The Giants did something no other team could do this year, beat the Patriots, and they did it to win Super Bowl XLII.  The Giants put pressure on Tom Brady all game long and sacked the two-time Super Bowl MVP five times to put the clamps down on one of the most prolific offenses in the history of the league. Eli Manning followed up his brother's lead last season, winning the MVP by throwing two fourth-quarter TD passes.

Lost in the Patriots' quest for perfection was the fact that New York entered this game with a 10-game road winning streak, including huge road playoff wins at Tampa, at Dallas, and in Green Bay. It was a case of playing your best football at the right time of the year. The Pats' best football was during the first half of the regular season to whereas the Giants' were on the top of their game in January and beyond.

The loss in the big game leaves Bill Belichick and company short of perfection. Sixteen regular season wins is impressive and even historic, but without the Super Bowl trophy to boot the accomplishment seems a bit hollow. Brady said earlier in the week it was the biggest game of his career and he lost it. Joe Montana never lost a Super Bowl.

The '72 Dolphins didn't play as many regular season games, but they won every game in front of them and in the end they were crowned champions. Their accomplishment still is superior and that means that Don Shula and company are going to keep popping their champagne bottles.

Much ado was made before the game about the Patriots' organization trademarking 19-0 so they could use the slogan to sell merchandise. Were the Giants smart enough to do the same for 18-1?