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The New York Giants made history in Super Bowl XLII when they defeated the previously 18-0 New England Patriots for their third Super Bowl title. The winning play from that game has to be on our list of the top 10 Giants Super Bowl moments.
No. 5 -- Plaxico's game-winning touchdown
Super Bowl XLII, Feb. 3, 2008 -- Had the Giants not defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII the David Tyree helmet catch wouldn't be considered the greatest play in Super Bowl history. It would be a mere footnote to another Patriots' championship, to David getting close to slaying Goliath but coming up short.
Four plays after the Tyree catch, though, Eli Manning lobbed a pass toward the left corner of the end zone. A wide-open Plaxico Burress hauled it in to give the Giants a 17-14 lead with 39 seconds to play. Burress beat Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs, caught the ball and a few moments later New England's dream of an unbeaten season had been shattered.
Burress spoke to Giants.com about the play a couple of years ago. Here is some of what he said:
"It's one of those moments and one of those times in history that will never be forgotten," Burress said today between interviews on Radio Row at the Super Bowl XLVIII Media Center in midtown. "To me, it's still the greatest game ever played. No doubt. Best Super Bowl ever played. People ask me about it every day, especially being in this area and this market, New Jersey and New York. ...
"I didn't know the ball was coming to me, because we had called the same play two times in a row," Burress said. "They were basically giving me double coverage and single covering everybody on the backside, because we had three receivers on the backside and just myself (on the other side). We got to the line of scrimmage and Eli grabbed me on the way out and said, ‘Hey man, if we get single coverage, I'm throwing it.' I was like, ‘Man, they're not going to single me right now.' I got to the line of scrimmage and my eyes got so big because I couldn't believe that ... it wasn't just single coverage, it was blitz coverage. The corner had to protect his inside and I just said, ‘I'm going to give him one move, he has to respect it based on the concept of that defense.' It was history. ...
"I know at least three or four times I've said to myself, ‘I'm not dropping this ball for nothing in the world,'" Burress said. "I still remember the sound when it hit my hands and my shoulder pads. I will never forget it."
Neither will Giants fans.