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Super Bowl XLII was played on February 3, 2008, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The New York Giants, champions of the NFC, faced off against the heavily favored New England Patriots, champions of the AFC. The game was coached by Tom Coughlin for the New York Giants and Bill Belichick for the New England Patriots.
Super Bowl XLII was seen as a full-gone conclusion according to the media and Las Vegas odds. The Patriots were 12-point favorites and were going to become the first undefeated Super Bowl champions since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
The Giants had low expectations heading into the season after the retirement of Tiki Barber. However, they delivered a solid regular season, finishing with a record of 10-6. They received a wild-card spot and then defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys.
They won the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers to advance to the Super Bowl. Quarterback Eli Manning led the team's offense that season, completing 297 passes for 3,336 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions.
The defense was led by defensive end Michael Strahan, who recorded nine sacks that season. The feat took him to 141.5 for his Giants career, breaking the great Lawrence Taylor's record.
The Patriots were coming off of a historic regular season, finishing with a record of 16-0. They won their division and then defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Diego Chargers to advance to Super Bowl XLII. Quarterback Tom Brady led the team's offense, completing 398 passes for 4,806 yards and an NFL record of 50 touchdowns, winning the MVP award.
The acquisitions of Randy Moss and Wes Welker were often cited as the reason for Brady's explosion in production at the time. The defense was solid, led by Vince Wilfork, Mike Vrabel, and Teddy Bruschi.
Super Bowl XLII: The iconic tale of a 12-point underdog
Super Bowl XLII was a close, hard-fought battle. But the Giants were able to pull off an upset victory on an 83-yard touchdown drive. The famous 3rd-down 32-yard "Helmet Catch" by David Tyree kept the drive alive before Plaxico Burress caught a 13-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left on the clock.
The Giants' defense held the Patriots to just 14 points, and the offense led by Manning and a strong running game scored 17 points. Manning was named Super Bowl XLII MVP after his outstanding performance, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns. The win marked the Giants' third Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
