was to put him on the ground before he could unload it.

The second point when Super Bowls are won and lost is, of course, crunch time.

Or should we call it Eli time?"