TheLounge
02-06-2008, 02:30 PM
Sunday I did something I haven’t done in a long time: Abstain from a Super Bowl party and watched the game with the family at home. I decided I was going to really pay attention to the game, something that doesn’t always happen during a party.
I watched the game from beginning to end — all the commercials and even Tom Petty’s halftime performance — and it is the second-best Super Bowl I have ever seen. San Francisco’s 20-16 win over Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII in 1989 — the “Is that John Candy in the stands,” Montana-to-Taylor game —*is the best game I’ve ever seen but Sunday’s was a close second.
Even though the game was only 7-3 going into the fourth quarter, it was an entertaining game. Both defenses were on top of their game while the offenses moved the ball at times, only to eventually be stopped.
Add the fourth-quarter fireworks that saw three lead changes in the 10 minutes and it was some of the best football I’ve ever seen — period.
Everything the Giants needed to do — use long, clock-consuming drives on offense and get to Tom Brady on defense —*they did. The Giants punished Brady all game long. Never has a team as invincible as the Patriots looked all season look so beatable and so average in the biggest game of the year.
How good was the game? The Fox announcers didn’t even mention New England’s bid for perfection until the fourth quarter. I thought we would be beat over the head with that story line —*and we would have if the game was a Patriots blowout — but the drama on field moved the undefeated season talk onto the backburner.
***
There can be no more second-guessing Eli Manning as a legitimate NFL quarterback. I admit I didn’t think he had the gumption to lead the Giants on a Super Bowl-winning drive. But the third down play —*the one when he avoided a sack on several occasions, spun away and found David Tyree with an unbelievable ball-pinned-to-his-helmet catch —*defined Manning’s career. That is a play that will be repeated over and over again for the rest of his life.
He came up with the big play when the Giants needed it the entire game.
***
Another classless move by New England coach Bill Belichick. “The Hoodie” didn’t have the courtesy to let the Giants snap the ball one last time with two seconds left. As soon as the Patriots failed on fourth down, Belichick ran over to congratulate Giants coach Tom Coughlin, nevermind the fact that there was still a play to be run. But leave it to Belichick to put the focus on him one last time this season — just one more reason to hate the Patriots.
***
As glad as I was for the Giants winning the Super Bowl, for just a moment I took the time to consider what the Patriots must have felt. Talk about an empty, feeling. To win 18-straight games with one of the most dominating regular seasons ever witnessed, only to come up short in the only game that mattered? No matter how many Super Bowls the Patriots win in the future, it will never eclipse the magnitude of failing in Super Bowl XLII.
***
I get some satisfaction in watching Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss and linebacker Junior Seau failing to win their first Super Bowl. Call is karmic justice.
Moss admitted he quit on the Raiders, was such a malcontent that he forced a trade. Once in New England, everyone raved about what a great teammate Moss was and how hard he worked. Losing in the Super Bowl couldn’t happen to a better guy.
As for Seau, here is a guy who gave his heart and soul to the San Diego Chargers before one pitiful season in Miami. He retires as a Charger, tells everyone what a great career it was and what a great organization San Diego is and that he was just too banged up to play anymore. Then a year into retirement, he decides to go mercenary and signs with New England for a cheap shot at a ring. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be.
***
As much as I don’t care for Moss, I have to give him props for his post-game interview. No whining, he straight up said New York was the better team Sunday.
And speaking of interviews, it was refreshing to see Plaxico Burress burst into tears during an interview immediately after the game. Winning the Super Bowl is supposed to bring out those kind of emotions.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.
I watched the game from beginning to end — all the commercials and even Tom Petty’s halftime performance — and it is the second-best Super Bowl I have ever seen. San Francisco’s 20-16 win over Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII in 1989 — the “Is that John Candy in the stands,” Montana-to-Taylor game —*is the best game I’ve ever seen but Sunday’s was a close second.
Even though the game was only 7-3 going into the fourth quarter, it was an entertaining game. Both defenses were on top of their game while the offenses moved the ball at times, only to eventually be stopped.
Add the fourth-quarter fireworks that saw three lead changes in the 10 minutes and it was some of the best football I’ve ever seen — period.
Everything the Giants needed to do — use long, clock-consuming drives on offense and get to Tom Brady on defense —*they did. The Giants punished Brady all game long. Never has a team as invincible as the Patriots looked all season look so beatable and so average in the biggest game of the year.
How good was the game? The Fox announcers didn’t even mention New England’s bid for perfection until the fourth quarter. I thought we would be beat over the head with that story line —*and we would have if the game was a Patriots blowout — but the drama on field moved the undefeated season talk onto the backburner.
***
There can be no more second-guessing Eli Manning as a legitimate NFL quarterback. I admit I didn’t think he had the gumption to lead the Giants on a Super Bowl-winning drive. But the third down play —*the one when he avoided a sack on several occasions, spun away and found David Tyree with an unbelievable ball-pinned-to-his-helmet catch —*defined Manning’s career. That is a play that will be repeated over and over again for the rest of his life.
He came up with the big play when the Giants needed it the entire game.
***
Another classless move by New England coach Bill Belichick. “The Hoodie” didn’t have the courtesy to let the Giants snap the ball one last time with two seconds left. As soon as the Patriots failed on fourth down, Belichick ran over to congratulate Giants coach Tom Coughlin, nevermind the fact that there was still a play to be run. But leave it to Belichick to put the focus on him one last time this season — just one more reason to hate the Patriots.
***
As glad as I was for the Giants winning the Super Bowl, for just a moment I took the time to consider what the Patriots must have felt. Talk about an empty, feeling. To win 18-straight games with one of the most dominating regular seasons ever witnessed, only to come up short in the only game that mattered? No matter how many Super Bowls the Patriots win in the future, it will never eclipse the magnitude of failing in Super Bowl XLII.
***
I get some satisfaction in watching Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss and linebacker Junior Seau failing to win their first Super Bowl. Call is karmic justice.
Moss admitted he quit on the Raiders, was such a malcontent that he forced a trade. Once in New England, everyone raved about what a great teammate Moss was and how hard he worked. Losing in the Super Bowl couldn’t happen to a better guy.
As for Seau, here is a guy who gave his heart and soul to the San Diego Chargers before one pitiful season in Miami. He retires as a Charger, tells everyone what a great career it was and what a great organization San Diego is and that he was just too banged up to play anymore. Then a year into retirement, he decides to go mercenary and signs with New England for a cheap shot at a ring. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be.
***
As much as I don’t care for Moss, I have to give him props for his post-game interview. No whining, he straight up said New York was the better team Sunday.
And speaking of interviews, it was refreshing to see Plaxico Burress burst into tears during an interview immediately after the game. Winning the Super Bowl is supposed to bring out those kind of emotions.
Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.