More people watched Super Bowl XLII than any other program but the series finale of M*A*S*H, the game was one of the best in Super Bowl history and the upset was monumental.
Still, the season was memorable even before the Super Bowl. The Patriots didn't lose in the regular season, the Giants won 10 straight road games and Brett Favre rebounded to lead the Packers to a sensational season.
Here's our list of the top NFL stories of the 2007 season.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","1. A Super upset","Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is sacked by defensive end Michael Strahan.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080203/080203-tom-brady-sacked-hmed-6p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Paul Sancya", "AP", "273", "380", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
The New York Giants, the NFC's fifth seed, stunned everyone by beating the previously undefeated undefeated New England Patriots, 17-14. New England set nearly every significant offensive record this season and entered the game as 12-point favorites, but the Giants unleashed a furious pass rush to harass quarterback Tom Brady and turn the tide in their favor. Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Mike Strahan lived in the New England backfield, which made the Patriots offense out of sync.
Giants QB Eli Manning played like a man in the fourth quarter, throwing 2 TD passes, including the game-winner to Plaxico Burress in the final minute. His escape from the Patriots pass rush on the game-winning drive and subsequent pass to unlikely hero David Tyree will go down as one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","2. Patriots go 16-0","Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi revels in another win.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/SPORTS/071229/g-071229-spts-patriots-win-9p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Jim McIsaac / Getty Images", "183", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
Say they choked, say they didn’t finish the job because they lost the Super Bowl. However, the New England Patriots dominated the game like few teams in NFL history, becoming the first to finish the regular season without a loss since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
Tom Brady threw 50 touchdown passes, Randy Moss caught 23 of those (both records) and Wes Welker caught everything Brady threw him. The Patriots were relentless and amazing, setting the NFL scoring record.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","3. Sean Taylor shot and killed","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071127/071127_taylor_vmed_3a.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Evan Vucci", "AP file", "358", "264", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
The Washington Redskins’ 24-year-old All-Pro safety was at his home in Florida late in November because he was rehabbing from an injured knee. Men broke into his home and shot Taylor in the leg. The bullet damaged his femoral artery and Taylor died as a result. The shocked Redskins rallied in the final weeks of the season and earned a wild-card berth. After they lost to the Seahawks in the playoffs, coach Joe Gibbs, worn out from a trying season, retired from the team for the second time.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","4. Giants are road warriors","Plaxico Burress celebrates the Giants' NFC Championship.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080120/g-080120-cvr-giants-h-7p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jamie Squire", "AFP - Getty Images", "266", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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While the Giants were heavy underdogs in the Super Bowl, some observers thought they had a chance to win because they won 10 straight road games, an NFL record. After dropping their road opener to the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants never lost another road contest. That number would be amazing by itself, but when compared with their 3-5 home record it’s beyond belief.
";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","5. Brett Favre's resurgence","Green Bay defensive tackle Corey Williams and quarterback Brett Favre shake hands during their NFC Divisional playoff win.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080112/080112-favre-hmed-5p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Jonathan Daniel", "Getty Images", "273", "414", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
Brett Favre's annual question loomed: Would this be his final season? Thought to be on the downside of his career, many Packers fans -- and perhaps a few coaches -- secretly hoped Favre would retire. Yet his 2007 season became a three-month long wonder as Green Bay won 13 games and claimed NFC North title and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
While they were upset by the Giants, it was a sensational year for the Packers. They built one of the league's best defenses thanks to defensive end Aaron Kampman and linebacker Nick Barnett, found a running back in Ryan Grant and got an unexpectedly brilliant performance from Favre.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","6. Spygate hits Belichick","Patriots coach Bill Belichick walks away from the podium after a Spygate press conference.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/SPORTS/070913/070913_bill_hmed_6p.hmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Stephan Savoia", "AP", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
A day after the Patriots punished the New York Jets in the opener, New England coach Bill Belichick was hit with a major controversy. The Patriots were accused of videotaping signals of Jets' coaches. The result was major fines from Commissioner Roger Goodell (Belichick $500,000; the Patriots $250,000) and losing a first-round draft choice.
Some critics claimed Belichick should have been suspended, but Goodell called the matter closed after he made his ruling. Critics claimed Belichick had been videotaping opponents for years and should be punished, while others maintain stealing signals is something every team has done.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","7. Michael Vick, criminal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070822/070822_vick_vmed_10a.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Tami Chappell", "Reuters", "358", "260", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was one of the league's most well known and highest paid players, but he became the league's biggest embarrassment for his role in a dogfighting operation. Seeing Vick in an orange jump suit as he was sentenced to 23 months in prison is an image the league won't shake anytime soon.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","8. Colts' consistent excellence","Colts coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning have enjoyed five division crowns in the last five years.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071101/0711101_dungy-manning_vmed_7p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Darron Cummings", "AP", "339", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
A year after winning their second Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts were brilliant once again. They claimed their fifth consecutive AFC South crown, and their 13-3 record marked the fifth straight season they won at least 12 games, an NFL record. Their season ended with an AFC Divisional playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers, but Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy can say they did something that no other team has ever done.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","9. EmBearassing","Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman is sacked.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/071118/071118_seahawksBears_hmed5p.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Otto Greule Jr.", "Getty Images", "273", "317", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
Chicago coach Lovie Smith thought it was all there for the taking. After losing to the Colts in Super Bowl XLI, Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo were thinking of how to win it this season. Despite the presence return specialist Devin Hester and Brian Urlacher in the middle of the defense, the Bears didn’t even finish at .500, let alone return to the playoffs and the Super Bowl.";
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("","10. Cleveland rocks","Browns quarterback Derek Anderson thrived in 2007.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/COVER/071014/071014_browns_vmed_2p.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Amy Sancetta", "AP", "358", "251", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i-1].body = "
Going into his fourth season, Browns coach Romeo Crennel didn’t appear to have the time to develop quarterback Brady Quinn, the team’s No. 1 draft pick last April. As it turned out, he didn’t have to wait. Derek Anderson turned out to be the surprise player of the year at quarterback. He found a great pair of targets in receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow and former Ravens running back gave them a boost out of the backfield. Cleveland could be the team to watch in 2008."; spt_NFL_biggest_Stories[i++] = new Array("spt_080204_NFL_Storylines","Vote","","","","", "lv2", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); // END editorial data