The Result

I want to say Congratulations to the New York Giants and their fans, you deserve that Super Bowl Championship.

The Giants played their asses off, their hearts out and left nothing behind. The Giants defense was spectacular and when they needed it in the biggest game they came through.

Right now I am stunned, as I am sure is all of New England. But I said this game made me uneasy and I was uncomfortable the entire game and I wasn’t anywhere near the field. This feeling reminds me of watching Aaron Boone hit the HR off of Tim Wakefield.

Time and time again, especially in big games the Patriots always came through. Except this time. This has to rival the Jets upsetting the Colts, Duke stunning UNLV, Notre Dame ending UCLA’s win streak, George Mason beating UConn in the Elite 8 and the ‘69 Mets.

Now there’s Eli Manning throwing to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left to stop perfection cold.

It was a great victory. It was a sporting event for the ages. It was the upset of a lifetime.

Perfection was not to be.

It’s going to be a long offseason.

Scoring Plays

GIANTS	3	0	0	14	17
PATRIOTS	0	7	0	7	14

1^st Quarter

• NYG – Tynes 32 yard FG 3-0 Giants

2^nd Quarter

• NE – Maroney 1 yard run (kick good) 7-3 Patriots

3^rd Quarter

• None

4^th Quarter

• NYG -Manning 5 yard pass to Tyree ( kick good) 10-7 Patriots
• NE – Brady 6 yard pass to Moss ( kick good) 14-10 Patriots
• NYG – Manning 14 yard pass to Burress (kick good) 17-14 Giants

Offensive Player of the Game

Giants QB Eli Manning was 19 of 34 for 255 yards with 2 TD’s and 1 INT. He was named MVP.

Defensive Player of the Game

Giants DB James Butler had 10 tackles and 1 assist and LB Antonio Pierce had 8 tackles and 3 assists.

Turning Point(s) of the Game

• Eli Manning making the big play when he needed it especially the big 3^rd down conversions and none was larger than the 32 yarder to David Tyree to keep the winning drive alive.

Offensive Leaders/Notes

WR Wes Welker 11 catches for 103 yards, QB Tom Brady was 29 of 48 for 266 and 1 TD.

• 1^st drive at NE 44 Tom Brady incomplete screen on 1^st play
• Laurence Maroney runs for 8 yards to NYG 48 on 2^nd down
• On 3^rd and 2 Maroney gets 5 yards to NYG 42
• On 2^nd and 10 Brady throws 7 yards to Donte Stallworth
• 3^rd and 3 at NYG 35 Brady throws to Welker for 8 yards for 1^st down
• 2^nd and 8 Brady throws to Kevin Faulk for 8 yards for 1^st down at NYG 17
• 3^rd and 10 at NYG 17 Brady throws to Ben Watson in end zone incomplete – flag thrown
• 1^st and goal at NYG 1 Maroney stopped just shy of goal line
• 2^nd and goal at NYG 1 Maroney runs for TD
• 2^nd drive from NE 33 Brady throws to Maroney for 8 yards to NE 41
• 3^rd and 1 from NE 42 Maroney dropped for a loss of 2 yards by Osi Umenyiora forcing a punt
• 3^rd drive from NE 30 Maroney gets 1 yard on 1^st down nice stop by Justin Tuck
• on 2^nd and 9 at NE 31 Brady gets sacked by Michael Strahan at NE 23
• 3^rd and 17 Brady sacked by Tuck at NE 16 and forced to punt
• 4^th drive at NE 11, Brady hit as he throws incomplete to Moss on 1^st down
• Maroney dropped for a 3 yard loss at NE 8 by Tuck for 3^rd and 13
• Fake hand off to Faulk, Brady throws to Stallworth for 18 yards to NE 26
• 1^st and 10 throws incomplete to Brady as he was hit by Tuck
• holding penalty brings back large run for 1^st down by Faulk
• 2^nd and 12 at NE 24, Brady throws to Welker for 8 yards to NE 32
• Brady throws to Faulk for 1^st down at NE 37
• Brady throws for 1^st down to Moss at NYG 44
• Brady sacked and stripped by Tuck recovered by Umenyiora at NE 49
• HALFTIME
• 5^th drive, on 1^st down at NE 21 Brady throws 15 yards to Welker to NE 36
• Maroney runs for 7 to NE 43
• 2^nd and 3 pass knocked down by Strahan
• 3^rd and 3 at NE 43, Brady throws to Faulk for 1^st down at NE 48
• Umenyiora drops Maroney for a 2 yard loss on 1^st down
• Brady throws 7 yards to Welker to NYG 47
• 3^rd and 5 Brady throws to Faulk for 3 yards forcing a punt
• on 4^th down NYG had a 12^th man on field giving NE a 1^st down at NYG 39
• Brady throws 4 yard screen to Maroney to NYG 35 on 1^st down
• 2^nd and 6 false start on Matt Light
• 2^nd and 11 at NYG 40 Brady throws to Welker who gets dropped for a 2 yard loss to NYG 43
• 3^rd and 13, Brady throws to Faulk 14 yards for first down at NYG 29
• 3^rd and 7 from NYG 26 Strahan sacks Brady at NYG 32 for loss of 6
• 4^th and 13 Brady throws incomplete to end zone for Jabar Gaffney
• 6^th drive from NE 10, false start on Ben Watson
• 1^st and 15 at NE 5 Brady hit as he throws incomplete
• 2^nd and 15 Brady throws 16 yards to Welker at NE 21
• Maroney runs for 9 yards to NYG 30
• Maroney runs for 1 yard for 1^st down at NYG 31
• Brady throws to Welker for 19 yards to NYG 49
• On 2^nd and 10 at NYG 49 false start on Light
• 2^nd and 15 at NE 46, Brady throws incomplete to Moss
• 3^rd and 15 Brady throws to Stallworth for 9 yards to midfield NE forced to punt
• 7^th drive from NE 11, Brady to Moss for 17 yards to NE 28
• Brady to Welker for 3 yards to NE 31
• 2^nd and 7 Brady over throws Moss
• 3^rd and 7 Brady throws incomplete forced to punt
• 8^th drive from NE 20, Brady for 5 yards to Welker
• 2^nd and 5 Brady throws to Moss for 9 yards to NE 34
• Maroney runs for 9 yards to NE 43
• 2^nd and 1 Brady throws to Welker to NYG 43
• Brady throws 4 yards to Faulk to NYG 39
• 2^nd and 6 Brady throws to Welker for 10 yards to NYG 29
• Brady incomplete to Stallworth
• 2^nd and 10 Brady to Moss for 11 yards to NYG 18
• Brady to Faulk for 12 yards 1^st and goal at NYG 6
• 1^st and goal Brady over throws Moss in end zone
• 2^nd and goal Brady throws incomplete
• 3^rd and goal Brady throws 6 yards to Moss for TD
• 9^th drive from NE 26, Brady incomplete to Gaffney
• 2^nd and 10 Brady sacked by Jay Alford at NE 16
• 3^rd and 20 Brady incomplete to Moss
• 4^th and 20 Brady incomplete to Moss game over

Defensive Leaders/Notes

Safety Rodney Harrison had 12 tackles and LB Adalius Thomas had 3 tackles and 2 sacks.

• NYG 1^st drive – Brandon Jacobs was nearly dropped for a three yard loss but went for three yards on the 1^st play to the NYG 26
• 3^rd and 6 at NYG 27 Eli Manning throws to Plaxico Burress for 1^st down at NYG 42
• Nice open field tackle by Junior Seau on Madison Hedgecock at NYG 45
• 3^rd and 6 at NYG 46 Manning to Steve Smith for 1^st down at NE 46
• Jacobs goes for 7 yards on 1^st down to NE 39
• 3^rd and inches at NE 37 Ahmad Bradshaw gets 7 yards to NE 29
• 3^rd and 7 at NE 26 under heavy pressure by Eugene Wilson Manning throws to Smith for 1^st down at NE 18
• Ellis Hobbs breaks up a pass for Burress in end zone on 1^st down
• Jacobs stopped for no gain by Adalius Thomas and Hobbs
• 3^rd and 10 Manning throws to Smith were he is pasted by Rodney Harrison at NE 15
• FG 32 yards by Lawrence Tynes
• 2^nd NYG drive Vince Wilfork stops Jacobs after three yards on 1^st down
• Burress drops the ball on 2^nd and 7 after he gets hit by Hobbs
• 3^rd and 7 Manning throws to Amani Toomer for 38 yards to NE 19
• 2^nd and 11 at NE 21, Manning throws to David Tyree for 5 yards who gets met by Asante Samuel
• 3^rd and 5 at NE 15 Manning is intercepted by Hobbs at NE 9 on a tipped ball, Hobbs returns it to NE 33
• 3^rd NYG drive at NYG 36 Manning sacked by Jarvis Green and LeKevin Smith for 3 yard loss
• 2^nd and 13 Bradshaw fumbles and Giants maintain possession as LB Pierre Woods couldn’t hold onto the recovery
• 3^rd and 16 from NYG 30 Manning throws incomplete under pressure from Richard Seymour and are forced to punt
• 4^th NYG drive at NYG 43 Jacobs gets 2 yard to NYG 45
• on 2^nd and 8 Bradshaw runs 13 yards to NE 42
• on 2^nd and 6 Jacobs runs for 7 yards to NE 31
• 3^rd and 4 from NE 25 Manning has ball stripped by Thomas it is batted forward and recovered by NYG Smith at NE 20 flag for illegal bat by Bradshaw
• 3^rd and 18 at NE 39 Manning is nearly picked off by Randall Gay forcing a punt
• 5^th drive at NE 49 Manning incomplete on 1^st down
• Manning throws incomplete into the end zone for end of the half
• HALFTIME
• 6^th drive from NYG 31, Jacobs runs for 4 yards
• Manning throws to Toomer for 1^st down at NYG 45
• Manning throws to Toomer for 8 yards to NE 45 for 1^st down
• Samuel breaks up pass for Burress in end zone
• Bradshaw gets 4 yards on 2^nd down
• 3^rd and 6 at NE 41 Manning throws incomplete forcing a punt
• 7^th drive from NYG 20, Manning to Boss for 45 yards to NE 35
• 3^rd and 4 from NE 29 Manning throws to Smith to NE 12
• Bradshaw runs for 7 to NE 5
• 2^nd and 3 Manning throws to Tyree 5 yards for TD
• 8^th drive from NYG 29, Jacobs runs for 1 yard
• 2^nd and 9 Manning eludes a rush and misses a wide open Burress
• 3^rd and 9 Manning throws to Toomer for 8 NYG forced to punt
• 9^th drive from NYG 17 Manning throws 11 yards to Toomer
• 1^st and 10 at NYG 28 Manning over throws Burress
• 2^nd and 10 Manning throws incomplete
• 3^rd and 10 Manning 9 yards to Toomer to NYG 37
• 4^th and 1 Jacobs runs for 1 yard and 1^st down at NYG 38
• Manning runs for 5 yards and fumbles but NYG recovers
• 2^nd and 5 from NYG 43, Manning is hit as he throws and Samuel almost has an INT
• 3^rd and 5 Manning eludes a rush and completes a pass to Tyree at the NE 24
• 1^st and 10 Manning tackled for 1 yard loss by Thomas
• 2^nd and 11 at NE 25 Manning throws incomplete
• 3^rd and 11 Manning throws to Smith for 11 yards to NE 14
• 1^st and 10 Manning throws 14 yards to Burress for a TD
• 10^th drive Manning kneels down to end the game.

Special Teams Notes

• Stephen Gostkowski’s opening kick off was into the end zone and returned 25 yards
• Laurence Maroney returns first NYG KO 43 yards
• Gostkowski kicks second KO out of bounds giving NYG ball at the NYG 40
• HALFTIME
• Maroney returns opening KO to NE 21
• Maroney has a 30 yard KOR after Tyree TD but its called back on a hold
• Ray Ventrone makes a nasty stick on Domenik Hixson for only a 13 yard KOR

Coaching Decisions

• NE – Belichick challenges that NYG had a 12th man on the field in 3^rd qtr on NE punt – upheld gives Patriots a first down at NYG 39
• NE – 4^th and 13 at NYG 32 pass incomplete Giants take over on downs

Injuries

• NE – Rodney Harrison wind knocked out, returned after 1 play – 1^st qtr
• NE – Randall Gay arm injury, returned in 2^nd qtr – 1^st qtr
• NE – Stephen Neal knee injury, questionable return – 2^nd qtr
• NE – Gay arm injury, unknown return – 2^nd qtr
• NE – Kevin Faulk hamstring, returned – 3^rd qtr
• NYG – Fred Robbins knee injury, unknown return – 4^th qtr
• NYG – James Butler wrist injury, unknown return – 4^th qtr

The Officials

Mike Carey was the referee for the Super Bowl. He also officiated the Week 17 match up between the Giants and Patriots.

The rest of the crew was:

• Umpire Tony Michalek
• Head Linesman Gary Slaughter
• Line Judge Carl Johnson
• Field Judge Boris Cheek
• Side Judge Larry Rose
• Back Judge Scott Helverson

Missed offensive pass interference on catch by Amani Toomer in 2^nd quarter at NE 19

Game Notes

• Inactives for the Giants are: RB Danny Ware, DB Geoffrey Pope, OT Adam Koets, DT Manny Wright, WR Sinorice Moss, TE Jerome Collins, DT Russell Davis and QB Jared Lorenzen (3rd quarterback)
• Inactives for the Patriots are: WR Troy Brown, DL Santonio Thomas, TE Stephen Spach, OL Wesley Britt, OL Billy Yates, CB Antwain Spann, WR Chad Jackson and QB Matt Gutierrez (3rd quarterback)
• The Giants replaced CB Sam Madison in the starting lineup with CB Corey Webster. Webster is considered a downgrade, Madison has been hampered with an abdominal injury.
• The roof was closed all day in anticipation of rain during the game. Tom Brady is 11-2 in domed/enclosed stadiums. His other loss was last season’s AFC Championship game in Indianapolis.
• Patriots players who were injured during the season were present on the sideline for Super Bowl XLII: RB Sammy Morris, LB Rosevelt Colvin, DL Mike Wright, TE David Thomas, CB Mike Richardson and LB Oscar Lua
• Injured Giants TE Jeremy Shockey was on the sidelines as well.
• Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor was named winner of the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
• The Giants won the coin toss calling tails. The Patriots have never won a coin toss in any of their Super Bowl appearances.
• This was Tedy Bruschi’s 5^th Super Bowl. He is just one of 14 NFL players to play in 5 or more. Mike Lodish holds the record with six.
• The teams set a Super Bowl record for fewest possessions in the first quarter with two.
• Ellis Hobbs INT of Eli Manning in 2^nd qtr was Manning’s first INT since Hobbs picked him in Week 17
• Teams leading at halftime of the previous 41 Super Bowls are 32-7. There were two games tied at the half.
• Game attendance was announced at 71,101
• Eli Manning was named MVP, he and Peyton are the first brothers to win the award and they did it in back-to-back Super Bowls.

Post Game Comments

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is interviewed by FOX TV’s Chris Meyers after the game.