Monday Milestone: They Might Be Giants
“Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season.
One word and one word only: Super Bowl”
– Bill Peterson, former football coach
This Week in History:
2008, February 3
The New York Giants cause arguably the biggest boilover in NFL history to win Super Bowl XLII defeating the New England Patriots 17-14.
The roar of the crowd. The crunch of helmets. The enormity of the Super Bowl. This Sunday is the biggest day on the American calendar and this week the Milestone looks at the greatest Super Bowl of them all.
In 2007, the New England Patriots had that season. Beginning with 4-0, they produced a strong away win at Dallas, and they kept winning, travelling to Indianapolis, defeating the Colts 24-20 with two touchdowns in the last quarter – 9-0 and whispers of an undefeated season began.
At 12-0, the impressive Steelers came to Foxborough to no avail. With two further wins, these Patriots headed to Giants Stadium with a media frenzy, where Tom Brady led the Pats from behind to defeat the Giants 38-35, becoming the first undefeated team in a generation.
Weeks later with playoff wins over Jacksonville and San Diego, the Patriots stood on the doorstep of the perfect season. The fairytale was theirs to write.
Meanwhile the Giants had entered the post-season with a wild card, only staying alive through some incredible upsets. First at Tampa, then, following an interception with nine seconds remaining against the highly fancied Cowboys, and finally an incredible overtime win at Lambeau Field against the heavily favoured Green Bay Packers. Three huge upsets in three weeks on the road meant the Giants were off to the Super Bowl.
The stage was set. Arizona came alive, hosting Super Bowl XLII. Which fairytale would come true? By three quarter time, New England led just 7-3 having registered an uncharacteristic five sacks and a fumble. A quarter from Super Bowl glory, the Patriots suddenly looked mortal.
Then, Eli Manning produced a seven play, 80 yard drive, culminating in a David Tyree touchdown and the Giants somehow led 10-7. Eleven minutes remained. Could the unthinkable happen?
Tom Brady answered, of course, driving the Patriots down the field with a Randy Moss touchdown. The Patriots led again 14-10. 2:42 on the clock. The NFL made sense again. The undefeated season was nigh.
But then the Giants began their final drive. With 1:15 left, after a denied interception, at 3rd and 5 on the Giants 44 yard line, Manning was surrounded but somehow eluded Patriot defence, incredibly shrugging off tackles, throwing to Tyree who grasped the football to his helmet as he went to ground. Complete. Giants first down. Four plays later – Manning threw to Burress, and the New York Giants, somehow, inexplicably led with 0:35 left. They held on, achieving the impossible: defeating the New England Patriots on the biggest stage: Super Bowl XLII.
This time next week we will watch these two sides meet again, amidst Buffalo wings and Budweiser, ear marked as the ‘revenge bowl’. I like New England, and they are deserved favourites despite not being quite the juggernaut of four years ago. But I'm cautious after last time, I can’t write off New York either and won’t be surprised if they stand tall. This time next week, again, they might be Giants. Roll on the Super Bowl.
Milestone Five: Most incredible Super Bowls
5. Super Bowl
The first fully fledged Super Bowl, victory to the Jets astonishing. Even more so was that quarterback Joe Namath had guaranteed victory over the 13-1 Colts prior to the match, and then set about delivering in style to create an incredible upset.
4. Super Bowl XXIII 1988: San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16
When the Bengals went ahead 16-13 the Niners had to dig deep in the fourth quarter. Joe Montana led the a memorable 92 yard drive in just three minutes to culminate in a TD pass to John Taylor with just 34 seconds remaining to snatch the championship.
3. Super Bowl XXXIV 1999: St Louis 23, Tennessee 16
The Greatest Show on Turf led 16-0 in the third quarter. The Titans rallied and tied the score with 2:12 left in the game. The Rams edged ahead again, then linebacker Mike Jones denied the Titans the opportunity for an equalling touchdown in the dying seconds.
2. Super Bowl XLIII 2009: Pittsburgh 27 Arizona 23
A 100-yd interception for the Steelers James Harrison turned a likely four point deficit into a ten point buffer at half time. Whilst the Cardinals would take the edge in the fourth quarter, Ben Roethlisberger would rally Pittsburgh for a final touchdown in a thriller
1. Super Bowl XLII 2008: New York Giants 17, New England 14
Against long odds, Tom Brady and a Patriots outfit on the verge on the most incredible undefeated season, the New York Giants rally and pull off the most unlikely victory
With thanks to Donald Miralle/Getty Images North America for the photo
