Video Countdown: Top 10 Giants/Patriots plays from the 2011 season

You know we had to tease you just a little bit before the big game, right? It’s only fair. Here is a video countdown of some of the best moments for both Super Bowl teams from this past season.

10. Wes Welker’s 99-yard touchdown against the Dolphins on MNF:  Here is video footage of a gift wrapped 99-yard touchdown catch. New England comes out with five receivers, Miami shows blitz (early) and rushes six — it doesn’t get much easier than that for Tom Brady. A nice little over-the-top and bingo–Welker for for the score.

 

9. Hakeem Nicks’ Hail Mary catch:  Eli Manning throws up a prayer at the end of the first half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game versus Green Bay. Nicks outjumps the Packers’ secondary and plucks the ball right out of the sky.

8. Victor Cruz’s 99-yard touchdown versus the Jets in Week 16:  This is a thing of beauty. Much unlike Wes Welker’s 99-yarder above, Cruz pops off with a couple nifty moves to break loose for this touchdown. First, he sheds a tackle right after making the catch while simultaneously breaking Antonio Cromarties ankles followed by  a nice hurdle over Eric Smith along the sideline. Throw in the trademark salsa touchdown celebration and now we have ourselves a dance party.

 

7.  Da’Rel Scott stumbles, scampers for touchdown: He’s a relative unknown, but Da’Rel Scott regains his footing after almost going down close to his own goalline. 97-yards later? Paydirt.

6. Tom Brady ties the NFL record for touchdowns in a playoff game: Brady shreds a hapless Denver team on the back of  his six touchdown throws. Here are all of them…with a little help from Mr. Gronkowski.

5. Hakeem Nicks one-handed touchdown versus Green Bay in Week 13: This was one of my favorite plays from this past season. Any connoisseur of an amazing football CATCH would have an good argument for this at #1. Nicks makes a sick one handed grab with Charles Woodson draped all over him. Afterwords, Woodson gives a well deserved knuckle bump. Classy.

4. Domenek Hixon’s Circus Grab: First he tries to one hand it and fails, then he double tips it to himself on the way down. It’s almost like he meant to do it.

3. Cruz straight ballin: In another punishing catch and run, Victor Cruz embarrasses Philadelphia’s secondary en route to an awesome 74-yard touchdown.

2. Rob Gronkowski breaks NFL record for touchdowns by a tight end: Here is every single one of Gronks’ 17-record breaking touchdowns. He has become the biggest mismatch in the NFL and Tom Bradys’ favorite Red Zone target.

1. Cruz won’t quit: Victor Cruz was a one man highlight show this season. He was the NFL’s true breakout player and dazzled with one amazing catch after another. He went on to break the record for receiving yards by a New York Giant with 1,536 yards. Not bad for a second year player who was undrafted out of UMass.