Call it the second-biggest upset in Super Bowl history.
The Giants did it with defense and timely offense, much the way the New York Jets did it in the biggest Super Bowl upset of all-time against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
Here are our picks for the biggest Super Bowl upsets.";
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Date: Jan. 12, 1969
The Jets were not in the Colts’ league -- literally and figuratively. The first four Super Bowls pitted the American Football League champions against the long-established NFL champs and it was widely assumed that Don Shula’s powerful Colts would humiliate a Jets team that had upset the Chiefs and Raiders to earn the spot as the AFL’s representatives. Rated as 18-point underdogs, quarterback Joe Namath calmly and coolly directed the Jets offense, completing 17-of-28 passes for 206 yards. The Jets defense flustered the Colts, intercepting Baltimore quarterback Earl Morrall 3 times in the first half and leaving the NFL champions back on their heels. When the clock ticked down to 0:00, the Jets weren’t the only football players celebrating.
The entire AFL looked at the win as a validation for their league and their crowd-pleasing style of play. “When the Jets won that game, I think I might have been as happy as their players were,” said Hall of Fame Kansas City quarterback Len Dawson, who led a huge upset win in the Super Bowl a year later (see No. 3). “They did it for the entire American Football League and we were proud of them and ourselves."; spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i++] = new Array("","2. Giants vs. Patriots","Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Michael Strahan hold up the Vince Lombardi Trophy.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080203/080203-giants-win-hmed-9p.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Julie Jacobson", "AP", "273", "434", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i-1].body = "
Date: Feb. 3, 2008
The Giants earned their spot in the Super Bowl by becoming an incredible road team. After losing the season opener, they ran off 10 straight road wins, including 3 in the postseason. New York had gained real confidence in the regular-season finale, a 38-35 loss to the Patriots.
While there was growing support for the Giants during the 2 weeks leading up to the game, few thought they would find a way to get it done in the end. They learned they were good enough to battle the league’s best team and they used a powerful defense led by Justin Tuck, Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora to punish Tom Brady for 4 quarters. "; spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i++] = new Array("","3. Chiefs vs. Vikings","","","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "AP file", "358", "264", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i-1].body = "
Date: Jan. 11, 1970
A year after the Jets upset the Colts, the NFL was looking for redemption in what would be the last game between the two leagues. The Chiefs were big, strong, skilled and motivated, but few thought they had a chance against the vaunted Purple People Eaters. Minnesota’s front four, led by Alan Page, Jim Marshall and Carl Eller were supposed to batter Dawson.
But the Chiefs quarterback followed coach Hank Stram’s game plan and tortured the Vikings with short- and medium-range passes. The Chiefs defense, led by linebacker Bobby Bell and defensive end Buck Buchanan, overwhelmed the Vikings. “To follow the Jets’ win with one of our own was the reason you play the game,” Dawson said. “We knew the Vikings were good, but we knew we belonged there and we were the better team that day.”"; spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i++] = new Array("","4. Broncos vs. Packers","Broncos quarterback John Elway is carried off the field after Super Bowl XXXII.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050418/050418_superbowl_hmed_3p.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Timothy A. Clary", "AFP - Getty Images file", "273", "362", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i-1].body = "
Date: Jan. 25, 1998
The Packers had battered the Patriots the year before, and most experts thought it would be more of the same thing for the Broncos. Denver had lost all 4 of its previous Super Bowl appearances as quarterback John Elway appeared to lose his grip whenever he got to the big game. The Packers had Brett Favre in the prime of his career and a ferocious defense. The NFC also had a 12-game winning streak in the Super Bowl.
But Elway used the running of Terrell Davis to keep the Packers on their heels throughout the game. Elway made what may have been the play of his career when he ran for a first down late in the fourth-quarter and was knocked into the air but still managed to extend his body and gain the crucial yardage needed to keep drive alive. Davis was forced to the bench with a migraine headache in the second quarter but he still scored 3 touchdowns, including the winning touchdown with 1:45 remaining."; spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i++] = new Array("","5. Patriots vs. Rams","Patriots' kicker Adam Vinatieri celebrates his 48-yard game-winning field goal against the St. Louis Rams.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050203/050203_patriotscelebrate_.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Amy Sancetta", "AP", "358", "265", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i-1].body = "
Date: Feb. 3, 2002
The Rams were a scoring machine led by Kurt Warner, Marshal Faulk and Isaac Bruce, while the Patriots were hoping an untested quarterback named Tom Brady could somehow find a way. Brady never flinched and the Patriots controlled the Rams throughout much of the game.
New England led 17-3 early in the fourth quarter before the Rams rallied to tie it, which is where the legend of Tom Brady began. He directed the game-winning drive without any timeouts and Adam Vinatieri gave New England its first Super Bowl title when he kicked a 48-yard field goal with no time remaining."; spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i++] = new Array("","6. Raiders vs. Redskins","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "Stephan Savoia", "AP", "273", "364", "", "", "", "", ""); spt_Super_Bowl_upsets[i-1].body = "
Date: Jan. 22, 1984
The Raiders had a solid season, winning the AFC West with a 12-4 record before defeating Pittsburgh and Seattle in the AFC playoffs. However, the Redskins were a dynamic team that finished 14-2 in the regular season and had one of the most imposing offenses in league history. Coach Joe Gibbs was confident his team could defend the title it won a year earlier against the Dolphins.
The Raiders were not the least bit impressed and dominated from the start. They had a 14-3 lead late in the first half when the Redskins tried to mount a drive from deep in their own territory. The questionable decision proved fatal when Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek picked off Joe Theismann’s pass and walked into the end zone from 5 yards out.";
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Date: January 25, 1981
The Eagles had a remarkable year under coach Dick Vermeil, winning the NFC East and then punishing the hated Cowboys in the NFC Championship game. Quarterback Ron Jaworski and running back Wilbert Montgomery were the mainstays of a tough, balanced offense. The Raiders were not fancy and became the first wild-card team to earn a spot in the Super Bowl. The Eagles may have been favored, but Oakland was not intimidated. Quarterback Jim Plunkett threw 3 touchdown passes, including an 80-yarder to the streaking Kenny King down the sidelines. Raiders linebacker Rod Martin intercepted 3 passes and the Raiders defense never let Montgomery get going.";
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Date: January 27, 1991
The Bills had a magnificent high-powered offense and were coming off a 51-3 demolition of the Raiders in the AFC title game. The Giants had to go with Jeff Hostetler at quarterback since Phil Simms was injured. Yet the Giants used their sledgehammer-like ground game to maintain possession and keep the ball out of Jim Kelly’s hands throughout much of the game. The Bills had a chance in the final seconds, but Scott Norwood’s 47-yard FG attempt in the game’s final seconds was just a touch wide right and the Bills lost the first of their four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. ";
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