It was nearly four years ago when Randy Moss caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady with 2:42 left in Super Bowl XLII, all but ensuring a Patriots perfect season.
We all know how that one ended.
New England today had its shot at redemption against the very same Giants team that denied them a title.
The Pats lost. And — as if to crush New England fans even more — the ending was almost exactly the same as the Super Bowl.
The only difference? There were a few more points scored in today’s 24-20 decision.
In 2008, New York quarterback Eli Manning threw to Plaxico Burress from the Patriots 13 with 35 seconds on the clock. Burress made an athletic grab, and the Giants coasted in with a 17-14 victory, snatched from the jaws of a 14-10 deficit.
Yesterday, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for a 14-yard TD with 1:36 to play, giving New England a 20-17 lead.
But again, Manning was man enough. He marched the Giants 80 yards in 1:24, and capped the comeback with a 1-yard scoring pass to Jake Ballard.
Somewhere, David Tyree was smiling.
