History wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

It was supposed to be perfection at its… History wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

It was supposed to be perfection at its pinnacle. An already impressive, historical season consummated in a most grandiose manner. The faultless culmination of a fantastical season, it couldn’t have ended any other way.

Except it did. New England was beatable after all.

Somebody forgot to tell the Giants that they had no business even being in Super Bowl XLII. New York had more losses in the first two weeks of the season than the Patriots do after the season finale. Certainly all the records that New England set this year toil in comparison to the monumental win that just eluded its embrace.

Because of what was at stake – a trademark on 19-0 – New York’s 17-14 win over New England will go down as one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. With 35 seconds left, Eli Manning, later named the game’s most valuable player, hooked up with Plaxico Burress for a game-winning 13-yard touchdown pass, and history was halted.

Don Shula and the 1972 Miami Dolphins (17-0) can sip their champagne for another year, as they remain the only team in NFL history to complete an undefeated season.

Something remarkable was promised to fans from the outset. The first 19-0 season was nestled in the hands of the greatest quarterback and coach of this decade, but it was the Giants who defied history and wrote a little of their own.

With the score at 10-7 Giants, and after both teams traded defensive stops, the Patriots reminded us all why they were who they were. With a 12-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a six-yard Randy Moss touchdown, New England looked like it finally found its moxie. As it turns out, it was just added drama for what was about to transpire.

In his best Tom Brady impression, Manning orchestrated the play of the game – perhaps the play of the year. After ducking multiple pass-rushers and inexplicably escaping the scrum, Manning found Tyree over the middle for an amazing catch where Tyree pinned the ball against his helmet all while keeping control. The play was good for 33 yards and set up Burress’ game-winning catch.

After New England’s opening drive, Brady struggled to hit open receivers and was unable to get his offense in the melodic rhythm that paced the league’s best attack this year. What can be attributed to Brady’s enigmatic performance? When it was said and done, the pressure got to the Patriots. National Football League supremacy was in their grasp, but Brady too often was in the grasp of the Giants’ defense. The Giants’ defense got to Brady five times – the most he’d been sacked all season. The Giants also were able to hold New England’s record-setting offense to less than 20 points for the first time all season – no doubt New York’s key to victory.

In the week leading up to Sunday, Burress had predicted a 23-17 Giants win, and everybody snickered, including Brady. But it’s exactly what needed to happen for the Giants to reign victorious on New England’s fourth Super Bowl parade in seven years.

The prominent tale of Super Bowl XLII is certainly the Patriots’ inability to cap a storybook season. But Manning’s performance (19 of 34, 255 yards and two touchdowns) shouldn’t be underscored. It’s inconceivable, extraordinary and shocking all at the same time. New England had everything to lose, the Giants had everything to gain, and it showed.

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. And that, after all, is why we watch.