By George Willis
New York Post
February 4, 2008
WE'RE NO. 1: Defensive end Justin Tuck, who had two sacks, celebrates the Giants' 17-14 Super Bowl victory.
February 4, 2008 -- GLENDALE, Ariz. - Defense is supposed to win championships. At least that's what we've been told decade after decade. The evolution of multiple sets and the West Coast offense captures our attention for a time, but when trophies are to be won, it's the defense that usually serves as the catalyst for victory. No team knows that better than the Super Bowl champion Giants.
Quarterback Eli ManningEli Manning will be crowned the hero of Super Bowl XLII last night for his marvelous game-winning drive. But the GiantsNew York Giants improbable 17-14 victory over the highly-favored Patriots at the University of Phoenix Stadium would not have been possible without the spectacular play of the Giants defense.
"You have to be on your A-game to beat those guys and we were on our A-game," said Giants linebacker Antonio PierceAntonio Pierce .
No doubt it was a total team effort. But the Giants defense, maligned early in the season, authored a performance that will rank as one of the best in the history of the franchise. Owner John Mara called it the "greatest win in Giants history." It may well have been the greatest defensive performance in Giants history considering the opposition and the setting.
On the biggest stage in football against one of the best offenses ever assembled, the Giants ended the Patriots hopes for an unbeaten season by finishing off the final 29 seconds of the game after Manning's dramatic 13-yard scoring pass to Plaxico Burress put the Giants in front.
Tom Brady must have thought he won the game when he engineered an 80-yard drive that led to a 6-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss with 2:42 left in the game. But then Manning willed his offense to the go-ahead touchdown, the Giants defense needed just one more stop.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (R) is sacked by New York Giants Michael Strahan (L) during Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, 03 February 2008. The Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14. AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Brady never had a chance. Jay Alford, a defensive tackle, bust through the line and sacked him on second down and two more incomplete passes into a blanket coverage triggered a Giant celebration of one the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.
No one can say the Giants didn't serve it. Certainly, the defense did. It pressured Brady like no other team this season, sacking him five times and generally making life miserable for three-time Super Bowl MVP, who completed 29 of 48 for 266 yards and one TD. When he wasn't sacked he was hit, repeatedly.
"I don't know if we rattled them, but he had grass stains," Pierce said.
It was a pass interference penalty on Pierce that led to the Patriots' touchdown on their opening drive of the game. But from there on the Giants defense was in control. It forced the Patriots to punt four times and recovered a fumble over the next five series, keeping its offense in the game.
"That offense is built to stay in rhythm," said Justin Tuck, who had two sacks. "Some things we showed (Brady) up front and in the secondary threw him off rhythm. It's the culmination of pressure in his face and the secondary doing a good job of locking down receivers."
One critical stop came when New England had momentum after a second-quarter interception gave the Patriots the ball on their 33. But the Giants defense forced a three and out, setting the tone for the rest of the game. "That might have been the biggest series of the game," Pierce said.
Through out the slugfest, the Giants defense was relentless, determined.
Earlier in the week when Burress predicted the Giants would win 23-17, Brady was insulted that anyone would think his offense would only score 17 points. Turns out Burress underestimated his defensive teammates. "I'm going to talk to him about that," Pierce said.
Defense helped win another Super Bowl for the Giants. Some things never change.
george.willis@nypost.com
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