Super Bowl XLII

Super Bowl XLII
Game name	Super Bowl XLII
Visitor	New York Giants
Home	New England Patriots
Visitor abbr	NYG
Home abbr	NE
Visitor conf	National Football Conference
Home conf	American Football Conference
Visitor score	17
Home score	14
Date	February 3, 2008
Stadium	University of Phoenix Stadium
City	Glendale, Arizona
Attendance	71,101
Odds	Patriots by 12
Halftime	Tom Petty, The Heartbreakers, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Missy Elliott
Anthem	Jordin Sparks
Network	Fox
Announcers	Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

Super Bowl XLII was the championship game of the National Football League's 2007 season played between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 3, 2008. The matchup pitted the Giants' Eli Manning-led offense and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's unit against the Patriots' 16–0 regular season led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. The Giants upset the heavily favored Patriots 17–14 in a contest remembered for a late-game drive culminating in a game-winning sideline reception by David Tyree and a play known as the "Helmet Catch."

Background

The game followed a 2007 NFL season notable for the Patriots' undefeated 16–0 regular season under Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady, wide receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The Giants reached the title game after a wild-card run guided by head coach Tom Coughlin, quarterback Eli Manning, and a defense featuring defensive end Michael Strahan, linebacker Antonio Pierce, and rookie safety Antrel Rolle. The matchup drew comparisons to historic bowl games such as the AFL–NFL World Championship Game and classic upsets like New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts in popular sports narratives, and it became a focal point for broadcasters Fox Sports, advertisers, and commentators including Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

Road to the Super Bowl

The Patriots' road included a 16–0 regular season, AFC divisional matchups against teams like the San Diego Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars within AFC East rivalries, and an AFC Championship hosted at Gillette Stadium. The Giants advanced from the NFC through victories over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round and a divisional upset of the Dallas Cowboys and a conference final win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Key playoff performances included Patriots postseason stars Adrian Gonzales and Vince Wilfork and Giants contributors Plaxico Burress, Ahmad Bradshaw, and kicker Lawrence Tynes.

Game summary

The game featured a defensive struggle framed by Patriots' special teams and Giants' passing attack. New England opened the scoring with a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski after a sustained drive featuring running back Corey Dillon and tight end Benjamin Watson. The Giants responded with a touchdown drive orchestrated by Eli Manning connecting with Plaxico Burress. The Patriots later took the lead on a touchdown pass from Tom Brady to tight end Benjamin Watson before halftime. In the fourth quarter, the Giants engineered a 13-play, 83-yard drive culminating in Eli Manning's escape from pressure and a remarkable sideline catch by David Tyree against cornerback Asante Samuel, a play later dubbed the "Helmet Catch." Following an incompletion and a tackle, Manning found Burress in the end zone for the go-ahead score. New England mounted a final drive featuring Brady, receivers Wes Welker and Donte' Stallworth, but the Giants' defense, with sacks by Justin Tuck and coverage by Terrell Thomas, held on. The final sequence included a missed field goal attempt by Gostkowski and a game-clinching kneel by the Giants.

Scoring summary

- First quarter: Patriots — FG Stephen Gostkowski; Giants — TD Plaxico Burress reception from Eli Manning. - Second quarter: Patriots — TD Benjamin Watson reception from Tom Brady; Giants — FG Lawrence Tynes. - Third quarter: Patriots — FG Stephen Gostkowski; Giants — FG Lawrence Tynes. - Fourth quarter: Giants — TD Plaxico Burress reception from Eli Manning (after the David Tyree "Helmet Catch"); Patriots — final drive ended without scoring.

Box score

Final score: Giants 17, Patriots 14. Key statistics: Eli Manning passing yards 255, Tom Brady passing yards 266. Rushing leaders: Giants Ahmad Bradshaw, Patriots Wesley Collins/Corey Dillon. Receiving leaders: Giants Plaxico Burress and David Tyree; Patriots Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Defensive leaders included Giants Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, and Patriots Tedy Bruschi, Adalius Thomas. Attendance 71,101; MVP awarded to Eli Manning.

Aftermath and reactions

Reactions from media outlets such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and The New York Times highlighted the upset as one of the greatest in championship history, prompting analysis by commentators John Madden and analysts like Mike Lombardi. Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady faced scrutiny for the loss amid the 2007 season's dominance. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and MVP Eli Manning received widespread acclaim, and the game influenced discussions in broadcasts on Fox and talk shows hosted by Jim Rome and Terry Bradshaw.

Legacy and records

The game is widely remembered for the "Helmet Catch" by David Tyree and for denying the Patriots a perfect 19–0 season, a feat that would have surpassed the 1972 Miami Dolphins' perfect season in postseason context. Records set included the Patriots' record for most wins in a regular season (16) countered by the Giants' status as a lower-seeded champion, joining lists alongside upsets like New York Jets' earlier shocks. The game entered NFL lore alongside historic contests such as the Immaculate Reception and the Ice Bowl, and it continues to be cited in retrospectives by entities including NFL Films and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Category:New York Giants Category:New England Patriots Category:2008 in American football