The plays that changed the game

On a 3rd and three play from the Patriots' 11-yard line, Eli Manning hit wide receiver Victor Cruz for first down yardage, but Patriots' cornerback Sterling Moore stripped Cruz of the football, which New England recovered. With the Giants in position to at least get a field goal attempt, the Patriots seemed to have saved themselves points early in the game. A 12-men on the field penalty negated the recovery and gave the Giants a first down. Cruz found redemption shortly thereafter, juggling in a two-yard touchdown reception to put the Giants up 9-0.

Early in the 2nd quarter, the Patriots had seven yards to go on 3rd down, and Tom Brady completed a pass to receiver Wes Welker near the sticks. Welker appeared to get to the 1st down marker, bouncing across the yellow line on the television screen. Unfortunately, Giants linebacker Jacquian Williams touched Welker down before his little hop across the marker, bringing up 4th and inches. The Patriots decided to punt and the Giants stalled another Patriot's drive.

With under six minutes left in the third quarter, the Patriots faced a 3rd-and-eight and were holding on to a 17-12 lead. To this point, the Giants had failed to register a sack on Tom Brady. New York defensive end Justin Tuck finally found Brady, though the sack was forced because of great coverage on the back end. This forced the Patriots to punt. On the ensuing drive, Giants' receiver Hakeem Nicks hauled in a huge catch, and the Giants caught another huge break. New England linebacker Jerod Mayo forced Nicks to fumble. However, New York fullback Henry Hynoski pounced on the football, which allowed the Giants to continue their drive and convert the field goal.

In a play eerily similar to Nicks fumble, the Giants, fresh off an interception of Tom Brady, had the football inside their own 20-yard line. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled the football. Luckily, Giants guard Chris Snee recovered the ball. Had the Patriots been able to get that football, they could have potentially went up nine points, making it a two-possession game.

A two-play sequence in the fourth quarter may have determined the Patriots' fate. On 2nd and 11, Tom Brady found a wide open Wes Welker. Though Brady put the ball behind Welker, the ball hit him in the hands and bounced to the turf. The play would have extended the drive and put the Patriots in optimal position to come away with points. On the very next play, Tom Brady sat in the pocket for, in NFL terms, ages. He had all day to scan the field, as his offensive line stifled New York's dominate pass rush. Brady eventually located Deion Branch running across the grain, but the legendary quarterback again put the ball behind his intended receiver, which gave Giants' cornerback Corey Webster enough time to make contact and separate Branch from the football. This forced a New England punt, which lead to the Giants' game-winning touchdown drive.