How the Giants (Almost) Did It: Part III

"How the Giants (Almost) Did It" is a series that will detail the Giants near defeat of the New England Patriots in week 17 of the regular season. Its purpose is to prove that the outcome of Super Bowl XLII is not a foregone conclusion and that the New York Giants have a legitimate chance at the biggest upset in NFL history.

When the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens played the New England Patriots in weeks 12 and 13, their plan of attack was simple: pressure Tom Brady. And although neither team was able to walk away with a win, they laid the foundation on how to beat the Patriots.

By the time week 17 rolled around, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and the New York Giants knew exactly what they had to do. If they were going to defeat New England, they were going to have to get on Brady's face. And from the opening play on forward, they did exactly that.

Although the Giants only registered a single sack, they were putting pressure on Brady on nearly every play. Unfortunately for New York, the King of Foxboro seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. And while Spagnuolo and company executed well and stuck to their gameplan, it was still no match for the resilient Patriots.

That said, forcing to make Brady move his feet and make quick decisions was one reason the Giants almost did it -- despite what the box score says.

Previously on FanHouse:
How the Giants (Almost) Did It: Part II
How the Giants (Almost) Did It: Part I

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1-27-2008 @ 4:07PM

john rogan said...

New England Patriots are cheats and their fans are
frauds. Trying to claim a perfect season, when
the signals of the defensive team have been passed to QB Brady needs the intervention of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. I draw a 12 at the blackjack table...a voice in my ear tells me that the
next card is a 9 or a face card that will "bust" the dealer....I can have a "perfect season" too under those circumstances.....The Patriots have personnel that physically does not match up with players like
the Giants number 58, Pierce, who can fight off three
Packers to bring down the ball carrier. Even backup,
number 55, Mitchell, can overcome the best of NE.
They are cheaters....pure and simple...deal with it.

1-28-2008 @ 3:09PM

Rick F. said...

I can't believe that I came across headlines such as "How much of a Pat's hater are you?" or "How the
Giant's Almost Did It".
Hey NY ... get some stones.. New Englanders don't captivate headlines with how the Red Sox ALMOST did it.
They worked hard, built a winning team and came to beat the yankees. Stop with the almost and haters..
"Almost" only counts in horseshoes and grenades.
By the way, even though the NFL has a catagory for "Cheating", they NEVER found the Patriot's guilty of cheating...they charged them with breaking a rule. Big difference.. IF they felt it was clearly cheating, they would charge them with it. Stop "Hating" winners and focus on being one yourselves.

1-27-2008 @ 4:43PM

bet super bowl said...

I think the Giants will go 0-2 vs the Pats this year.

1-27-2008 @ 5:00PM

pookiemang69 said...

Ok WTF is wrong with you brain dead writers. Everyone of you is if this, or almost that. You should know they only give out second place ribbions at field day. Last time i checked You either win or you didn't. So shut the hell up and let the teams play.

1-28-2008 @ 12:43PM

sandy said...

ya know?...it is just like mr kraft always says...people like to see the big guy get knocked off...but lets put things in persective...the patriots were caught doing something they should not do...now maybe everyone doesn't do it, however...why have all the coaches covered their mouths on the sidelines sonce the begining of time?
second of all...mangenie is a weanie...he did the same thing with the tapeing etc etc...thirdly...how on earth with the patriots under a micro scope...did they cheat this year to have the record of 18 & 0...don't think it would have been poss. anyone who is still talking about it today is just a soar loser...I will gladly send a box of tissue if you need it...
4thly...this type of dynasty wasn't supposed to happen with the salary cap and free agency...somehow, coach has made it happen and anyone who thinks it was all from cheating is just plain ignorant...wake up...they are great...quite poss the best team in nfl history...deal with it!
GO PATS....18 and 0...one more to go!!!!!!!!

1-27-2008 @ 6:22PM

pacman said...

john rogan you my friend have no idea what the hell your talking about. Stupid comments reflect stupid people i guess. Can someone please send me or tell me where ANYONE in the NFL front office said the Pats were caught cheating? I know they were fined for a rule violation but where did they say they cheated? Also John why are comparing poker to football? that makes no sense. I think the Pats will win because a 3 time super bowl champion QB named TOm Brady will be throwing the football in 70 degree temps...not 5 degrees like the charger game. That will be the difference. deal with that JOHN

1-27-2008 @ 6:32PM

Quote:
Its purpose is to prove that the outcome of Super Bowl XLII is not a foregone conclusion and that the New York Giants have a legitimate chance at the biggest upset in NFL history

By the way, Who said if the giants win it will be the biggest upset in history? is the guy writing this a relative of eli or something?

1-27-2008 @ 7:38PM

Pats fan from AFL said...

I have been a pats fan from the very beginning.
prior to the creation of the AFL i was a ONE of many N.Y. Giants fans from New England when the AFL WAS FORMED MOST OF US CONTINUED TO FOLLOW AND ROOT FOR THE GIANTS.AFTER THE MERGER WELL MOST OF US STUCK WITH THE PATS BUT THERE ARE MANY GIANTS FANS FROM NEW ENGLAND STILL TO THIS DAY.
1)THE PATRIOTS ARE NOT CHEATERS
2)BILL BELICHICK IS NOT ONLY A GREAT COACH BUT
A VERY GREAT MOTIVATOR AND HE LEADS BY EXAMPLE
3) HE IS DEFINITLY ONE OF THE GREATEST COACHES
TO HAVE COACHED IN THE NFL AND WHEN HE RETIRES
WILL BE IN THE HALL OF FAME.
4) NOW LETS GET TO THE POINT MR.KRAFT
will also be elected to the hall as well he
has taken the patriots from and thru his love
for his team when he was just a fan
bought it and hired mr.belchick to coach it THIS
proved to not just to the nfl but to any professional sporting team that paying individual stars megabucks does not guaranty championships.he proved that having the right coach and the type of players who play to win and are willing to restructure their contracts to bring more team players to the team wins championships i.e. the boston celtics/
I am a N.E./red sox fan celtic and bruin fan.
i am not a yankee hater until they play the sox and even then hater is not the correct word.the rivalry is the best there is in any sport and that is what makes it so special and good for baseball.
now lets get to the point here some of you new yorkers think that your feces doesn't stink but it stinks more than the normal persons I say this because i do not hate new yorkers you are who you are it is the sore losers that gives all new yorkers a bad name.i take my hat off to the giants for making it to the super bowl, i take my hats off to them for almost knocking the pats out of a shot at a perfect season , and i even give them a chance at being able to possibly ruin the best team in NFL history'quest for a perfect season but i know deep down inside my/our Patriots come next sunday will be the winners of the super bowl, and as usual will dispay the class and humbleness that us new englanders and bostonians have. so i want to ccnngradulate the giants for a terrific season and a valiant run just to get to the super bowl.
but i want to thank mr.kraft for giving us A REAL TEAM , A GREAT COACH ,AND A QUARTEBACK LIKE TOM BRADY WHO GAVE UP PART OF HIS SALARY TO BRING IN PLAYERS THAT WHEE NEEDED TO KEEP OUR TEAM IN CONTENTION TO BE WINNERS FOR YEARS TO COME . I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM , AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THE PATRIOY ORGANIZATION are NOT JUST PART OF A TEAM THEY ARE PART OF MR. KRAFTS FAMILY.
SO GO PATS I WILL BE WATCHING YOU WIN NEXT SUNDAY
WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE AND THE FEELING OF BEING PART OF YOUR FAMILY TO. I WISH I COULD BE THERE TO WATCH IT LIVE.BUT I WILL GET TO WATCH IT AND WILL ENJOY OUR VICTORY

1-27-2008 @ 10:08PM

BOB said...

I see it this way. With O'Hara, Madison, and Mitchell well and Plaxico moving better than a month ago, This could be a different ending. The key so far as I'm concerned is the Giant running game. Bradshaw was only in for 2 series in week 17, Jacobs will be used more too.

The MORE the Giants are on the field, the LESS the Pats will be.

1-27-2008 @ 11:08PM

A.B.Benjamin said...

To the Pats fan:
1.Yes the Pats did cheat stealing defensive signals
2.Did it matter much? probably not. They have a great team.
3.The Giants are a worthy opponent. They could win.
The big question is how Giant secondary can defend against those passes
4.Calling yourselves "humble NewEnglanders"
Does that include Randy Moss? That cuddlely sweet
woman beater
GO GIANTS!!!

1-28-2008 @ 6:59AM

to AB Benjamin, What prrof do you have they cheated? Do you know something the rest of us dont? Rule violations are not cheating. Also who said Randy was a woman beater? Do you have some kind of proof of that we dont know about? The giants have a chance yes, because they are playing in the superbowl. But just because you hate the fact your team or teams suck does not mean you should throw out accusations that are untrue. Show me where goodall said "belichik and the Pats cheated" and I will take back everything I said and become a "I wish I was like my big brother giants fan.

1-28-2008 @ 8:15AM

Dan Benton said...

Pacman - Beating the undefeated Patriots after being called "one of the worst three teams ever in the Super Bowl" would be the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.

And two, the Patriots did cheat. Breaking the rules/violating the rules IS cheating. I'm not sure how you fail to realize that.

Rules are set in place for a reason and when you break them, you're cheating. That's pretty simple to understand.

By the way, when Goodell took a draft pick from them, that is pretty solid evidence that they did something illegal a.k.a. cheated.

1-28-2008 @ 8:19AM

reply to ab benjaman from the pats fan for the record you can call me briggs as i fel you and i will be going back and forth first of all pacman has it right secondly what team in professional sport or for that matter pop warner fotball do not do things to gain an advantage,thirdly mangine the jets coach and former asistant to coach belicick showed no class no wondr coach b said goodbye to him and was probably smiling inside ill bet coach mangini had his camera man in the stands with a cell phone and his videowired into manginis headset. so in keeping with being a humble new englander/bostonian let me jst say again the pacman is right we are undefeated and on the verge of staying that way and it was done by a great team coach owner and many fans who have waited a long time for our pats to be the elite team and ill have a drink on sunday after the final score shows the pats are super bowl champs AGAIN AND THE BEST TEAM EVER TO PLAY IN THE NFL. BOTTOMS UP AB

1-28-2008 @ 8:31AM

Dan, you still have failed to answer the question. Did anyone in the entire NFL front office say the words "the Pats cheated"? IF there was all the "evidence" speak about then why didnt any one from that office say the word cheated? I am not saying what they did was right or wrong , all I am saying is people want to hate the Pats thats fine but do not say it is because they cheated when no one has any proof of that. they were not fined for cheating they were fined for a rule violation. Just as many many players have been fined for the same thing. Is a late hit on a QB cheating? Or is it a rule violation? hitting a QB late is trying to gain a advantage by possibly taking out that QB right? What about ALL the other present and past coaches who have said that every coach in the league tries to steal the signals? Madden said he did , should they strip him of his rings?

1-28-2008 @ 8:37AM

Also Dan you did not mention anything about Randy Moss? Why not? you were defending the guy who said he was a woman beater correct? By the way I thought that the Pats beating the Rams in 01 was a pretty big upset, i guess not as big as this one would be. Let me ask you this Dan, If your football team had a chance at getting Brady and Bellichik, would you not want them because you are a moral stand up guy convinced the those two cheated? Tell the truth hahaha. I think I know the answer anyway so it doesnt matter.

1-28-2008 @ 8:44AM

Pacman - I never defended anyone who said he was a woman beater.

And you can spin Patriotgate any way you want, man, but they cheated. No one in the MLB ever said the 'roiders "cheated" either, just "violated" rules. It doesn't mean they didn't cheat.

Play on words all you like -- breaking a rule is cheating.

Straight from the dictionary:

5. to violate rules or regulations: He cheats at cards.

Enough said.

1-28-2008 @ 8:46AM

By the way, I never said Brady was a cheater -- Belicheat is, however.

I would love Brady on the team, so long as the WR's were as talented as they are now (A QB is only as good as his receivers), but I'd be skeptical on cheating Bill. That's not the kind of attention I'd want brought on the Giants -- who are known as a classy, honest and truthful organization.

That said, I know Bill's heart still lies in New York. In fact, he still tells his linebackers on a regular basis that they are nowhere as good as the Giants 'backers he coached when he was in New York.

1-28-2008 @ 9:20AM

jose said...

IF YOU JAYWALK, ITS AGAINST THE LAW, BUT NOBODY GETS A TICKET FOR IT. YOU STOLE SIGNALS FROM THE SIDELINES OF AN OPPOSING TEAM. SO STOP BEING SO DAM ARROGANT AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, ISNT THAT WHAT "CHAMPIONS" DO??? YOU CHEATTED IN THE JET GAME AND GOT CAUGHT. THEY DONT TAKE 750,000 DOLLARS OUTOF YOUR POCKETS FOR NOTHING, AND I FORGOT THE DRAFT PICK.. ONLY PEOPLE WHO THINK THE PATS DIDNT CHEAT ARE THE PATS, AND THEIR LIVING IN THE MOMENT FANS.....

1-28-2008 @ 9:31AM

it amazes me that people think that if the Giants win it would be the biggest upset in nfl history. last time I checked the giants were an nfl team. and its no coincedence that they are in the super bowl... the super bowl is like the ncaa tournament... the best team does not always win, the hottest team does.. do you really expect me to believe that the florida marlins were better than the yanks in 03??? thats why they play the games, and when the giants win the super bowl it will prove that, see what excuses the pat fans have then... remember, nothing last forever for every beginning there is an end, and yours is coming this sunday.....

1-28-2008 @ 9:44AM

So Dan you are telling me that if the Giants had a chance at Bellichik you would be against that? Also like I said it was never said they cheated it was a rule violation. If it is as horrible as everyone is making it why didnt they suspend him? I mean if he really was using film to effect the outcome of the game they were playing (which is B>S. by the way) why didnt they suspend him? And Jose you are making no sense whatsoever, what the hell does Jaywalking have to do with the NFL? ANd lets just say Jose hypotheticly that the Pats win, What will the Giants excuse be?

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