When we look back on the New York Giants’ upset of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, several things stand out: Eli Manning hitting David Tyree with a miracle pass after escaping a sack, the dominance of the Giants’ defensive line, the final touchdown catch by Plaxico Burress and a Jay Alford sack.
There are memories of the confetti falling, Burress crying, Michael Strahan jumping up and down and Tom Coughlin hoisting that Lombardi Trophy.
The stars and their performances are immortalized, but there were a few that flew under-the-radar.
Free safety James Butler had a solid game, linebacker Reggie Torbor had one of his best all-around performances and tight end Michael Matthews also played well.
And then there’s safety Gibril Wilson, who is a bit of an afterthought when it comes to Super Bowl XLII heroics. But thanks in large part to the advent of advanced analytics, he’s now getting his due.
There were a lot of stand-out performers in that Super Bowl, but Wilson had one of his best career games and almost no one knows it.
Wilson shouldered the load of a team-leading 73 snaps and finished the game with an 81.8 overall grade courtesy of Pro Football Focus, which was good for fifth-best on the defensive side of the ball. And his 84.7 pass coverage grade? It not only topped the Giants, but was the highest grade of any player on the field.
Considering the Giants were up against Tom Brady, Randy Moss and one of the greatest passing offenses of all-time, Wilson’s performance is remarkable. And without him putting it all together at the exact right time, we may not be celebrating that legendary upset today.
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