18-1. A record in the NFL that would usually receive a standing applause but not on this day. The Patriots entered Superbowl XLII undefeated, on the brink of perfection. A perfection that has never been reached in the NFL outside of the 1972 Miami Dolphins in a 14 game season but in the modern day game, the Pats were a game away from 19-0. But the Pats finished their season with an 18-1 record… without a championship. In retrospect, the Patriots failed what they set out to do, win their fourth championship in seven years. They did not start the season with the goal of going 19-0 in mind, 18-1 would be a great record if your one loss wasn’t the biggest game of your life.
One team stood in their way, the New York Giants. An underdog from the NFC, the lowest seed from the conference to go to the Superbowl. A team that started the season 0-2, a coach halfway through the exit door, and a quarterback criticized in the New York limelight after every game. This team stood in the way of perfection, of an upcoming dynasty, and of NFL history. Yet one word can sum up the Giants. CONFIDENT.
The Giants defensive played brilliant, making Tom Brady for the first time all season look human, Brady never spent so much time on the ground in a game all season until now as the Giants front four relentlessly came after Brady and the ball. The Giants ranked number one in sacks this season and it was no doubt they rattled Tom Brady. In the first quarter, Justin Tuck had 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 6 tackles. Teams during the regular season are lucky if they can even get 2 sacks and here Tuck compiled 2 sacks by himself. The Giants sacked Brady 5 times, the most New England has given up all season during their historic run. The Giants defense smacked the best offense right in the mouth all game and held the Brady and the most prolific offense in NFL history to a season low 14 points. The defense had a plan and followed it all the way through and dictated what they wanted New England to do.
On the other side of the ball, who can say more about Eli Manning. Perhaps the most criticized quarterback all season under the New York media finished his maturation under the biggest stage of them all. Remember it was the season finale against the Patriots that started Eli’s growth as a quarterback and ironically it is against the Patriots in the Superbowl that solidified his coming as an NFL quarterback. Eli played in one of the most dramatic Superbowls in history, leading his team from behind in the fourth quarter to win the game. The Giants trailed 10-14 and on a 3rd and long, Eli slipped out of the hands of five Patriot defenders and threw the ball down field for what would be a remarkable 32 yard reception by David Tyree. This play will be remembered as one of the best plays of Superbowl history and as a play that exemplified Eli’s competitive nature and his coming as a quarterback. Eli capped the drive with a 13 yard touchdown to who else but Plaxico Burress, who guaranteed a victory against New England.
“Any Given Sunday” cannot be used to explain the Giants Superbowl victory. The better team won, the Giants smashed the Patriots right in the mouth, put them in the ground and confidently carried themselves against a juggernaut of a team. The Giants just outplayed the Patriots and blatantly wanted it more as evident by the 3rd down play by Eli and Tyree. Just the determination by these two players to not give up on a play perfectly illustrated the Giants as a team. This is not an upset, not a letdown but one of the greatest Superbowls and a story of a team that stood in the way of NFL history and did not back down at all.
