I promise, I tried to write about something other than last Sunday's game. In fact, in the process, I came across several topics I can use in coming weeks, but, in my mind, I kept coming back to that phenomonal scramble of Eli Manning, when he should have been nailed. But, I thought so much had been said and written already, that writing more about the game would be redundant. But, I could not let it go.

That is because Manning completed an improbable pass to David Tyree, who hung onto the ball with one hand, pressing it against his helmet as he climbed the ladder, tucking the treasure back in as he tumbled back to terra firma.

I know you know what play I mean, and, I not only keep playing it in my head, I think in the aggregate, it may be the best play I have seen, in what I am sure is the most dramatic game I have ever viewed.

Not that I am new to viewing great games, but there is something about a post season thriller that adds a dimension to a great play, and, well, last Sunday's game was as improbable an upset as any of us has witnessed.

Of course, the Niners-Cowboys NFC Championship game of 1981, wherein Joe Montana and Dwight Clark hooked up for The Catch was memorable, and, well, the Immaculate Reception game still stings, as I am sure I have written before.

I was not only a huge Raiders fan, when that play occured, but, my brother Peter suggested that Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw also completed a mighty scramble before uncorking the pass that Jack Tatum spiked, making the AFC Championship game a done deal. That is until Franco Harris plucked the pass from his shoetops and scored an upsetting touchdown.

Those were both great plays, in exciting championship games, but each was one game removed from a world championship. And, well, both those games were considered a lot closer going in that the game we all pretty much knew the Pats would win last Sunday.

So, there is the upset factor to consider, but, before, there were two other streaks in my memory that also add a layer to the scope of the Giants upset.

In 1973, after the Dolphins ran the table, Oakland--and, yes, that is when I was still a huge Raiders fan--took that streak apart at Cal Memorial Stadium, 6-3. That tussle of defense was moved to Cal because the Oakland baseball squad was busy dominating that sport at the then Coliseum.

And, those Dolphins, this time with a young Dan Marino at the helm, took down the incredible Bears of Buddy Ryan when they were not supposed to.

Finally, there was the "Game," back in 1969, when Joe Namath boasted his Jets would take out Johnny Unitas and the Colts (those Colts were coached by Don Shula, who also coached both the Dolphins teams noted above, which is a nice connection) in the unprobable Super Bowl III.

I think that is the most important game--and upset--in NFL history in that it forced the merger of the leagues that ultimately pushed to professional football being what it is today.

But, that game was not as dramatic as last Sunday's, no matter how you slice it because the chance of a tie did not loom over the final four offensive plays.

And, then there was that Manning/Tyree catch, which had both aspects of what I think of as a great passing play in one. Usually, we see a great and elusive scramble, and more of a garden variety catch on the receiving end.

Or, there can be a circus catch that amazes, but does not have the dramatic scramble leading up to it, like last Sunday's play, which offered both aspects on the same play.

And, well, we have not even discussed the fantastic sequence of plays that ran up to the play, or the intense handful after that led to the final score.

Just amazing. And, a play and game I will never forget.