The New York Giants - Super Bowl Xlii Champs - "A Season To Remember"

Unbelievable ? Destiny ? Fate ? Miraculous ? are all words used to describe the Giants victory. If that is the case then I guess Miracles Do Happen ! From their 0 - 2 start to Super Bowl Champions, I think that says it all - The proverbial "Season To Remember" at least for Giant fans. Some others may choose to forget, at least the last game anyway. The Patriots were lauded to be perhaps the best team in Football History, but the Giants proved that the best don't always come out on top, or do they ? New England has been playing virtually flawless football all season and they deserve the credit for it. I think the pressure and the hype was just too much for them at the end and their 18 - 0 record going in had finally taken its toll. Many of the New England players were seasoned veterans but perhaps a little too seasoned.

The Giants were written off by most and were not given much of a chance against the supposedly invincible New England Team, and that may have made the difference. The Giants were able to step up and rise to the occasion and Tom Brady found himself in unfamiliar territory, on the ground in a grass stained uniform. The Giants made sure he knew he was in a football game and they were not to be taken lightly. After their last meeting, a few weeks back, where the Patriots barely came out on top, I think the Giants set the groundwork for their triumphant play. They may have even surprised themselves a bit, but a pleasant surprise it was. Everything came together for them at the right time, most especially when it counted in the playoffs and finally the defining game of the season, The Super Bowl.

Eli Manning, a young quarterback living in the shadow of his brother Payton, showed the world that he has the talent expected from the Manning name but Eli was not alone in his quest for Victory. The rest of the team backed his play 110 %. We have to give credit where it is due, to the unsung heroes who stay in the background, the defensive coordinators for the Giants. The Giants defense, led by the seasoned veteran, Michael Strahan played such stellar defense in the game that they left New England without the weapons that they used so successfully all season. Welker was pretty pesky all game but they stopped him when they had to. They were also able to neutralize the long pass that Brady and Moss executed so well all year. The Giants virtual rookies also stepped up, Tyree and Boss really made some unbelievable plays at crucial times; and lets not forget Buress, Toomer, Jacobs and Bradshaw who all played major roles in the Giants march to Victory ! When Eli broke free when he was all but sacked, and made that throw into the arms of his rookie receiver, I knew New Englands fate had been sealed.

The Giants victory was near and Elis' subsequent pass to Buress ended the Patriots dreams for the perfect season. I think 19 -0 would have lasted quite some time in the record books but the 1972 Miami Dolphins team can rest easy for now. The Patriots 18 -1 record is a tremendous feat, but anti - climactic becuase they were not victorious in the most coveted game of all, The Super Bowl. The New York Giants did their city and their fans proud by their spectacular victory ! I look forward to next season and who knows, maybe the Jets will make a run for it ?

Super Bowl XLII will go down in football history as one of the most exciting and unbelievable games ever. The Giants play in this game reminded me of another unprecedented demise for New England fans - the New York Mets - "You Gotta Believe" victory over the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series. It is a lesson to us all. Don't ever give up your goals and dreams because if you have the right mindset, fortitude and determination you can make the seemingly impossible happen ! I don't know what next season holds but this year truly was "A Season To Remember". Hey, there's still the Pro- Bowl next week. Ah, Hawaii ! Enjoy.