The Giants have competed in the NFL for 83 years, but it's safe to say the 2007 season was one of the most successful, rewarding and memorable in franchise history.
The year began with most prognosticators not affiliated with the team expressing either skepticism the team could do well or outright certainty it wouldn't. When the Giants stumbled to a 0-2 start – then fell behind by two touchdowns at halftime of their third game - those dire predictions looked to be correct. But the Giants rallied to win that game, 14 of their next 18 and concluded the season with an exhilarating and unforgettable 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. It was one of the greatest upsets and most exciting championship games in the long history of the National Football League.
Eli Manning threw the game-winning 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with just 35 seconds remaining, giving the Giants a victory over a New England team that entered the game with an 18-0 record, including a three-point win over the Giants in the regular season finale. After New England had taken a 14-10 lead with just 2:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, Manning completed five passes on an 83-yard drive – including a 32-yarder on the greatest play in Super Bowl history, when he slipped the clutches of the Patriots' pass rusher and threw down field to David Tyree, who somehow secured the ball against his helmet and away from safety Rodney Harrison.
Two days after bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to the metropolitan area, the Giants were lauded by more than a million fans at a ticker tape parade up Manhattan's famed Canyon of Heroes, and later at a rally in Giants Stadium.
Manning threw for 3,336 yards and 23 touchdowns to become the first Giants quarterback since Phil Simms (1984-86) to top 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of three consecutive seasons. Brandon Jacobs rushed for 1,009 yards, despite missing five games and most of a sixth with injuries. Burress was unable to practice virtually the entire season because of an ankle injury, but led the team with 70 receptions for 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns, the highest total by a Giants receiver since Homer Jones had 13 in 1967. Ageless Amani Toomer caught 59 passes and became the franchise's all-time leader in receptions with 620. The offensive line – and fullback Madison Hedgecock, acquired off waivers after he was cut by St. Louis - played well throughout the year, a big reason the Giants finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards, averaging 134.3 a game.
Under new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the defense ranked seventh in the NFL, allowing 305.0 yards a game. The Giants led the NFL with 53.0 sacks and set a franchise record with 12 in a victory over Philadelphia on Sept. 30. Osi Umenyiora was third in the NFC and fifth in the NFL with 13.0 sacks and was the lone Giant voted to the Pro Bowl. Justin Tuck became a force on the defensive line and had 10.0 sacks. Michael Strahan skipped training camp, but added 9.0 sacks and moved to fifth on the NFL's career list with 141.5. Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce led the Giants with 116 tackles (63 solo).
