2008 Woodie Awards
The Underdog
Jeff Russell
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Sports
Glendale, Ariz. - 97.5 million people were left stunned and shocked on Super Bowl Sunday as the New York Giants pulled off one of the greatest upsets of all time as they defeated the New England Patriots 17-14. Super Bowl XLII defined that rare moment in time when the underdog came through against the undefeated and, in doing so, the Giants solidified their spot in football lore.
The Patriots hadn't lost a game in over a year. In the last week of the season, the Patriots came from behind and defeated the Giants in New York. The stage was set.
Both teams were deadlocked in a defensive battle and the Patriots were ahead 7-3 entering the fourth quarter. Time was fading out for the Giants.
At the 11:05 mark in the fourth quarter, Eli Manning threw a perfect pass to rookie wide receiver David Tyree. The Giants were up 10-7, but there was an eternity left on the score clock. MVP Tom Brady drove his team down the field and hit Randy Moss in the end zone with a touchdown. The Patriots were up 14-10 with 2:42 left.
A field goal would not be enough; for the Giants, it was all or nothing. This was the moment when heroes are made. This was the moment when teams become champions..
The weight of the team and the Super Bowl were laid upon Manning's shoulders for the last two minutes. He had to make a play, and he did. On third-and-5, Manning avoided a seemingly Patriots sack as he spun, ducked, and rolled right, then launched a 32-yard pass to Tyree. Manning capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left. After the Patriots turned the ball over on downs, Manning kneeled for the victory and immortality.
The Patriots had a perfect record of 18-0 entering the game, the only team ever to do so, and left the field without a win and without history. Instead, history belongs to the Giants, who became immortalized as, oddly enough, a giant killer.
The Patriots hadn't lost a game in over a year. In the last week of the season, the Patriots came from behind and defeated the Giants in New York. The stage was set.
Both teams were deadlocked in a defensive battle and the Patriots were ahead 7-3 entering the fourth quarter. Time was fading out for the Giants.
At the 11:05 mark in the fourth quarter, Eli Manning threw a perfect pass to rookie wide receiver David Tyree. The Giants were up 10-7, but there was an eternity left on the score clock. MVP Tom Brady drove his team down the field and hit Randy Moss in the end zone with a touchdown. The Patriots were up 14-10 with 2:42 left.
A field goal would not be enough; for the Giants, it was all or nothing. This was the moment when heroes are made. This was the moment when teams become champions..
The weight of the team and the Super Bowl were laid upon Manning's shoulders for the last two minutes. He had to make a play, and he did. On third-and-5, Manning avoided a seemingly Patriots sack as he spun, ducked, and rolled right, then launched a 32-yard pass to Tyree. Manning capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left. After the Patriots turned the ball over on downs, Manning kneeled for the victory and immortality.
The Patriots had a perfect record of 18-0 entering the game, the only team ever to do so, and left the field without a win and without history. Instead, history belongs to the Giants, who became immortalized as, oddly enough, a giant killer.
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