6 worst Patriots playoff losses under Bill Belichick
1. Eli Manning has more Super Bowl magic against Patriots
Game: 2007 Super Bowl
Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
As you can tell by now, the Patriots have endured some heartbreaking losses over the years. None, however, have been as gut-wrenching or as demoralizing as their 2007 Super Bowl loss to the Giants.
After going a perfect 16-0 in the regular season and walking through the competition in the Divisional Round and AFC Championship Game, it seemed as though destiny was calling the Patriots’ name.
All season long, the Patriots were unstoppable. Also, during the final game of the regular season, these two teams met up on the Giants’ turf with the Patriots eking out a close three-point win. Brady was the league’s best quarterback that year and took home the MVP award after throwing for 4,806 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions — numbers that simply don’t make any sense.
Randy Moss was crowned the league’s best wide receiver after catching 23 touchdowns, a record that still stands today. Also, their defense was top-notch, holding the opposition to just 17.1 points per game while scoring a league-best 36.8 points.
Despite everything pointing to the Patriots completing a historic run, the Giants proved that they were motivated beyond belief to take them down. Somehow, the Patriots scored their lowest total of the entire year: 14 points. It wasn’t just that the Patriots lost but it was how it happened. There will always be one play that New England fans will never forget.
On third and five with the ball on their own 39-yard line and only a minute and 15 seconds remaining in the fourth, Manning somehow broke out of the grips of several Patriots defenders before launching the ball down the field. And that’s when wide receiver David Tyree made one of the most ridiculous catches in Super Bowl history to set up the game-winning touchdown.
This game will always be considered the worst loss in their franchise history.
