Giants Pull Off Incredible Super Bowl Upset

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Behind the play of the younger Manning, Eli, the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl 42, 17-14. For his efforts, Manning, like his older brother Peyton last year, was named the game’s MVP.

With his team trailing in the fourth quarter, Manning engineered a scoring drive that culminated in a 13-yard scoring pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds remaining.

Tom Brady had given the Patriots a 14-10 lead earlier in the quarter when he found Randy Moss in the end zone from six yards out.

Manning finished the game 19 of 34 for 255 yards and two scores. Brady was 29 of 48 with 266 yards and one score.

The loss means the NFL still has only one unbeaten team, the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Patriots had a spectacular season, winning their first 18 games, but it was all for naught as they lost the one game they needed to win, the Super Bowl. Pats coach Bill Belichick said of the loss, “it’s disappointing”.

For the Giants, the win comes at the end of an up and down season. After losing their first two games, they ran off a six game winning streak. In their final game of the regular season, they came close to upsetting the same Patriots, only to lose 38-35.

They then reached the Super Bowl with three road wins in the playoffs before Sunday night’s exciting victory, which was called by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, “amazing.” They are the first NFC wild card team to win the NFL’s ultimate game. In their rich history, the Giants have won three Super Bowls and six NFL titles.

Meanwhile, Giants fans across the country were celebrating their team’s accomplishment.

One fan calls the win revenge for 2004, when the Boston Red Sox came from behind to knock the New York Yankees out of the baseball playoffs.

While Giants fans partied late into the night, it’s a different scene in Boston.

Locals slowly left bars after the game, some saying they’re “shocked” and “upset” by the Patriots’ only loss of the season.

Officials closed some Boston streets and restricted alcohol sales during the game in an effort to control an expected celebration. Police describe the post-game scene as “very peaceful.”