No one knows when an individual Super Bowl record will fall, but the way Eli Manning has been hooking up with Victor Cruz this season the best bet for a record breaker today comes from the scoring salsa dancer.
The all-time record for receptions in a Super Bowl game is 11 and it’s shared by four players. Ironically, two of the four tied at the top of the board are playing in today’s game. New England Patriots wide out Wes Welker had 11 grabs when the Patriots were stunned by the New York Giants four years ago in Super Bowl XLII and receiver Deion Branch had the same number of receptions when the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXIX. Branch’s performance earned him MVP honors in the victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The others to post 11 receptions on Super Bowl Sunday are Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (Super Bowl XXIII) and Dan Ross (Super Bowl XVI). Rice’s San Francisco 49ers won, while Ross’ Cincinnati Bengals lost so players with the most grabs in the big game are 2-2 overall.
Why choose Cruz as the best chance to take down the all-time mark when he hasn't reached that number all season? The most receptions he’s had in a game came two weeks ago when he pulled in 10 balls for 142 yards in the NFC Championship.
Here’s why – if the Giants offensive line gives Eli Manning time, Cruz could be open all game long. If Julian Edelman has the assignment to try and cover Cruz one on one, it’s advantage Cruz on every play – quick outs, quick slants, deep outs, deep up in the middle and so on. This might be the biggest mismatch in today’s game.
If Cruz doesn’t get the record, it wouldn’t be a stunner if the mark still fell. Welker will be targeted many times today, even more so if star tight end Rob Gronkowski is limited because of the ankle problem.
Is it possible that both Cruz and Welker could break the existing receptions mark in a Super Bowl later today? The answer comes soon.
Comments