Patriots salute Giants after bitter Super Bowl defeat

By Larry Fine

GLENDALE, Arizona (Reuters) - The New England Patriots, agonisingly close to completing the NFL's greatest single season, gave the New York Giants full credit for their last-gasp 17-14 Super Bowl victory on Sunday.

"We had a great season, we just didn't win the game," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told reporters after his team failed to push their record to an unprecedented 19-0.

"You have to give those Giants a lot of credit. It is an extremely well coached team. We played them five weeks ago and it was a three-point game, and they made enough changes and really eliminated what we did offensively," he said, referring to the Pats' 38-35 win in their regular season finale.

"Our team is extremely disappointed. Coach Belichick is extremely disappointed."

Belichick was trying to lead New England to their fourth Super Bowl crown in seven years.

"Congratulations to the Giants," he said. "They made some plays there at the end and we didn't."

Linebacker Junior Seau, an 18-year NFL veteran who joined the Pats two years ago, was denied his first Super Bowl ring.

"We lost to a better team today," Seau said.