Sports 'N Stuff: Destiny InterruptedBy Brian Flagg - February 04, 2008
Looks like I am eating some crow folks. Remember a couple weeks ago when I said it was all about the Patriots? Remember when I said the Giants were good but not THAT good? Guess what ... yeah, I was wrong. Dead wrong!
Well not dead wrong I guess. It was all about the Patriots before last night and, in some sense, still is. In the more important sense, it's about the G-Men baby! Big Blue is in the house and definitively so. In a much different respect it is still about the Patriots but not in the sense we all thought we would be discussing today.
While last night's Super Bowl was not the greatest upset in NFL Super Bowl history, it was the greatest win and pretty close to the greatest game ever. It probably has to fall in behind Joe Namath's prediction in Super Bowl III that the Jets would beat the Colts. They did beat the Colts, thereby legitimizing the AFL and playing a key role in its merger with NFL. Other than that this, is THE biggest game of all time.
When you think of who was playing and what was involved and how it ended, you cannot argue the point that this game will go down in infamy. Think about it.
The Most Prolific Offense In NFL History
The Pats scored 589 points in the regular season, easily surpassing the Vikings 556 in 1998. With Brady throwing 50 TD passes (NFL record) and Randy Moss catching 23 TDs (NFL record) and the "birth" of previously unknown Wes Welker, who scored eight touchdowns in the regular season and set a Super Bowl record last night with 11 receptions, this offense was poised to cruise to a victory in the big game. What happened? The Giants defensive line made that offense look like your standard, run-of-the-mill offense that could not get anything going. They pummeled Tom Brady all night long. With five sacks total, only one came from someone other than a defensive lineman. Not only did they sack Brady, but they knocked him around all night long and disrupted his downfield game. He had to keep going short to Welker and could not connect with his "guy," Randy Moss, on any big plays which has been a staple for them all year. That offense was set back on their heels from the get go and it continued the entire game.
Eli Manning
You will recall from my last column that Eli grew up the last few weeks of the regular season. Well last night he moved from growing up to becoming the MVP of the Super Bowl. The Giants defense should have gotten that award if a collective one existed. Since it doesn't then Eli certainly deserves to be the one to get it. While the defense kept them in the game, Manning managed to stay error free with the exception of one pass that tipped off a receiver's hands and was picked.
All game he showed poise, stayed calm and made decisions equivalent to the "other Manning." When the fourth quarter came around Manning did exactly what he had to do to end up with the bling. He drove his team down the field twice and threw touchdowns from the red zone and took the air out of that Pats defense who had previously been impenetrable in the red zone.
Manning threw his final TD pass with 35 seconds left to give the Giants the lead back and ultimately was the final score propelling them to the championship. He IS the man for New York and has now cemented himself as Eli Manning - and NOT Peyton's brother anymore.
Destiny ...
These Pats were 18–0. They were being talked about in the same breath as the Steelers teams of the '70s, the Cowboys of the '80s and the 49ers of the '90s as being a dynasty. They were supposed to be a team that won four Super Bowls in seven years and own this new decade. They had within their grasp the perfect season: 19-0. They were supposed to be the ones to keep the '72 Dolphins from popping the champagne bottles this year and finish the job. They were supposed to pass the 1985 Bears (18-1) as the greatest single season team ever. Supposed to ... .
... Interrupted
Not. Thanks to the New York Football Giants the Patriots will now be remembered as A team who went 18-1. They are now the team who couldn't get it done when it mattered and have no fallen into mere obscurity in the mention of NFL teams. They lost their perfect season to a fifth-seeded wild card team who is only one year removed from being one of the most troubled franchises in the league. They had two big-mouth players who constantly berated their own coach and teammates. They had a coach who lost his players confidence and was very close to being on his way out. They started the season 0-2 and it wasn't looking good. Now, 19 weeks later, they will be riding in a parade in NYC celebrating their Super Bowl victory.
This was in fact the greatest Super Bowl of my lifetime. Not because the Pats lost ... I picked them all season long. It was the greatest because of all it meant and all it delivered. If you are a football fan (and, yes, Pats fans, after your headache wears off, you too will realize it) this game was the one you wait for. |
Jim-
Stop whining, you don't do Patriots fans any favors by sounding like a poor sport and a baby. I hate the Giants but they won the game. The Patriots played mediocre football over the last weeks of the season and the playoffs and could have been beat by a number of teams other then the Giants. If they played 10 more times the Patriots would lose at least five. They were out-coached, outplayed, and out-hussled. You sound like a Yankees fan. But we were the better team, but we have more Championships, but we....blah, blah, blah. Show a little pride. They were a great team, but couldn't stay motivated. So they weren't the better team on Super Bowl Sunday. It's that simple. | | from: Bob | on: 02-18-2008 |
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To Mike,
Hey Bud, we'll be in the Super Bowl next year and you will continue to play typical average NFC football. You got hot, you got lucky, and you'll never repeat. You'd be smart if you get rid of that beer drinking Hot Dog Shockey. "Buckwheat" Manning will be lucky to be a 500 QB next year.
Have a great life. Watch the video, extra time! It seems pretty straight forward to me. | | from: Jim | on: 02-12-2008 |
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To Jim:
WOW!! You really got the smoking gun there!! Oh, by the way, I also know where Hoffa's body is buried, and I have a great video on how the moon landing was faked. I watched the video and now you are just grasping at straws. To start with the refs stopped the clock temporarily when Jacob's ran for the first down because he was close and they thought they we're going to measure. But once thge ball was spotted they started the clock again. And Coughlin touching the ref was clearly to get his attention in a loud stadium to make sure the time out was called. There was no ill intent so no reason to throw a flag. And finally, there was over 30 seconds left on the clock when the Giants scored their final touchdown which makes the entire arguement ridiculous. The point is this: Whether your a Patriots fan or a Giants fan, the game is OVER!! The Giants won and no amount of complaining and whining will change that fact. The Giants won. The Patriots lost. End of story. Please continue with your pathetic lives. And oh yeah. Go G-Men!!!!!! | | from: Mike | on: 02-12-2008 |
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| I Agree with Jim on all this. The video shows that the Giants got an extra 50 seconds, they were spared a timeout, and avoided a 15 yard penalty. Aikmen and Buck were confused by the appparent mismangement of the clock. I to think the Pats should have won 14-10. Any other comments? Proof is in the video. | | from: Carolyn | on: 02-11-2008 |
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To All Patriot haters,
By watching this video it is evident to me that the NFL wanted the Patriots to lose. The Dynasty was truly interrupted. The NFL didn't want a perfect season they want parity. The Giants are a true example of parity. Yes I'll give them credit they got hot at the right time. If the Pats played them 10 times they win 9. Enough said I am done. Goodbye. | | from: Jim | on: 02-11-2008 |
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To all Giant Fans
Please go to http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=27384
Video proof that time ran out on the G-men. Copy and paste this link to your browser and watch how the time ran out on the Giants,and the NO CALL on Coughlin running out on the field and touching the ref. Make sure you turn up the volume. It's over and done with. The final should have been 14-10, PATS WIN. | | from: Jim | on: 02-11-2008 |
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To Jim from North Adams:
I kind of feel sorry for you now because it's evident that there's something wrong with you. To start with, the Giant's victory isn't "the past". They are the CURRENT SUPERBOWL CHAMPS. You are the one that has to accept that the Patriots lost, because you now look ridiculous just like Belechick did when he left before the game was over and even more so when Brady and Moss decided to "cry baby" their way out of the Pro Bowl. And like it or not the spygate thing ain't over. If more evidence comes out about them cheating, then we will devalue their Super bowls even further. I appreciate your heartfelt yet misguided comments but you should now do like the rest of your team. Quit while you’re behind. Go G-Men!!!
| | from: Mike | on: 02-11-2008 |
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To Mike,
Hey, stop living in the past and lets talk about the present and future. Maybe you should move to PA and side with Arlon Spector. The Patriots allready paid the penalty for the Spygate incident. I don't care what you think but the G-men were LUCKY you know it, I know it, and everyone else knows it, no if ands or buts. Stop trying to ignore that fact. If Manning doesn't pull off that miracle play Giants lose. And what about the fumble that was clearly recovered by New England and its Giants ball. Your right the Giants wanted that one more. I liked the Giants they were my second favorite team in an inferior conference but with fans like you I am not so sure if I want to be a NEW YORK fan. As far as the future I don't think the G-men can win 2 in a row as the last team to do that was, Oh the Patriots. Bye for now. | | from: Jim, Proud Pat Fan | on: 02-08-2008 |
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To Jim from North Adams:
The Giants didn't get lucky. They laid down the law and the numbers prove it. I'm glad you're proud of your team in the midst of such controversey because it's gotta be hard. Not only do they choke in the most historically significant game in their team's history, but now it looks like they cheated to win the other 3 championships with plenty of illegal tape. They will NEVER shake the cheating label because we all know it happened. Is it very hard to believe that their cheating was the difference in ALL THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS? They won each game by a lousy 3 points and I bet if they had followed the rules they wouldn't have pulled out all of those wins, if any. Their shame is eternal and nobody is jealous of that. When we discusss the great franchises and dynasties in NFL history the Giants will be remembered for their great players, teams, fans, and seasons since the very beginning of the league while the Patriots will be remembered for cheating, not winning. Since 1927 the Giants have won 7 World Championships, all without cheating. So far the Patriots are 0-3 without video assistance. Go G-Men!!!! | | from: Mike | on: 02-08-2008 |
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TO: Mike the Giant Fan
Your right, the way the Giants played they should have won the game by 20 points not by the 3 with the lucky pass play. That goes to show you how good the Pats really are. I am proud to be a Pats fan as they are the best franchise in the NFL in this decade no other team can come close not even the Giants. Every Non-Patriot fan is jealous that they keep winning. Check it out they are favored to win the Super bowl next year. HOW ABOUT THAT. Good Luck | | from: Jim | on: 02-07-2008 |
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To Jim from North Adams:
Cry me a freakin' river. That Patriots lost the game and the Giants dominated every aspect on both sides of the ball. We ran it, we threw it, and we put pressure on Brady the entire game, holding them to a season low in points. And if not for some bad luck and getting jobbed by the refs a couple times the Giants would have won by double digits. The Patriots have acted like jerks all season because they won in the weakest division in football and Sunday they got what they deserved. A good old fashioned butt kicking. If they had to play Dallas, Philly, and Washington twice they would never have won their first 18 games. They got beat by a better team and the Giants will be defending their title next year. The only thing the Patriots will be remembered for this year is choking. Go G-Men!!!!! | | from: Mike | on: 02-06-2008 |
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| Yes the dynasty was interupted and I must say the best team did NOT win on Sunday. We can call it the "immaculate reception II" as the play from Eli to Tyree in the 4th quarter was truly a miracle. Also you must admit that there were several hits to Brady's face, any other game and those penalties would have been called. A lot of times the Best team does not always win. So with that said congrats to the Lucky New York Giants. | | from: Jim from North Adams | on: 02-05-2008 |
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| This was the greates game ever. Giants beating the patriots is the best thing that could have happened. | | from: Super Bowl | on: 02-05-2008 |
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