text: New England began its next possession on its own 26 with 29 seconds remaining and three timeouts, but the Giants’ defense didn't allow a single yard—forcing an incompletion on first down, a 10-yard sack by rookie defensive tackle Jay Alford on second down, and then two deep incomplete attempts to Moss, the first that was broken up by Webster, and the second of which, on 4th-and-20, was broken up by Giants’ safety Gibril Wilson and caused a turnover on downs with one second remaining. After the incompletion, the game clock briefly read zero (one second was re-added), and coaches, players, reporters, and fans crowded the field as if the game had ended. Belichick hugged Giants’ Coach Tom Coughlin at midfield, then an official explained to both coaches that the final second had to be run. The Patriots’ defense took the field, and Belichick left for the locker room, not staying for the final play. This early departure was later criticized by some sportswriters who felt Belichick was being a sore loser, while others noted that he had properly congratulated Coughlin (they also noted Coughlin was one of the few opposing coaches he didn't loathe) and that the game was over once the Patriots failed to convert on 4th down.
  The officials cleared the field, and restarted the clock. Manning took a knee, allowing the clock to expire, and consequently won Super Bowl XLII for the Giants, while also ending the Patriots’ prospects of a 19–0 season as their overall record dropped to 18–1. With the loss, the Patriots’ Super Bowl record dropped to 3–3. They matched the 1984 San Francisco 49ers & the 1985 Chicago Bears, who both won the Super Bowl in their respective seasons.
  Six days before the game, the Boston Globe offered a book for presale documenting the Patriots’ 19–0 “historic championship season”. Following the Patriots’ loss, the book was cancelled.
  Scoring
  First quarter
  NYG – Lawrence Tynes 32-yard field goal, 5:01. Giants 3–0. Drive: 16 plays, 63 yards, 9:59.
  Second quarter
  NE – Laurence Maroney 1-yard run (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 14:57. Patriots 7–3. Drive: 12 plays, 56 yards, 5:04
  Third quarter
  No scoring plays
  Fourth quarter
  NYG – David Tyree 5-yard pass from Eli Manning (Lawrence Tynes kick), 11:05. Giants 10–7 Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 3:47
  NE – Randy Moss 6-yard pass from Tom Brady (Stephen Gostkowski kick), 2:42. Patriots 14–10 Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards in 5:15