Rookie Manning Jr. is Carolina's unlikely hero

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- This Manning was busy grabbing interceptions instead of throwing them.

Ricky Manning Jr. picked off three passes by Donovan McNabb and helped put the Carolina Panthers in their first Super Bowl with a 14-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game Sunday night.

"They were coming at me, trying me, testing me. All I can say is, bring it!" Manning Jr. said.

Earlier in the day, NFL co-MVP Peyton Manning was intercepted four times in Indianapolis' loss to New England in the AFC title game.

Manning Jr. 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 Jr. said. "I came out there expecting to win. We attacked all day. Left side, right side. We just kept attacking their receivers."

In matching an NFC title game record for interceptions, Manning Jr. outdid his effort in last week's double overtime win at St. Louis. In that game, 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, the 5-foot-8, 185-pound rookie from UCLA 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 clinging to a 7-3 lead 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 just two seasons after going 1-15.

The Panthers play the Patriots in Houston on Feb. 1.

Manning Jr., a third-round draft pick, 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.

"He is a little bit undersized," Carolina coach John 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 Jr.'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 Jr. blocked the receiver's route as McNabb released the ball and easily picked off the pass at the Carolina 16.

Manning Jr.'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 Jr. 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."

Eagles coach Andy Reid defended his receivers.

"They didn't run wrong routes," Reid said after his team dropped its third straight NFC title game. "It was a combination of things. A couple of them were just good defensive plays."