The supposedly unthinkable happened last night, and the unbeaten, 18-0 New England Patriots fell 17-14 to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. While I am certainly surprised by the outcome--I thought that New England would win a close, high-scoring game, the result was entirely deserved. New York was the better team virtually all game, and we saw very little of that fearsome New England offense that rang up an NFL record 589 points during the regular season. The Giants won the game by doing something no other team this season had been able to do: They punched the Patriots in the mouth. They hit Tom Brady more than he had been hit all season, and as a result, the deep passing game of the Patriots was virtually eliminated. The much-maligned Giants QB Eli Manning, who has had some truly dismal moments in his carreer (with some of those moments coming this season) was once again masterful, completing big passes all game, and on the decisive touchdown drive, he evaded a sack in a way that would have made Fran Tarkenton proud before a heaving a ball up that receiver David Tyree somehow caught. The play saved the drive and the season for the G-Men, who a few plays later scored the game-winning touchdown.
I had no rooting interest in this game, beyond being a football fan. I knew that the Patriots wee going to make history; it was just a question of how. The fact that they lost this game drops them from the list of "great teams of all time". They still had an amazing season, but unless you win it all, you don't get a spot on the pantheon of greatest ever teams.
One other thing. Did anyone else catch Bill Bellichick's typically classless move at the end of the game when, with one second left and a requirement by the league that the last play take place, he simply left (after shaking Tom Coughln's hand)? His players had to stay out there, so why couldn't he? Bellichick may be the reason that most Patriots-haters don't like the team. He came across yesterday as being a classless, petulant, childish poor sport.
3 comments:
"Miami has the Dolphins, the greatest football team . . . ."
That was one helluva game. Geez, what a rally at the end!
And I thought I was rooting for the underdog? The Giants manhandled N.E.!!
The game went down to the wire - a good game in terms of suspense.
Coach Belichick should have stayed for that final moment: "childish" is an accurate description.
The Patriots had a great season, but are not champs.
I think it's funny that the Mayor of Boston, Tom "Mumbles" Menino, made a big splash last week when he announced plans for the Patriots' victory parade. I think he jumped the gun.
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