Super Bowl XLII: Giants vs. Patriots

Lore & Background

The Giants defeated the heavily favored Patriots by a score of 17–14, widely considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of professional North American sports. Giants quarterback Eli Manning was named Super Bowl MVP. The Patriots entered as 12-point favorites after becoming the first team to complete a perfect regular season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Giants, who finished 10–6, were seeking to become the first NFC wild card team to win a Super Bowl. The game featured five total lead changes and a Super Bowl-record three lead changes in the fourth quarter. David Tyree's 'Helmet Catch' on 3rd down for a 32-yard conversion was a key play, and Plaxico Burress scored the game-winning touchdown on a 13-yard reception. The game became one of the lowest scoring Super Bowls since Super Bowl IX. It was the first and, as of the 2024 season, only Super Bowl with three fourth-quarter lead changes.

In Their Own Story

The lights dimmed over the fictional arena where hockey pucks were replaced by footballs, but this scene never existed in Edmonton. In reality, on that cold February night in New Jersey, Oilers fans were likely watching replays of the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals or checking the standings for the upcoming playoff push, completely unaware that an American football game was rewriting history thousands of miles away.

Reader's Guide

Super Bowl XLII is often considered the greatest Super Bowl of all time by several media outlets. The Giants' victory is remembered as one of the greatest 'Cinderella' stories in professional sports history. The game's broadcast on Fox set a then-record with an average of 97.5 million viewers in the United States. The Giants and Patriots would meet again in Super Bowl XLVI four years later, where the Giants would win again 21–17.

Did You Know?

• The game was played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
• The Giants were 12-point underdogs.
• David Tyree's 'Helmet Catch' was ranked third on the NFL's 100 Greatest Plays.
• Super Bowl XLII was ranked fifth on the NFL's 100 Greatest Games list, the highest ranked Super Bowl game.