Super Bowl XLII Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Super Bowl XLII

New York Giants	New England Patriots
(NFC)	(AFC)
17	14

	1	2	3	4	Total
NYG	3	0	0	14	17
NE	0	7	0	7	14

Date

February 3, 2008

Stadium

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

MVP

Eli Manning

Favorite

Patriots by 12

Referee

Mike Carey

Attendance

71,101

Ceremonies

National anthem

Jordin Sparks

Coin toss

Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, along with Bill Walsh's children, Craig and Elizabeth.

Halftime show

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

TV in the United States

Network

Fox

Announcers

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver and Chris Myers

Nielsen ratings

43.3
(est. 97.5 million viewers)

Market share

65 (national)
81 (Boston)
67 (New York)

Cost of 30-second commercial

US$2.7 million

< XLI

Super Bowl

XLIII >

Super Bowl XLII (also known as Super Bowl 42) was a very important American football game. It was the championship game for the National Football League (NFL) for the 2007 season. In this game, the New York Giants played against the New England Patriots. The Giants won the game with a score of 17 to 14.

The game happened on February 3, 2008. It was played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. This win was the third Super Bowl title for the Giants. It was their first Super Bowl win since the 1990 NFL season at Super Bowl XXV. Eli Manning, the Giants' quarterback, was named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player (MVP). This means he was the best player in the game.

What Made Super Bowl XLII Special?
- The Underdog Giants
- A Huge Upset in Sports
Exciting Moments in the Game
Images for kids
See also

What Made Super Bowl XLII Special?

The New England Patriots were expected to win easily. They had won all 16 of their regular season games. This meant they were undefeated, which is very rare in the NFL. Experts thought they would win by about 12 points.

The Underdog Giants

The New York Giants had a good season, but not perfect. They won 10 games and lost 6. They made it to the Super Bowl as a "wild card" team. A wild card team is one that makes the playoffs without winning their division. The Giants were trying to be the first wild card team from the NFC (National Football Conference) to win a Super Bowl.

A Huge Upset in Sports

Because the Patriots were undefeated, many people thought they would win easily. But the Giants surprised everyone. Super Bowl XLII is now known as one of the biggest upsets in sports history. An upset is when the team expected to lose actually wins.

Exciting Moments in the Game

The game was very close, especially in the last part. The Giants made an amazing play in the fourth quarter to win.

The Famous Helmet Catch

During the final drive, a Giants player named David Tyree made an incredible catch. He jumped up and caught the ball with one hand. He pressed it against his helmet to hold onto it. This play gained 32 yards and kept the Giants' winning drive going. It is one of the most famous catches in Super Bowl history.

The Winning Touchdown

Soon after Tyree's catch, Plaxico Burress scored the winning touchdown. He caught a pass for 13 yards. This touchdown happened with only 35 seconds left in the game. It gave the Giants the lead and the win.

Stopping a Perfect Season

The Giants' victory stopped the Patriots from having a perfect season. The Patriots wanted to win all their games, including the Super Bowl, for a 19-0 record. The Giants' win prevented them from achieving this historic goal.

Images for kids

University of Phoenix Stadium during Super Bowl XLII game day February 3, 2008.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Tom Petty pictured) played during the halftime show.
Manning at the Giants' victory rally at New York's City Hall
Tyree re-enacting his now-famous catch during the victory rally at Giants Stadium several days after Super Bowl XLII.
Crowds overrun Bowling Green Station to witness the ticker-tape parade
New York Giants' wide receiver Sinorice Moss at the Giants' Super Bowl parade, February 5, 2008.