Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Big Red Sports

Quarterback Tom Brady was unable to stay in the pocket while facing the ferocious New York pass rush.

In a game that was watched by 97.5 million viewers, surpassed only by the M.A.S.H. finale of 1983, Eli Manning and the New York Giants knocked around, outplayed and brought the previously undefeated New England Patriots back down to earth. In a game where Manning and the Giants were expected to do nothing but come up short against what many had dubbed the "greatest team ever," the underdog "G-men" overcame great odds to end the Patriots' quest for championship number four in the last seven years. This game produced many answers and even more questions.

Whether or not Manning is the Giants' quarterback of the future or if Head Coach Tom Coughlin is really "the guy" are no longer on any New Yorkers' minds. Sunday's victory showed what they could do and solidified the formerly beleaguered coach and quarterback in New York, at least for now. The question as to how to beat the Patriots was also answered. All the Giants did was provide the rest of the National Football League with the blueprint: rattle Tom Brady. By getting in the New England quarterback's face consistently all game the defense was able to keep Brady out of rhythm and throw off the whole New England offense. Next season you can be sure that every team will be bringing speed rushers at Brady and company from the opening whistle.

Now the question is what will Brady and the Patriots do next? After going 18-1 in the near-perfect season will the Patriots once again march to the Super Bowl next year? Or will the shock of this loss set the team back? The Giants handed the Patriots a crippling loss that has been felt by the organization and fans throughout the country.

Now everyone wants to know, will Manning be able to continue his growth or was this his only season of destiny? Will the Giants continue to perform as they did at the end of the season under Coughilin or will they regress to the Giants of 2006? And the granddaddy question of them all: was this the greatest upset ever?

Does this game rank up there with the great football upsets? The Jets' upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, Denver's win over Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII and the Patriots' triumph over St. Louis' "Greatest Show on Turf" in Super Bowl XXXVI are all remembered as amazing upsets. But will the 2007 Giants, who started the season 0-2, won ten games on the road to Super Bowl XLII be remembered as the David who toppled Goliath? A team that was passed over all season long until the final two weeks of the season are now Super Bowl champions. •

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