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ESPN 30 for 30 Interview - Aired February 2nd, 2018 - "Undefeated"

David Tyree: (Asked what he wished he could have done differently in Super Bowl 42) *Chuckles* I don't know. See, that's the great thing about sports. The what if factor.

February 3rd, 2008
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
1:15 left on the playclock
3rd & 5

Tom Coughlin glared at the field, and at his Quarterback, Eli Manning. A near interception had gotten sighs of relief from the Giants side of the field. Coughlin clenched his fist following the near-pick, as he prepared to give the play to Manning. Kevin Gilbride, the Giants' Offensive Coordinator, buzzed in his ear. Time was ticking.

On the other side of the field, Bill Belichick, the notoriously stone-faced New England Patriots head coach, continued his ice man persona. He watched the near-pick with no expression. On the outside, Belichick's mood was setting an example for the coaches and the players: relax. We're a minute away from the perfect season. On the inside, Belichick was not as calm. The Giants had two more plays to get a touchdown, and with a minute and twenty left they had enough time. They needed a stop here that would cripple the giants, as it was obvious that they would go for it on fourth.

Both teams lined up in formation as the play commenced. The ball was snapped, and with Manning falling back, preparing a throw. Manning knew he needed a quick throw, as the Pats Defense would be over him in seconds. He was right, as the pressure burst past the Giants' O-line. Manning could feel a Patriots defender tugging at his back. Shit. This can't be a sack. Manning escaped, barely managing to stay on his feet. Manning was stumbling though, the pressure from the Patriots assault still hitting him. He saw David Tyree open, but as he was preparing to release the ball, Patriot Linebacker Mike Vrabel hit Manning hard, and the ball came open. The Patriots scrambled for the live ball, hoping to to end the game right there, while the Giants' ran like bats out of hell, trying to keep the hope of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy alive.

Vrabel jumped up to his feet after the Manning sack, diving on the ball, and clutching it to his chest. The Giants ran to the ball, but realized that catastrophe had happened: the Patriots had the ball. Tom Coughlin socked the air. Shit!, he screamed into his headset.

Belichick screamed, jumping up and down. The Patriots' sideline erupted into cheers, while the Giants' stared stone cold to a sight that would be embalmed into the minds of the millions who watched the game: Eli Manning, sitting on the turf, head in his hands, his helmet off. Plaxico Burress ran to his QB, and helped him up off the field. The Patriots Offense and the Giants' defense jogged onto the field. They did battle for three more plays, with the Pats starting at the Giants 34-yard-line and whittling down tho their 1-yard-line. After New York exhausted all of their timeouts, the Patriots kneeled away the game, ending a perfect season, only the second team in NFL history to do so.
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