New York Giants: 17 New England Patriots: 14

My wife and I are big fans of the Manning brothers. Las year we saw Peyton Manning get the Super Bowl ring that their father Archie never did. Tonight we saw younger brother Eli Manning do the same. If ever there was a question about whether Eli Manning was a great quarterback in his own right, he settled that with an MVP performance tonight.

And in doing so, Eli Manning and the New York Giants pulled off what has to be the greatest upset in Super Bowl history, if not in the entire history of the NFL. They stopped the Patriots from achieving a perfect season in a year marred by a cheating scandal that has called into question their early victories, and even their previous Super Bowl victories.

And what a game it was.

The Giants had the perfect answer for the suddenly imperfect Patriots: a big, bad defense and an improbable comeback led by their own Mr. Cool quarterback, Eli Manning.

In one of football's biggest shockers, New York shattered New England's unbeaten season as Manning hit Plaxico Burress on a 13-yard fade with 35 seconds left in the Super Bowl. Sunday's 17-14 win was the Giants' 11th straight on the road, and the first time the Patriots tasted defeat in more than a year.

It was the most bitter of losses, too, because New England (18-1) was one play from winning, but its defense couldn't stop a 12-play, 83-yard drive that featured a spectacular leaping catch by David Tyree, who scored New York's first touchdown.

Tom Brady, the league's Most Valuable Player and winner of his first three Super Bowls, was battered all game. He was sacked five times, hurried a dozen more, and at one point wound up on his knees, his hands on his hips following one of many poor throws.

Hardly a familiar position for the record-setting quarterback. And a totally strange outcome for a team that seemed destined for historic glory.

Oddly, it was a loss to the Patriots that sparked New York's stunning run to its third Super Bowl and sixth NFL title. New England won 38-35 in Week 17 as the Patriots became the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to go spotless through the regular season. But by playing hard in a meaningless game for them, the Giants gained something of a swagger.

Their growing confidence carried them through playoff victories at Tampa, Dallas and Green Bay, and then past the mightiest opponent of all.

And i can't help but comment upon the behavior of Bill Belichick in leaving the field before the final snap and in not offering his congratulations to the Giants in his post-game interview. Quality and class clearly won tonight.

Posted by: Greg at 03:35 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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