GLENDALE, Ariz.-- --They entered the game as the New York Giants. They left as giant-killers.
Forget about the New England Patriots and their perfect season. Eli Manning and the upstart Giants pulled one of the greatest upsets in National Football League history with last night's 17-14 Super Bowl victory over the previously unbeaten Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Don Shula and the 1972 Miami Dolphins can pop that champagne that has been chilling. They remain the only undefeated team of the modern NFL era.
The Patriots were strong favorites to dispatch the surprising Giants. But Manning emerged from the shadow of elder brother Peyton and directed a game-winning fourth-quarter drive that culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass to top receiver Plaxico Burress - the guy who made headlines last week when he guaranteed a Giants victory.
Maybe the Giants should have been happy to be part of the Patriots' march to immortality, but instead they followed in the footsteps of other great New York upset teams and etched their name on the Lombardi Trophy.
Eli Manning, meet Joe Namath.
The Giants have become this generation's 1968-1969 New York Jets, who shocked the world when they defeated the powerful Baltimore Colts and put the old American Football League on the map. Or, if you want to be cross-cultural, they've become this generation's Amazin' New York Mets, who shocked the World Series with a victory over the powerhouse Orioles in 1969.
peter.schmuck@baltsun.com