Eli Manning led a clutch, fourth-quarter drive? David Tyree became a Super Bowl hero? Tom Coughlin out-coached Bill Belichick? Come on! None of those reasons can actually explain why the Patriots lost Super Bowl XLII to the Giants Sunday night. So we'll offer up a few theories of our own:
10. Eli was actually Peyton in disguise: Last season Peyton Manning and the Colts finally solved the Patriots in the AFC Championship before going on to win the Super Bowl. So Eli must have pulled a switch just before the final drive to get Peyton on the field. How else can you explain that 32-yard desperation pass to David Tyree?
9. The Globe jinxed them: The Boston Globe typically does the blaming when the Patriots lose. This one, however, could be pinned on the newspaper. Just a few days before the game, the Globe was taking pre-orders on Amazon.com for its book "19-0: The Historical Championship Season of New England's Unbeatable Patriots." Needless to say, a lot of people will be asking for their money back.
8. The '72 Dolphins got their way: The 'Phins were the last team to go undefeated, way back in 1972, and they weren't exactly thrilled to share the spotlight with the Pats this season. With Don Shula watching the game from a suite and a number of former Dolphins players cheering on the Giants, the Patriots fell short of history after making the '72 team sweat all season.
7. The hex of the jilted lover: It wasn't enough that Bridget Moynihan had to name Tom Brady's first son after the Pats' AFC East-rival New York Jets. (Seriously, John Edward Thomas? Couldn't have been a coincidence.) But now there's no doubt the still-single Bridget got a little case of revenge when she willed the Giants' front four into beating up her ex. Five sacks, one fumble and 12 hurries? Yup, she got her point across.
6. Jordin Sparks was an omen: Though some would claim Fox was doing some self-promoting by having last year's American Idol winner Jordin Sparks sing the national anthem, it was really a ploy by the NFL to favor the Giants. Sparks' father, Philippi, played for the Giants for seven years from 1992-1999 and his daughter's performance was the first plus of the night for his old team.
5. The curse of Grey Ruegamer: Ruegamar was the only member of the Giants who had won a Super Bowl before Sunday, and ironically, that win came with the Patriots in 2001. The way the New England offensive line played, they were probably wishing they had him back. Any man who castrates lambs with his teeth has to provide an intimidating edge.
4. That whole Spygate thing: It is the story that won't go away. Just a day before the biggest game of the season, the Patriots had to deal with new accusations that they had spied on the St. Louis Rams prior to their victory in the Super Bowl in 2002. It had to be on Belichick's mind - which explains that 4th-and-13.
3. Gisele pulls a Jessica: When the Fox cameras showed Gisele Bündchen sitting in a suite at University of Phoenix Stadium, every Cowboys fan must have been thinking the same thing: this looks familiar. Brady's gal did her best Jessica Simpson impression, as her visit coincided with the MVP's worst Super Bowl performance ever.
2. Karma: Let's face it. Everyone outside of New England wanted the Patriots to lose. With the Red Sox winning the World Series, the Celtics' return to dominance and the Patriots coming into the game 18-0, Boston hatred was at an all-time high. The collective will of an entire nation seemed to be enough to push the Giants to the top.
1. The red hoodie: When Bill Belichick's came out in a new red hoodie instead of his customary grey ensemble, the Patriots were doomed right then and there. Besides the fact that it made him look even worse, it seemed like Belichick left his gameplan in his other sweatshirt - and the Patriots were lost on offense all day.
