2008 Woodie Awards
Giants break Patriots' perfect season
Tim Moore
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Sports
In a game with prime-time storylines on both sides of the field, it is almost fitting that it ended the way it did. The New York Giants edged out the New England Patriots 17-14, Sunday, in a game that has been billed as one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.
The Patriots were 18 games deep into their quest for immortality and one game short from true perfection at America's most opulent sporting spectacle; Super Bowl XLII.
On the other side of the fence were the New York Giants. The underdog in nearly all aspects. Fortunately for them, the Giants were not lacking one intangible aspect of the game - momentum. The Patriots had not lost a game all season, but their route to the big game had nothing on the path that Eli Manning and the New York Giants had to take.
Super Bowl XLII was the Giants 11th straight victory away from Giants Stadium, truly giving new meaning to the phrase "road warriors."
In front of over 70,000 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the Giants posted the first points on a 32-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal.
The Patriots would take the lead on the first play of the second quarter, as running back, Laurence Maroney rushed in a one-yard touchdown. The score would remain 7-3 through the remainder of the second quarter, into halftime, and through the third quarter.
The Giants struck early in the fourth quarter, on an Eli Manning to David Tyree five-yard touchdown reception.
At the three minute mark in the fourth, the Patriots took back the lead with a six-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss.
With just 35 seconds remaining in the game, down by four, Eli Manning hit wide receiver, Plaxico Burress, for a 13-yard touchdown that will go down in history as the lob that derailed perfection.
"It's the greatest feeling in professional sports," said Burress, who caught only two passes for a total of 27 yards after rumors swirled of the possibility that a swollen knee and ankle injury would leave Plaxico sidelined for the game.
The Patriots were 18 games deep into their quest for immortality and one game short from true perfection at America's most opulent sporting spectacle; Super Bowl XLII.
On the other side of the fence were the New York Giants. The underdog in nearly all aspects. Fortunately for them, the Giants were not lacking one intangible aspect of the game - momentum. The Patriots had not lost a game all season, but their route to the big game had nothing on the path that Eli Manning and the New York Giants had to take.
Super Bowl XLII was the Giants 11th straight victory away from Giants Stadium, truly giving new meaning to the phrase "road warriors."
In front of over 70,000 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the Giants posted the first points on a 32-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal.
The Patriots would take the lead on the first play of the second quarter, as running back, Laurence Maroney rushed in a one-yard touchdown. The score would remain 7-3 through the remainder of the second quarter, into halftime, and through the third quarter.
The Giants struck early in the fourth quarter, on an Eli Manning to David Tyree five-yard touchdown reception.
At the three minute mark in the fourth, the Patriots took back the lead with a six-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss.
With just 35 seconds remaining in the game, down by four, Eli Manning hit wide receiver, Plaxico Burress, for a 13-yard touchdown that will go down in history as the lob that derailed perfection.
"It's the greatest feeling in professional sports," said Burress, who caught only two passes for a total of 27 yards after rumors swirled of the possibility that a swollen knee and ankle injury would leave Plaxico sidelined for the game.
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