1 of 43

Write now Article Tools

The New York Giants are the 2007 NFL Champions, after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII 17-14 with 14 points in the 4th quarter.

The game was tight throughout and one of the lowest scoring title tilts in NFL Super Bowl history; coming into the game 14-point underdogs, it was also a one of the biggest upsets ever in terms of underdog winning - along with the 1969 Jets and the 2001 Patriots - but the Giants ended an 18-0 run for the Patriots, a perhaps greater upset than any ever in the history of the game.

The Patriots vaunted offense - having scored the highest point total ever in an NFL season - was held to 14 points by an emergent Giants defense. The game was won on the field by the Giants - without controversial penalties and on the strength of a suddenly effective Eli Manning who led the Giants to the winning score with a fatally effective 2:00 minute drive in the 4th quarter.

Through the first two quarters of the game, the score stood at 7-3 in a defensive struggle. Tom Brady was pressured all evening. Earlier in the week, computer simulation websites predicted a Patriots victory, but the analysis also provided that pressuring Brady was a key to the game. He was hurried more than 20 times and sacked 4 times. The Giants ability to get to Brady was the key to the victory.

With 6:49 in the third quarter, and 4th and 13 to go on the Giants 31 yard line, the Patriots opted to go for the first down and Brady threw an incomplete pass to Jabbar Gaffney and the ball was turned over on downs. Had the field goal been attempted, it would have been a 49-yard attempt - a distance that, while long, was within kicker Stephen Gostkowski's range.

At the start of the 4th quarter, the score remained at 7-3, but the Giants took a 6-play, 3:47 minute drive 80 yards, capped off with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree. After the extra point attempt, the Giants were up by 3 at 10-7.

With a little less than 8 minutes left in the game, the Patriots took a 12-play 5:12 minute drive capped off with a 6 yard pass to Randy Moss. 14-10 Patriots. The Giants took possession with a little more than 2:40 left on a 12 play, 2:07 minute drive. Manning escaped a potential interception to Assante Samuel and a sure sack on the drive - to complete a pass to David Tyree (who kept control of the ball by pressing it against his helmet), to cap off the drive with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35-seconds remaining.

The Patriots couldn't again gain a first down and turned the ball over on downs with 1 second remaining. After an Eli Manning kneel down, the Giants had achieved one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history.

The Giants become the first NFC wild card team to win the Super Bowl. In the end, the Giants' destiny becomes closer to that of the 2001 Patriots than that of the 1985 Patriots.

Learn more about this author, Mo Morrissey.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Super Bowl XLII Analysis: New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots?
We want to hear your view. Write now!