Feb 5, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Mills/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

As we all hoped more than a year ago, Peyton Manning was in the building as the final seconds of Super Bowl XLVI ticked down last night.    Of course, our nightmare scenario was unfolding in front of our eyes, as well, with Tom Brady on the field with a minute left, driving his New England Patriots toward another Super Bowl victory.    Except it didn’t happen.    The New York Giants’ defense, nothing to write home about most of the year, came up big and stopped touchdown Tommy, who resorted to a last-second Hail Mary.   Fail.

Quarterback Eli Manning took home the MVP award, although receiver Mario Manningham gave him a run for those roses with some big catches in the fourth quarter.   Manning had a 103.8 rating for the night and led yet another late-game, come-from-behind drive to nab the big win.

Congrats, Giants!  Congrats, Eli!  Congrats, Indianapolis!

The awesomeness of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will be unleashed on Indianapolis today.

Brace yourselves, Colts fans and Indianapolis residents, today is Media Day for Super Bowl XLVI!  It’s the day that Eli Manning tries to fit in a few words about the Big Game around all the questions related to older brother Cooper, er, Peyton.  It’s also the day that Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and all the rest of the Patsies, er, Patriots, will grace us with their presence, in all their Red, White, and Blue glory.   Can’t wait to see coach Hoodie!   Congratulations to all of you who own stock in Prestige, owner of Dramamine.

Please, oh please, let history repeat itself in Indy. We're counting on Eli to deliver us from Brady!

Entering the 2011 NFL season, what would your dream matchup have been for Super Bowl XLVI?   For many, it would have been Peyton Manning and the hometown Indianapolis Colts against his brother, Eli Manning, and the New York Giants.    And your nightmare scenario?   Peyton lying prostrate with Tom Brady and the despised New England Patriots crashing the Naptown city gates would have been about as bad as any of us could imagine.   So, in the end, what we’re left with is the lesser part of a pie-in-the-sky fantasy and the worst of all football evils.

Thus, the Super Bowl rooting choice for any true Indianapolis Colts fan is clear.   We need Eli to bring his most potent magic to the game and equip his teammates with all of the dragon-slaying armor that he can find.   Might not be a bad idea to locate David Tyree, as well.

And, as a contingency plan, I think the city planners should get to work, post-haste, on fitting all of the downtown expanses between buildings with safety nets.  Should the Patriots clinch another Super Bowl victory, in Indianapolis, while Peyton Manning watches on (from somewhere), we may find some locals practicing their amateur aerobatic skills.