On this date in 2008, the New York Giants pulled off what is still widely considered the greatest upset in Super Bowl history when they ruined the New England Patriots’ attempt at perfection in Super Bowl XLII.
On February 3, 2008, the Giants went into the game at University of Phoenix Stadium as 12.5-point underdogs looking to shock the football world. And they did.
The Patriots had enjoyed a perfect season before the Super Bowl. Tom Brady’s 50 touchdown passes in the regular season were the most ever at the time, and many thought the Giants had no chance.
The Giants opened up the scoring in the first quarter when Lawrence Tynes connected on a 32-yard field goal, but the Patriots quickly gained the lead in the early minutes of the second quarter when Laurence Maroney scored a one-yard touchdown.
It became a defensive battle after that, and the Giants were figuring out Brady’s calls at the line of scrimmage. This allowed defensive ends Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck to provide continuous pressure on Brady. The Giants wound up sacking Brady five times and knocked him down numerous other times.
That score would remain 7-3 until the fourth quarter.
The final frame started with a huge 45-yard pass play from Eli Manning to Kevin Boss. Three minutes later, the Giants finally scored their first touchdown of the game as Manning found David Tyree from five yards out. With the score, the Giants were up 10-7 with 11:10 to go.
Brady then led an efficient rebound drive, completing eight of his 11 attempts. It ended in a six-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss. The Giants faced a 14-10 deficit with 2:42 left to go.
Just when the Giants’ season appeared to be over, Manning and Tyree connected on a 32-yard pass on third down that would forever live in Super Bowl lore.
Out of the shotgun, Manning immediately saw pressure from every direction. With three Patriots grabbing his jersey, Manning somehow broke free and threw up a pass to Tyree in the middle of the field.
One-on-one with safety Rodney Harrison, Tyree leaped for the catch and wound up pinning the ball to his helmet, giving the Giants a first down with 59 seconds left.
A fourth-down conversion by Brandon Jacobs earlier on the drive, but another that often goes overlooked was a third-down pass to rookie Steve Smith, who displayed excellent field awareness and tight-walked the sideline for a first down.
“Manning lobs it. Burress alone. Touchdown, New York!”
That was Joe Buck’s infamous call on the 13-yard slant-and-go — a touchdown pass from Manning to Plaxico Burress that gave the Giants the lead and sent the entire University of Phoenix Stadium into a frenzy.
Brady and the Patriots were given a little time for a final series, but a sack and two passes defensed would give the Giants one of the most unlikely victories of all time.
Manning, who went 19-of-34 for 255 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, was named the Super Bowl MVP.
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