Giants Upset Pats in Super Bowl
New York Defeats Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII
The New York Giants spoiled the New England Patriots' attempt at a perfect season by upsetting the Pats 17-14 in Glendale, Arizona.
The New York Giants capped a Cinderella-like ending to a rough 2007 season by defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII 17-14, in what has to be considered on of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history.
The team’s 11th consecutive road win put an abrupt end to the 18-0 Patriots’ quest for a perfect season. New York was a 12-point underdog entering the game, no doubt making the outcome of the contest the third greatest upset in Super Bowl history, following the New York Jets’ surprise win over the then-Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, and the Patriots’ 3-point victory over the 14-point favored St. Louis Rams to end the 2001 season.
The Giants won their hard-earned victory over the surprisingly ineffective Patriots by negating New England’s record setting passing game, sacking Pats’ quarterback Tom Brady five times and making him rush innumerable attempts. Tom Terrific wasn’t terrific Sunday night, and was out-gunned by young Eli Manning of New York.
Manning guided the Giants to a 3-point lead with but 35 seconds left in the game, capping off an 83-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who was really a non-factor in the contest up until that time. New York had fallen behind 14-10 with 2:42 to go in the fourth quarter, when Brady hit Randy Moss from six yards out.
But the real story was the stellar defensive play of the Giants. Defensive ends Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck all virtually camped in New England’s backfield, pressuring Brady and forcing him to make hurried throws throughout the contest. Although Brady completed 29 of 48 pass attempts for 266 yards, the Patriots’ offense really didn’t get into a rhythm until their second scoring drive late in the fourth quarter.
Eleven of Brady’s completions were to wide receiver Wes Welker for 103 yards, while he hit running back Kevin Faulk seven times for 52 yards. The Giants’ secondary effectively took All-Pro wideout Moss out of the game, with Moss hauling in five passes for 62 yards and the one TD. New England’s running game also never got established, with the team amassing a mere 45 yards on 16 carries.
New York scored first, eating up 14:59 on its opening drive of the game, which ended when kicker Lawrence Tynes hit on a 32-yard field goal attempt. The Pats likewise scored on their initial drive, tallying a 1-yard touchdown run by Laurence Maroney on the first play of the second frame. The score remained 7-3, Patriots, until Manning threw a 6-yard TD pass to David Tyree at 11:05 of the fourth quarter.
