Plaxico Burress’s prediction of his New York Giants defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII was thought of as unrealistic and arrogant by many people.

As it turned out, Burress’s prediction was right on, and he helped the Giants become the champions of the National Football League (NFL) by beating the heavily favored Patriots, 17-14.

As 12 point favorites, the Patriots were supposed to walk all over New York. They were supposed to become the first team to stay undefeated through a 16 game regular season and the playoffs. They were supposed to win Super Bowl XLII.

The New York Giants had other plans.

In a game that featured solid defense and minimal excitement on the offensive side, the Giants shocked the world and claimed their third championship in franchise history.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning was crowned as the MVP, as he completed 19-34 passes with two touchdowns and just one interception.

Manning’s first touchdown pass came with 11:05 remaining in the fourth quarter, as he hit David Tyree on a 5-yard pass. The score gave New York a 10-7 lead, but the Patriots proceeded to put together a scoring drive of their own.

After New England’s quarterback, Tom Brady, hit his favorite receiver, Randy Moss, for a 7-yard touchdown, it appeared as though the Giants’ effort would all be for naught, as the Patriots went up 14-7.

However, Manning proved himself as a legitimate NFL star in New York’s next possession, as he engineered a Bradyesque drive. The key play featured Manning somehow escaping from what seemed destined to be a sack and finding Tyree for a 33-yard gain through the air.

Manning’s pass appeared to be too high for his intended receiver, but Tyree managed to out-jump two defenders and pin the football on his helmet before catching the ball cleanly.

Manning then hit Burress on a 25-yard touchdown pass with just 35 seconds left to put the Giants up 17-14.

Brady and the Patriots did not have any magic left in their near-perfect season, and they failed to gain any yards in their final possession.

Manning, whose brother Peyton won the Super Bowl in 2007, was ecstatic about his team’s accomplishment:

“The guys on this team and the run we’ve made, it’s hard to believe—it really is,” Manning said in an interview with ESPN. “The drive at the end, there were so many clutch plays by so many guys. It is an unbelievable game and an unbelievable feeling.”

Perhaps the most clutch performance came from the Giants’ defense, however, as they shut down the potent New England offense for all but two drives.

The Patriots were considered as one of the best all-time offensive teams, and scoring just two touchdowns in the Super Bowl was highly improbable.

Brady had arguably the best offensive season in NFL history, and he was held to competing just 29 of his 48 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown.

Like most of the country, Monmouth College students seemed to be expecting New England to dominate in the Super Bowl but seemed to be pleasantly surprised when the underdogs prevailed.

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