The Patriots went into the game 18-0, paced largely by the NFL’s highest-scoring offense ever.

After Sunday night, they are merely the second team to fail to win the Super Bowl after breaking the league’s scoring record (Minnesota in 1998). It was caused quite simply by the fact the New York Giants’ defense suffocated the Patriots, put multi-colors on QB Tom Brady’s jersey and out-muscled the previously honored league’s greatest team. The Giants made huge plays when they had to, and the Patriots failed to do so. Most notably, the Giants had five sacks - a season-high for the Patriots - and every member of New England’s offensive line was suspect.

It was the greatest NFL upset since Broadway Joe and the Jets brought the NFL to the limelight by beating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

Patriots over the Rams in 2002? Not a chance the Rams offense was better than the Patriots of 2007. Sunday was also the date of arguably the best Super Bowl game in the 42 years of the event.

While New York celebrates and Boston remembers again how all but one other team finishes their season, it’s worthy to point out that while every possible superlative has been already used to describe the Patriots greatness, the highest of all tribute adjectives goes to, and only to, the New York Giants:

“Champions.”