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	Copyright© 2008 VJ White. All Rights Reserved

By BARRY WILNER, AP Football Writer
February 6, 2008

 HONOLULU (AP) -- Who says you don't pull on Superman's cape?

 The New York Giants pulled, grabbed, twisted and nearly destroyed almost everything in their path in the Super Bowl, according to Osi Umenyiora.

 The defensive end who is the NFL champions' only Pro Bowl representative understandably was still celebrating his team's stunning triumph, one that prevented the New England Patriots from pro football's first unbeaten season in 35 years. As for the way he and his fellow defenders treated league MVP Tom Brady, well, Umenyiora said it was exactly what the Giants needed to do to pull off the upset.

 "It sounds crazy, but I told (defensive tackle Barry) Cofield a week before the game: `This team can't beat us if we play the way we're supposed to,"' Umenyiora recalled. "Get pressure on the quarterback and you can make Superman look ordinary.

 "From the parade (Tuesday) Cofield told me, `We're the best, we knocked the undefeated team off, we stomped the Patriots."

 Umenyiora was laughing when he mentioned that conversation. He's been laughing a lot since the 17-14 win gave the Giants their third Super Bowl title.

 "It sounds incredible. There's no better feeling than being world champions," Umenyiora said after the NFC's practice. "I'm a little sad that no teammates made it with me, but I'll represent for New York."

 He usually does.

 This is Umenyiora's second Pro Bowl. He was selected in 2005, when he was an All-Pro and led the NFC with 14 1/2 sacks. But he didn't have a championship on his resume then. He does now -- even if he didn't get to take part in the ticker tape parade in Manhattan.

 "I watched it on TV this morning and I cried when I saw them celebrating. Saw Mike (Strahan) and the coaches. I love those guys so much," Umenyiora said.

 Umenyiora was awake at 4 a.m. Tuesday because of jet lag, so tuning into the celebration in Manhattan hardly was a problem, even with the five-hour time difference. By proxy, he did take part in it, text-messaging fellow defensive end Strahan and Cofield.

 "I don't like flying," Umenyiora said. "If I flew to New York, I wouldn't have come back here. It's only six hours -- only six, ha -- from Phoenix."

 In Phoenix, the Giants punished Brady in a way the star quarterback hadn't encountered. They had five sacks and more than a dozen pressures on Brady, who spent a good portion of the Super Bowl on the ground. The line was the key to that domination against the most prolific offense in NFL history, one that scored 38 points on New York in the season finale, then managed just two touchdowns, its smallest output in 19 games, in the title game.

 "Before the game, I went to Michael and to Justin (Tuck, who had two sacks) and said, `Listen, this is the Super Bowl right now and there's no way we win if we don't perform," Umenyiora said. "That was the type of pressure we put on ourselves, that we had to get it done."

 Umenyiora didn't have a sack in the big game, but he was a consistent force working against All-Pro tackle Matt Light. At one point, Umenyiora said he, Strahan, Tuck, Cofield and the other defenders sensed that Brady was distracted by them.

 "Hey, I can understand that," he said. "We're out there trying to kill him.

 "Brady didn't say much to me. He's cool out there, calm and cool, but everyone else said he was bothered by us."

So much so that Brady passed on his Pro Bowl invitation. Maybe visions of Umenyiora coming at him again were too much.

 Updated on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 5:14 am, EST

 Team Head to Head - Week 21    

 Team Record          Standing                    Total Yds       Pass  Rush  3rdD%           TO     

 NY Giants                  10-6   2nd NFC East          338    247    91       50.0%            1        

 New England            16-0   1st AFC East            274    229    45       50.0%            1        

 The 14 points were a season low for a team that was looking for a place in history.

The Patriots scored an NFL-record 589 points this season and Brady threw a league single-season record 50 touchdown passes, including 23 to Moss, another mark. No team had held them under 20 points.

 Along came the Giants, a team that won its final 11 road games and limited three previous opponents to an average of 17 points.

 Against New England, the Giants were even better. They held the Patriots to 274 yards in total offense, including just 45 yards rushing.

 Key to the Giants defensive game plan was pressure. They sacked Brady five times and hit him nine.

"That's wrong," defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. "I hit him that many times by myself. We hit him a lot more than that."

 Coming in, Brady had been sacked a career-low 24 times this season playing behind a line that produced three Pro Bowlers in Koppen, left tackle Matt Light and left guard Logan Mankins. Throw in right guard Stephen Neal and right tackle Nick Kaczur, and Brady played most of his record-breaking season not having to worry much about getting hit by bloodthirsty defenders.

 "I like when I don't get touched," Brady said earlier in the week.

 Then, disaster struck -- in the form of an all-out, pressure-packed swarming defensive attack by the Giants -- in the worst possible setting. It was the first time Brady had been sacked as many as five times since the New York Jets did it on Sept. 21, 2003.

 New England had no answer for the Giants' bulldozing defense.

 "If I could tell you, we'd have it fixed," running back Kevin Faulk said. "At the same time, they outplayed us."

 They sure did, and left Brady wondering what hit him. Brady simply had no time to find Randy Moss and his other targets on a regular basis against the Giants.

 With 19 seconds left in the game and the Patriots facing a do-or-die scenario, Brady was sacked for the final time when Jay Alford pulled him down at New England's 16-yard line.

 Brady was left with nothing to do but try two straight desperation heaves to Moss to no avail.

 "I think their intensity from the beginning snap to the end of the game was really higher than ours," Moss said. "We just couldn't meet that intensity."

 With help from their linemen, the Patriots set NFL records for points scored and total touchdowns, while Brady broke the league mark for TD passes and Moss set the record for scoring receptions. That high-powered offense was held to a season-low 14 points in the Super Bowl -- mostly because it couldn't get time.

 "They played well defensively," coach Bill Belichick said. "They've been able to rush. They led the league in sacks, they rushed all year. They are a good defensive football team. They played well."

 "We all could've done things better tonight," Brady said.

 Spagnuolo said the Giants wanted Brady to throw short, tackle after every catch and limit the running game.

 Brady said the defense did a good job of mixing things up.

 "They were just more than we could handle tonight," Brady said.

 It should have been obvious Brady was in for a long day when linebacker Kawika Mitchell and Tuck sacked him on consecutive plays in the second quarter.

 The last big play came in the final minute when rookie tackle Jay Alford took over for a winded Fred Robbins and planted Brady on a second-and-10 from the New England 26 with 19 seconds to go.

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants scrambles away from the New England Patriots defense to throw a 32-yard pass to David Tyree #85 of the Giants during the four quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants escapes the New England Patriots defensive rush before throwing a 32-yard pass to David Tyree #85 in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants won the 17-14. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants breaks free from the grasp of Richard Seymour #93 of the New England Patriots, Manning scrambled free to throw a 32 yard pass to David Tyree #85 of the Giants during the four quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants scrambles away from th New England Patriots defense to throw a 32 yard pass to David Tyree #85 of the Giants during the four quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

New York Giants receiver David Tyree (85) leaps to catch a 32-yard pass as New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison (37) tries to defend during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. Somehow, with time running out and the ball pinned to his helmet, Tyree held on tight with both hands Sunday. Years from now, New York Giants fans will still wonder how he did it. The Giants won 17-14. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

 GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree #85 of the New York Giants catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning #10 as Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots attempts to knock it out in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree #85 of the New York Giants catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning #10 against Rodney Harrison #37 and James Sanders #36 of the New England Patriots attempts to knock it out in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants won 17-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

After scrambling to his right, Eli Manning (left) unleashes a pass to David Tyree, who leaps high to make a 32-yard circus catch to keep the Giants' winning drive alive with 59 seconds left.

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree #85 of the New York Giants catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning #10 as Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots attempts to knock it out and James Sanders #6 looks on in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants won the 17-14. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

New York Giants receiver David Tyree (85) holds on by his fingertips to a 32-yard pass as New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison (37) pulls him down after the catch during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. Somehow, with time running out and the ball pinned to his helmet, Tyree held on tight with both hands Sunday. Years from now, New York Giants fans will still wonder how he did it. The Giants won 17-14. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree #85 of the New York Giants catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning #10 as Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots attempts to knock it out in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

 GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree #85 of the New York Giants catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning #10 as Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots comes down on him in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- David Tyree, beaming and sweating in equal measure, was still settling into his seat at postgame Podium No. 5 under University of Phoenix Stadium when the first question came his way.

 "The catch?" the New York Giants' wide receiver asked, innocently.

 The Catch isn't an officially trademarked phrase, but anyone who follows football knows that Joe Montana's touchdown throw to Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship Game was the signature play that launched a San Francisco 49ers dynasty.

 On Sunday in Super Bowl XLI, the Giants stunned the New England Patriots, 17-14. The pivotal play was a not-to-be-believed 32-yard pass from Eli Manning to Tyree that kept the winning drive alive with 59 seconds remaining.

 Call it The Catch II.

 "I thought it was falling out," said Patriots' safety Rodney Harrison, who did his best to dislodge the ball. "It was a wacky, crazy play."

 Here's how it went down:

 The Giants were trailing 14-10 after New England quarterback Tom Brady, seemingly inevitably, drove his team 80 yards in 12 plays for the go-ahead touchdown. Order, in the football universe, had been restored.

 What were the odds of Manning, much maligned over four seasons with the Giants, one-upping the two-time Super Bowl MVP?

 Manning moved the Giants down the field, picking up two first downs on passes to Amani Toomer and a short run by Brandon Jacobs. But after scrambling for 5 yards and then throwing an incomplete pass, Manning faced a third-and-5 at the Giants' 44-yard-line.

 "The play call is Phantom," explained Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. "He [Tyree] runs a post and turns it inside."

 The problem was, Tyree never got to run his planned route because Manning was under siege. Never the most mobile quarterback, Manning ducked and spun when the pocket collapsed. Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas actually had a handful of his jersey, but Manning escaped to his right..

"Just trying to avoid the sack," Manning explained. "I felt people grabbing me. You try to get small sometimes and keep the play alive.

 "The ball hung up there forever."

 Said Tyree: "When you see the guy in trouble, you have to break off your route. I saw he was under duress, and I just pulled up and cut it short."

 Harrison reacted to Tyree's move back toward the ball and arrived a split-second after Manning's pass. He clawed and swiped at the ball.

 "We've got him sacked," Harrison said. "He throws a Hail Mary. I thought it was incomplete."

 "I mean, that ball was challenged," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin. "I mean, challenged."

 Tyree actually pinned it on his helmet with his right hand and pulled it in before he hit the ground.

 "You go up to the highest point," Tyree said.

 What's his vertical leap?

 "Maybe 30 inches," Tyree shrugged. "I probably have the worst vertical leap on the team."

 "That play," said defensive end Michael Strahan, "took a few years off my life."

 Giants wide receiver Steve Smith was on the field when it happened.

 "That was the biggest play of the game," Smith said. "Man, that was a catch. I was talking smack to Rodney."

 Three plays later, on third-and-11 at the Patriots' 25-yard-line, Manning hit Smith with a 12-yard pass for a first down. Then Manning reached Plaxico Burress with the winning score, a 13-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds left. Like Brady, Manning took his team down the field in 12 plays, except his drive was three yards longer.

 For Tyree, it was a difficult scenario to imagine. He caught three passes for 43 yards, including the Giants' other touchdown, a 5-yarder early in the fourth quarter.

Tyree, a fifth-year player out of Syracuse, missed the regular-season opener with a fractured wrist and played predominantly on special teams. He finished the regular season with four catches (for zero touchdowns) and added a single catch in the three previous playoff games. He also lost his mother during the season.

 "It's been a difficult season," Tyree said. "Most people wouldn't understand.

 "My opportunities are too far and few to let that one go. It was supernatural, you know? Some things just don't make sense, and that catch is a good example."

 Greg Garber is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws to wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants as Burress catches a 13-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter over Ellis Hobbs #27 of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants catches a 13-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter over Ellis Hobbs #27 of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The other Manning connected with Plaxico Burress on a 15-yard fade with 35 seconds left, clinching a monumental 17-14 upset for the Giants while cementing his Super Bowl legend.

Text: Bryan Graham/SI.com, Photo: Robert Beck/SI

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Defensive end Michael Strahan #92 of the New York Giants holds a copy of the Bergen Record with the headline "GIANTS WIN!" after the Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants celebrates with honorary captain, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Greg Gadson (C) and son Jalen in the locker room after the Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants scrambles against Junior Seau #55, Adalius Thomas #96 and Mike Vrabel #50 of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants won 17-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants scrambles against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants won 17-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

New York Giants' Plaxico Burress, left, catches the game-winning touchdown pass in front of New England Patriots' Ellis Hobbs III during the final minute of the Super Bowl XLII football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady decides to practice for his upcoming appearance on Dancing With the Stars ;-), as he drops back to pass in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants February 3 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The New York Giants edged New England 17-14 in Super Bowl 42.

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