GLENDALE, Ariz. - The team that had been deified proved mortal when it mattered most.
In one of the biggest upsets in NFL history, the New York Giants shocked the previously perfect Patriots, 17-14, last night in Super Bowl XLII in front of 71,101 fans at University of Phoenix Stadium.
New England (18-1) picked an awful time for its first loss of the season. Now the records, the 16-0 regular season, the individual awards, the All-Pro recognition, all ring hollow without a Super Bowl ring.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning hit Plaxico Burress in the left corner of the end zone from 13 yards out with 35 seconds left to cap an 83-yard drive and keep the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only NFL team to complete a perfect season. Burress, who had predicted a Giants victory and had been ridiculed, proved prescient when he beat Ellis Hobbs for the decisive score.
"We set high expectations, now we go down as 18-1, and that is one big zit," said Hobbs. "It is one big blemish. We choked. We choked at the end."
The Patriots appeared primed to make history when Tom Brady hit Randy Moss for a 6-yard touchdown on third and goal with 2:42 remaining to make it 14-10, New England. Trailing, 10-7, and getting the ball at his 20 with 7:54 to go, Brady was at his brilliant best.
Shaking off a pass rush that sacked him a season-high five times and a right ankle that hobbled and hindered him, Brady (29 of 48 for 266 yards and a touchdown) went 8 of 11 for 71 yards on the drive to put the Patriots back in the lead.
He began the march with a 5-yard pass to Wes Welker, who tied the Super Bowl record for receptions with 11 for 103 yards, and ended it with the pass to Moss.
On the sideline veteran linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau hugged after Moss scored, but the joy was short-lived, like the Patriots' lead.
Manning (19 of 34 for 255 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 interception, Super Bowl MVP) more than matched the heroics of Brady on the winning drive, and he had company. On third and 5 from the Giants' 44, after an incredible Manning scramble, David Tyree made a huge leaping grab over Rodney Harrison for a 32-yard gain to put the Giants in New England territory.
Few saw the imperfect ending to the perfect season coming. The Patriots had beaten the Giants, 38-35, during the teams' regular-season meeting to improve to 16-0, and few thought this game would be any different.
"The biggest thing is to win the championship at the end of the year," said Moss. "All that we did, that undefeated regular season, it didn't mean nothing because we didn't close it at the end."
History and the game hung in the balance as the Patriots led, 7-3, entering the fourth quarter.
