Bill Simmons was a guest on the “Monday Night Football” Manningcast for Patriots vs. Cardinals — and went full Boston fan with a chance to debate Eli Manning on the Super Bowl heartbreak he delivered to the Patriots supporters.
Early in the second quarter, the “Helmet Catch” came up in conversation – the famous play in Super Bowl XLII in which David Tyree caught Eli Manning’s pass against his helmet on the Giants’ game-winning drive against the undefeated Patriots. Simmons, as expected, had a contrarian take on the play.
“Eli, what was your favorite hold, out of all the different holds on that play?” Simmons asked the former Giants quarterback. “Was it the one on Jarvis Green? Was it the one on Richard Seymour?”
Manning, not to have one of the greatest moments in sports history diminished, had the comeback of all comebacks.
“It was Tyree holding the ball on his helmet,” Eli said.
All Simmons could do was laugh.
It was a better night for Simmons on Monday, as his Patriots won handily against the Cardinals, 27-13. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray injured his knee on the third play of the game and did not return, ceding snaps to backup Colt McCoy.
The win brought New England to 7-6 on the season and squarely in the playoff hunt, while Arizona dropped to 4-9 with the loss – and the bigger loss may be Murray, who the team reportedly fears tore his ACL.