An uncharacteristic Tom Brady mistake led to the earliest safety in Super Bowl history.
After a Steve Weatherford punt pinned the New England Patriots back to their 5-yard line, Brady dropped back to pass on the Patriots' first offensive snap. New York's famed four-man rush got pressure on the two-time Super Bowl MVP, so Brady threw the ball 50 yards to the center of the field to avoid a sack.
[ Related: Super Bowl quarter-by-quarter breakdown ]
Because no receiver was in the area, officials ruled it intentional grounding. The Super Bowl safety was a rarity, as was intentional grounding being called on a deep pass thrown to the middle of the field.
[ Video: Check out all of the Super Bowl ads ]
New York led 2-0 early in the first quarter. It was the sixth safety in Super Bowl history but only the second time in Super Bowl history that such a score has been on the scoreboard. In Super Bowl IX, a second-quarter sack by the Pittsburgh Steelers gave them a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Vikings.
The safety led to a Giants touchdown. Eli Manning hit Victor Cruz for a short touchdown on the next possession to give the underdog Giants an early 9-0 lead in Super Bowl XLVI.
Other popular Super Bowl content:
• OMG: Madonna upstaged by singer's lewd gesture | Halftime show photos
• Special day for blind 12-year-old and his dad
• OMG: Kelly Clarkson delivers rousing national anthem