On 29 December 2007, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots completed the regular season without a defeat. They edged the New York Giants 38–35 at Giants Stadium to close a perfect 16‑0 campaign, the only undefeated season of the 16‑game era.
A shootout settled in the final minutes
The night was already historic off the field: the NFL arranged a three‑network simulcast, an event not seen since Super Bowl I, and 79,110 fans packed the stadium. What followed was the closest contest of the Patriots’ year.
New York struck on its second play with a 52‑yard completion, then a short touchdown. The Patriots fell behind by 12 points in the third quarter, their largest deficit all season, before Brady began to pull the game back.
With less than 12 minutes remaining, Brady launched a 65‑yard strike to Randy Moss for the lead. That throw was Brady’s 50th touchdown pass of the year, a new single‑season record, and Moss’s reception was his 23rd, also a record. A two‑point run made it 31–28.
The Giants answered late, but their onside kick failed. The Patriots recovered and Brady knelt three times to run out the clock and secure perfection.
A near‑unanimous honour, then a dynasty’s arc
Brady earned the NFL MVP award, the first Patriot to do so. He drew 49 of the 50 votes, with Brett Favre collecting the other; his outright unanimous MVP would arrive three seasons later. “It is always flattering to be chosen for such a prestigious award,” Brady told reporters.
The trophy sat inside a career already thick with championships. Brady had captured three Super Bowls with New England by that point, and he would eventually win a record seven titles across two franchises, becoming the league’s all‑time passing leader.
The perfect season ended short of a ring when the Giants won Super Bowl XLII. Yet the 16‑0 run remains singular in the 16‑game age.
