No mystery to this upset: Giants played better

By: LOREN NELSON - North County Times commentary | Sunday, February 3, 2008 10:51 PM PST ∞

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Bizarre things happen in the desert.

A shiny, silver UFO descends on a suburban alfalfa field and is converted into a football stadium, 180,000 spectators show up for the third round of a golf tournament and Tom Petty somehow manages to avoid a "wardrobe malfunction."

Some might say the weirdest happenstance of all this week in the sprawling Phoenix metroplex was the New York Giants beating the New England Patriots 17-14 during Super Bowl XLII on Sunday night.

I'm not so sure.

The New England Patriots, unbeaten and favored by 12 points, sure didn't block very well for a team of destiny.

Patriots heartthrob quarterback Tom Brady, who threw an NFL-record 50 touchdown passes during the regular season, was tossed around like a Cabbage Patch doll.

He spent most of the game on his back, counting the ridges in the stadium's roof.

Hard to notch a place in history that way.

Tackling was a problem for New England, too. Giants quarterback Eli Manning, not exactly known for his Fran Tarkenton jukes and spins, wiggled out of more jams than a winning demolition derby driver.

On a crucial final-drive play, Manning disappeared from sight for several seconds, then somehow emerged from a mass of Patriots defenders stumbling about and grasping armfuls of air.

Manning then reared back and heaved the ball toward David Tyree, who jumped straight up and caught the ball while cradling it atop his helmet.

Allowing those sorts of circus plays will not stamp a team as the greatest in NFL history.

Even drab Patriots coach Bill Belichick broke form, eschewing his lucky gray hoodie for a bright red model.

"I mean look, they played well," was about all Belichick would say afterwards.

And, pretty much, that summed it up.

Manning was named the game's MVP, as quarterbacks most often are in these things, but this one was won in the mosh pit where the 300-pounders slam bellies.

Brady was sacked five times by a team known for its ferocious rush. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck had two of those sacks, two more quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

"Those guys should be the most valuable," Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer said about his defensive linemen. "They went after (Brady) with a vengeance."

There's no secret in all of this. To beat the Patriots, you must first stop an offense that amassed a regular-season record 589 points. If Brady can't throw, the Patriots most likely can't win.

"Everybody said (Brady) couldn't get rattled," Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "I don't know if he did get rattled, but he had grass stains. He was a little upset."

This outcome wasn't upsetting at all.

The Patriots, who were going for their fourth Super Bowl title in seven seasons, have become a hard team to like. Dogged by controversy regarding their questionable handy-cam tactics, it seems New England will stop at nothing to gain an edge. Busted for "Spygate" early in the season, you could only wonder what else they've tried, and gotten away with, over the years.

And despite the hard-driven Belichick's machine-gun like attention to focus, focus, focus on detail and respect, respect, respect for his opponents, you had to wonder where the Patriots' heads were on Sunday.

"They were inviting us to their parties after the game," Toomer said about what the Patriots were saying before kickoff. "They showed us no respect."

Maybe. Or maybe the Patriots were flat out beat by a better team. That seems more likely.

If New England was on the verge of becoming the greatest team in the history of mankind, what does that make the Giants?

"We are the champions, baby," said Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who caught the winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds left.

Simple enough. They played better, and they won.

Nothing strange about that.

Contact sports editor Loren Nelson at (760) 740-3551 or lnelson@nctimes.com.