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Giants receiver Plaxico Burress catches the winning touchdown pass from Eli Manning in front of Patriots defensive back Ellis Hobbs in the final minute of the Super Bowl on Sunday night. The Giants won, 17-14.

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Patriots linebacker Junior Seau walks off the field disappointed after the second Super Bowl of his 18-year NFL career. Seau also fell short in 1995, when his San Diego Chargers lost to San Francisco in the Super Bowl, 49-26.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — "We choked," said Ellis Hobbs. "We really did. We missed a string of plays in the biggest game."

When the Patriots turned to the defense to protect the lead, it didn't get the job done. Eli Manning drove the New York Giants down the field in the final two-and-half minutes of Super Bowl XLII to end the Patriots' unbeaten streak and stall history in its tracks.

Plaxico Burress ran behind Hobbs in the New England secondary to grab the 13-yard touchdown pass that beat the Patriots. "If I was Flash Gordon I couldn't have got there in time," said Hobbs. "I was trying to protect the inside."

Burress went to the outside. His touchdown ended an amazing 12-play, 83-yard drive that left the Patriots with only 29 seconds to kick the tying field goal or score the winning touchdown.

"We thought we had (Manning) several times," said defensive end Richard Seymour. "We were getting pressure in the middle of the pocket. He was able to escape the rush and make the plays that he needed to make.

"There were a couple of times we had him and I don't know how he got out of there."

On third-and-5 from the New York 44, Manning was nearly sacked by linebacker Adalius Thomas but twisted free. Manning's 32-yard pass to David Tyree helped set up the winning TD.

Junior Seau was on the ground when Burress scored. "I was full of disappointment," he said. "We know we did a great job and to see that happen to us at a crucial time wasn't something that I wanted to feel."

Seau is 39. After 18 seasons, most with the Chargers, he wanted a first Super Bowl ring. It won't happen this year and maybe never. Seau had retired once before, until Coach Bill Belichick asked him to come to New England.

"It was a great journey and the bond that we have will always be there. We came up short," said Seau. "The game of football comes down to executing and making plays. When opportunities came, we didn't make the plays and New York did."

Seau said he hadn't thought about his future. He was having too much fun.

Not Sunday night. Hobbs described the Giants' final drive as "an out-of-body experience. They were doing everything right and we just seemed to be doing everything wrong."

Afterward, Hobbs stood in the locker room and listened to Belichick. "It was disheartening. Nothing could be said, not as a player, not as a coach, that can make you feel better," Hobbs said. "I could say 'great game,' and it would be all for nothing. We lost."

Staff Writer Steve Solloway can be contacted at 791-6412 or at:
ssolloway@pressherald.com