Bill Belichick Wanted Patriots to Make Mario Manningham Beat Them in Super Bowl

It looks like some calls just don't pay off.

Bill Belichick found that out the hard way in the Super Bowl when he paid the ultimate price by telling his defense to force Eli Manning to throw to Mario Manningham and tight end Bear Pascoe towards the end of the game.

"This is still a Cruz-and-Nicks game," Belichick said during Super Bowl XLVI courtesy of NFL Films, according to ESPN. "It's tight, but those are still the guys. Make them go to Manningham, make them go to Pascoe. Let's make sure we get Cruz and Nicks."

Manningham burned Belichick and the Patriots by catching a 38-yard pass from Eli Manning with less than four minutes in the game that gave the Giants great field position.

This play led to the game-winning touchdown for the Giants who won the Super Bowl 21-17.