Giants Beat Patriots in Superbowl XLII, 17 to 14

Eli manning led the New York Giants to a surprising victory in Superbowl XLII. Superb defense — including a consistent pass rush against the Patriots' quarterback — allowed the Giants to do what no team has done all season: to beat one of the best teams in the history of American football.
Some facts and triva:

• Final Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14


• Number of times Patriots QB was sacked over the entire 18-game season: 24 (average: sacked 1.33 times per game)


• Number of times Patriots quarterback was sacked during this superbowl game: 5


• Game MVP: Eli Manning


• Cost of a 30-second ad during the television broadcast: 2.7 million dollars (U.S.)


• Number of television viewers: approximately 100 milllion


• The last time that the Giants won the Superbowl: In 1991. That was against the Buffalo Bills, with a final score of 20 to 19 — the closest Superbowl ever played. There were no turnovers in that entire game. The game was decided in the final 8 seconds, when the Buffalo kicker missed a field goal from 47 yards.
  


• Number of news stories linked from Google, on the morning after the superbowl: 4,635

The play of the game, with under one minute remaining, was Eli Manning's Houdini-like escape from the Patriots' defense, to throw a key pass that kept the drive alive.

About this play, Manning said:

"A lot of people were grabbing at me, but I knew I wasn't getting pulled down. You have to try to get small sometimes and sneak your way out of something. I found a hole, got loose and made a throw."

After Manning escaped that pass rush, he looked upfield and then threw the ball to his wide receiver David Tyree, who caught the ball miraculously by trapping it one-handed against his helmet.



Superbowl 2008 showed us two great teams playing an exciting game, right down to the finish. The small but all-important difference? Perhaps the Patriots won too many games too easily. The underdog Giants, who struggled in every game, learned the great secret of Zorba and sages: "I live each moment as if it were my last."

Here's the catch-of-the-century by David Tyree:





To watch the video highlights, at NFL.com, click here.