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GLENDALE, Arizona - The New York Giants achieved one of the biggest upsets in NFL history with a 17-14 victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Quarterback Eli Manning engineered a masterful 12-play, 83-yard drive for the game-winner, hitting Plaxico Burress with the go-ahead score just 35 seconds from time.
Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs was badly beaten by Burress, who hauled in Manning's pass in the left corner of the end zone to trigger a wild celebration on the Giants' sideline.
New England was bidding for its fourth Super Bowl in the last seven years and to become the first team in 35 years to win the NFL championship without losing.
Quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots on a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to give them what appeared to be a winning 14-10 lead with 2:42 left.
Brady's six-yard scoring pass to Randy Moss capped off a five-minute, 12-second drive with the rangy wide receiver wide open after cornerback Corey Webster fell down.
But Manning, whose brother Peyton led the Indianapolis Colts to the title last season, needed just 2:07 drive the Giants to their winning touchdown.
VALUABLE PLAYER
Manning finished with 19 completions in 34 attempts for 255 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns and was named the most valuable player. Peyton was MVP of the Colts' triumph a year ago.
The Giants grabbed a 10-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on a six-play, 80-yard drive touchdown drive highlighted by a 45-yard pass from Manning to tight end Kevin Boss.
Manning's five-yard scoring pass to David Tyree with just over 11 minutes left put the Patriots in a hole few people expected heading into the game.
"The guys on this team and the run we made, it's hard to believe," Manning told reporters. "We had a great fight and the defence played outstanding.
"It is an unbelievable game and an unbelievable feeling."
Brady, twice Super Bowl MVP, completed 29 of 48 passes for 266 yards but was harassed by the Giants' defence for much of the evening.
The Patriots finished with an 18-1 record and failed to equal the accomplishment of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who went 17-0 on the way to the title.
- REUTERS
