The game was originally notable for its television coverage as it was officially broadcast and produced by NFL Network but was also simulcast nationally on both NBC and CBS.

The teams would later meet in Super Bowl XLII, in which the Giants won 17–14, ending the Patriots' hopes of a perfect season.

[2] It was a prime time matchup of regional rivals, but as the Patriots moved closer to a perfect season, the game became even more important.

It was clear the game was one of the most anticipated in recent history, and could therefore serve as an important promotion for the NFL Network, which had tried unsuccessfully over the previous year to expand its viewership by becoming included as an "extended basic service" on the major American cable television providers such as Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

The Senate Judiciary Committee's chairperson, Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and ranking minority member, Republican[5] Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, sent a letter to the NFL threatening to reconsider the league's antitrust exemption under U.S.

[6] Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts had pressured the league and cable companies to settle their dispute so "no die-hard Pats fans will be shut out from watching their team take aim at football history.

This demo reel and the encouragement to call television providers were repeated on the halftime and postgame reports, also NFL Network produced.

[15] On the second play of the game, the 10–5 Giants moved into the Patriots' red zone on a 52-yard completion from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress.

On the first play of the second quarter, Brady completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Moss, giving the Patriots a 10–7 lead.

As a result of a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after the touchdown (Moss was flagged for dancing with Ben Watson in the endzone), the Patriots kicked off from the 15-yard line.

Following a Giants punt, the Patriots mounted a drive that resulted in Gostkowski's third field goal of the night, from 37 yards, after a 3rd down end zone pass to Moss ricocheted off of linebacker Gerris Wilkinson's helmet.

After the Patriots began the second half with a three-and-out, the Giants increased their lead to 12 points on a 19-yard touchdown catch by Burress from Manning.

Brady's end zone pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel was no good, and an illegal formation penalty moved the Patriots back 5 yards.

On the Giants' ensuing drive, Hobbs intercepted a Manning pass intended for Burress at the Patriots' 48-yard line.

On the subsequent play, Maroney scored his second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run; Gostkowski converted his last PAT of the season to give the Patriots a 38–28 lead.

Gostkowski finished the season a perfect 74-for-74 on PATs, eclipsing St. Louis Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins' 1999 record of 64-for-64.

But when the Giants tried an onside kick, Vrabel recovered the ball, and Brady knelt thrice to end the game with a final score of 38–35 and seal the Patriots' undefeated regular season.

In the playoffs, the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round, 31–20, and the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game, 21–12.

In order to satisfy its cable carriage agreements, the NFL Network retains seven exclusive regular season broadcasts per year.