"They were coming at me, trying me, testing me," Carolina's rookie cornerback said. "All I say is, `Bring it!'"
Donovan McNabb tried, but Manning responded with the game of his life - three interceptions in Sunday night's 14-3 upset of Philadelphia for the NFC championship.
In two weeks, the Panthers will try to complete an already remarkable season by knocking off the AFC champion New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
"It's still not over," receiver Ricky Proehl said. "We will be the underdogs again, and this is how we like it."
Manning was a long shot, himself. Drafted in the third round out of UCLA - probably because he's only 5-foot-8, says coach John Fox - he became an unlikely hero by reading McNabb's passes just a little better than the Eagles' receivers.
His three interceptions came in a span of 9:39 in the second and third quarters - the first two in Panthers' territory, and the third at the Philadelphia 37 to set up the clinching touchdown.
"I was hoping to get at least one," Manning said. "I came out there expecting to win. We attacked all day - left side, right side. We just kept attacking their receivers."
Earlier in the day, NFL co-MVP Peyton Manning threw four interceptions in Indianapolis' loss to New England in the AFC title game.
This Manning was busy grabbing picks instead of throwing them.
In matching an NFC title game record for interceptions, Manning outdid his effort in last week's double-overtime win at St. Louis. In that one, his interception set the stage for Jake Delhomme's game-winning 69-yard TD pass to Steve Smith.
After gaining a starting spot only late in the regular season, Manning said earlier this week he wasn't impressed with the Eagles' receivers. He proved his point by being in the right place at the right time.
With the Panthers leading 7-3 and the Eagles driving, a bruised McNabb hit James Thrash with a pass, but the ball was jarred loose and Manning grabbed it and raced 17 yards to the Philadelphia 37.
Five plays later, DeShaun Foster broke four tackles for a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left in the third quarter. The Panthers led 14-3 and were headed to the Super Bowl in Houston just two seasons after going 1-15.
Manning couldn't earn a starting spot at first in what was considered a weak secondary. But he finally moved in at left cornerback for Terry Cousin.
"I definitely came in this year saying, `I am going to show some people,' because I felt they drafted a lot of people in front of me that I was better than," Manning said.
Fox was willing to take a chance.
"He is a little bit undersized," Fox said. "But you know, he's got a lot of magic and he's played very well for us. He's extremely tough mentally. To go this deep into a season in your rookie year is remarkable, says a lot about him."
A former high school quarterback and defensive back, Manning had three interceptions during the regular season. He has four in the last two playoff games.
"Guys just stepped up," running back Stephen Davis said after fighting off a strained left quadriceps and running for 76 yards on 19 carries. "And that Manning, making all those big plays. It's hard to believe he made all those interceptions."
Manning's first interception came with 47 seconds left in the first half. His second pick came early in the third quarter as the Eagles drove to the Panthers 18 and threatened to wipe out Carolina's 7-3 halftime lead.
On a slant pattern by Todd Pinkston, Manning blocked the receiver's route as McNabb released the ball and easily picked off the pass at the Carolina 16.
Manning's final interception came on the next series, and the Eagles couldn't recover.
"Pinkston is not that strong and I thought their wide receivers didn't have too many moves off the line," Manning said, adding that he couldn't recall ever making three interceptions in a game before. "All week long I thought I could get these guys."
Did he ever.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/165466