Super Bowl XLVI Recap

Today is Super Bowl (46) XLVI.

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The New England Patriots and New York Giants have a rematch of their epic matchup from four years ago that I was lucky enough to attend. After three weeks on the road, today is a day to relax with the guys at my place and watch it on the big screen.

Also, for those who want to come over and focus on the commercials and the halftime show, go somewhere else. My home is for leatherheads.

For those who got up at 7am to watch Face the Nation or Meet the Depressed to get Nevada Caucus results, go somewhere else. This is Super Bowl Sunday.

Before getting to the big game, a couple of other football related events took place on the Saturday before the game.

The NFL selection committee of 44 voters decided on the 2012 enshrinees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Curtis Martin, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Jack Butler, and Willie Roaf got in. Yet there will always be controversy over who does not get in. It was surprising that Eddie Debartolo Jr. did not get in. It was purely outrageous that Bill Parcells did not get in. The coaches in this Super Bowl, Tom Coughlin and Bill Bellichick, are Parcells disciples. So is Sean Payton, who learned under Parcells and won it all a couple years ago. So is Curtis Martin, who did get in and chose Parcells as his presenter. Parcells must get in next year. For now, football fans have to settle for another “Tuna Bowl” in the big game today.

The NFL also decided to take another one of their simple rituals and make a big production out of it. Now there is a seven hour pregame before the opening Thursday night game of the year. Now there is three days devoted to the drafting of players. Now there is a schedule release program. The NFL does this because it works. Fans cannot consume enough football information. So instead of just announcing the awards in the paper, the league held its inaugural football awards program.

The problem is that what makes football great is not celebrity. It is football. So having Alec Baldwin host makes it seem like the Emmys and Oscars, where drugged out, whored out screwups get together to admire each other and tell each other how perfect they are. Luckily the audience were almost all football heroes, preventing nonsensical political rants.

One awkward moment came when Katy Perry hit on Tim Tebow. Katy Perry should never be allowed anywhere near anything involving the NFL. The NFL is about football, not celebrity bimbettes. For those who feel the need to defend celebrity bimbettes, do it somewhere else. This is about football. For those who argue that sport are entertainment, take it somewhere else. One could cancel the halftime show, the cheerleaders, and the commercials, and football would still be the greatest show in the world.

A decade ago people focused on a wardrobe malfunction, overlooking that the game itself was an instant classic. That should never happen again.

Yes, cutting through all the fog and the nonsense reminds the uneducated that there is a football game to be played today.

The New England Patriots are the Evil Empire of Football, led by Evil Hoodie Bill Bellichick and pretty boy Tom Brady. I was raised in New York, so rooting for the Giants is an easy decision. That, and the “Tuck Rule.” The Oakland Raiders were cheated, forever tainting the first Patriots Super Bowl win a decade earlier. The only Tuck Rule that should happen today is Giants defensive star Justin Tuck belting Tom Brady to the ground harder than Jay Alford did four years ago.

This game will not have Plaxico Burress or David Tyree, but Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning have a new crop of receivers to go to.

Key potential injuries are Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. They will both play.

Two teams feeling awkward today are the Colts and the Jets. The Colts see their archrival Patriots in their house, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Peyton Manning sees his brother Eli face off again against his archrival Brady. Now that Groundhog Day and “Favrewatch” are in the rearview mirror, the day after the Super Bowl becomes “Peytonwatch” as he recovers from his neck injury.

As for the Jets, Rex Ryan wanted the Jets to be the kings of New York. The Jets have always been the little brother to the Giants. Now Ryan sees the Giants battle the Jets hated division rival Patriots, and it is a bitter pill for him to swallow.

The Patriots will be playing for the memory of beloved team matriarch Myra Kraft. Robert Kraft lost his wife before the season started. As for the entire league, a moment of silence or some tribute to Al Davis would be appropriate.

So while today will be a day for overindulging on food followed by plenty of sloth, today is a day about football.

These teams played a thriller earlier this year, when a 0-0 halftime slugfest turned into a fourth quarter aerial assault. Brady passed the Patriots into the lead with 1:36 left only to have Manning throw the winner with 15 seconds left as the Giants won 24-20 in New England.

The Giants have done some talking this week while the Patriots have stayed very quiet. The Giants were 9-7 and the Patriots 13-3, but four years ago the Giants were 10-6 and the Patriots 16-0. None of that matters today.

Bellichick showed his lack of emotion by cutting a player the day before the game. There were no discipline issues. He just made a roster move. Less than 24 hours before the game, a wide receiver was released and a defender was added. This could give Chad Johnson some playing time, since he has been MIA most of the year.

A win for Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning would give them each two rings. Bellichick and Brady are going four their fourth ring together, tying the NFL record that Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw hold together. Vince Lombardi won five championships, but only the last two were Super Bowls. Joe Montana has four Super Bowl rings, three with Bill Walsh.

As for the multi-hour pregame show, it usually contains more nonsense than an awards show featuring Alec Baldwin and Katy Perry. At least NFL Network sticks to football. If there is one spot to watch before the game, it is the story on Steve Gleason. Five years ago he blocked a punt and lifted an entire Gulf Region as the New Orleans Saints were recovering from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, the Saints have won a Super Bowl, but Gleason has come down with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is heartbreaking, and Drew Brees and others on the Saints are raising money for Gleason.

Other talking heads will have much more to say, but today is not about meaningless fluff. Today is about football.

Time for the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

New England Patriots vs New York Giants–The NFC had won the coin toss 14 straight years, but this time the AFC won it. The Patriots wore home blue while the Giants wore the white. The Patriots offered to defer until the second half. Eli Manning led the Giants from their own 23 to a 1st and 10 at the New England 33. Yet in long field goal range, Eli Manning was sacked twice. The last one on 3rd and 13 led to a punt.

Rarely are punters focused on in the game, but Steve Weatherford hit a beauty that was downed at the 5 yard line. One play from scrimmage was all that was needed for the scoreless tie to be broken. Tom Brady went back to pass in his own end zone and released a bomb just before getting belted by Justin Tuck. Yet this was not a 95 yard touchdown pass. It was an incomplete pass to nobody with no receiver in the area. The officials huddled and threw a flag. This was a new version of the “Tuck Rule.” It was intentional grounding on Brady in the end zone, which meant a safety. The Giants led 2-0, and received the free kick at their own 22.

Manning hit Hynoski for 13 and Ware for 8. Ahmad Bradshaw then ran for 24 yards. Ware gained 6 and Manning hit Bear Pascoe for 9 more. On 3rd and 3 from the 11, Manning hit Victor Cruz for 4. Cruz had the ball ripped out of his hands by Sterling Moore, the hero in the AFC Title Game 2 weeks earlier. The Patriots recovered the fumble, but it was all for naught. The defense had 12 men on the field, so the Giants had 1st and goal at the 6. On 2nd and goal from the 2, Manning rifled a ball between 2 defenders and Cruz caught it and then danced the Salsa. The Giants led 9-0.

Julian Edelman returned the kickoff to the 29. On 3rd and 4 from their 35, Brady found Deion Branch for 15 yards to midfield and Wes Welker for 19 more. Green-Ellis gained 4 and Welker took an end around 10 yards as the first quarter ended. The Giants led 9-0, but the Patriots began the second quarter at the Giants 17. On 3rd and 4 from the 11, Brady threw incomplete. Stephen Gostkowski hit the 29 yarder to have the Patriots on the board down 9-3.

The Giants took over at their own 20 and Brandon Jacobs rumbled for 11 yards. On 3rd and 6 Manning hit Hakeem Nicks over the middle as Nicks made a leaping catch for an 18 yard gain to the Patriots 47. A penalty meant 3rd and 15, and Manning found Bradshaw for an 11 yard gain. On 4th and 4 from the Patriots 41, Tom Coughlin took no chances and Weatherford came in to punt again. He hit another good one that bounced around the 5, but an attempt to knock it backward failed as it reached the end zone for a touchback.

The Patriots soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 23. Brady hit Wes Welker, but just short of the marker. On 4th and inches Bill Bellichick did not wish to relive his 4th down gamble in this very stadium a few years ago that blew up. The Patriots punted. The Giants took over at their own 23 and Manning led them to a critical 3rd and 1 at the New England 46. Jacobs gained 10 yards, but a critical offensive holding penalty instead meant 3rd and 10. Manning went deep for Mario Manningham, who had Sterling Moore all over him. There would be no miracle catch as it fell incomplete and the Giants punted. Weatherford again hit a fantastic shot that pinned the Patriots at their own 4 with 4 minutes left in the half.

After a false start moved the ball back to the 2, Brady hit Welker for 7 and Woodhead ran for 5. From the 15, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for 20. Woodhead ran for 4 at the 2 minute warning. Brady hit Hernandez for 10 and 8. After a holding penalty meant 2nd and 12, Brady kept firing to Hernandez for 8 and 12 more on 3rd and 4. On 2nd and 9 Brady went to Welker for 10 yards to the Giants 22 as the Patriots took their 1st timeout with 30 seconds left in the half. Brady then found Danny Woodhead for 11 and 8 more. With 15 seconds left in the half, the Patriots faced 3rd and 3 at the 4. The entire 1st half came down to one play, and with all kinds of time, Brady fired in the end zone to Woodhead for the score. An obvious offensive holding penalty was not called. Despite being totally outplayed, the 96 yard drive to close the half had the Patriots up 10-9.

Madonna was fine. This concludes any discussion of the halftime show. The commercials were what they were. Now back to football. New England began the second half at their own 21. Brady hit Chad Johnson for 21 yards and Green-Ellis for 8 more to midfield. Green-Ellis ran around the end for 17. On 3rd and 1 from the Giants 24, Green-Ellis gained 4. Brady hit Welker for 8 and Hernandez for the 12 yard touchdown. The Patriots made it look easy as they led 17-9.

A strong kickoff return by Jernigan had the Giants starting at their own 35. On 3rd and 4 Manning hit Nicks for 8 and Pascoe for 8 more. Bradshaw ran for 7 and Manning hit Nicks for 11 more to the New England 25. Yet while Manning completed his first 9 passes of the game to set a new Super Bowl record, on this drive a pair of incompletions meant 3rd and 10. Manning then hit Mario Manningham, but he was hit hard after a 5 yard gain. On 4th and 5 Lawrence Tynes came in for a 38 yarder. Tynes was good, and the Giants were within 17-12.

On the next series from the Patriots soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 19. Brady was sacked by Tuck as New England punted. The Giants began with a short field at the Patriots 48. Manning hit Nicks for 17 yards, but Nicks fumbled. The Giants were lucky as Hynoski fell on it. From the Patriots 33, Jacobs ran for 7 and 3. Manning hit Pascoe for 12 to set up 1st and 10 at the 11. A pair of unimaginative runs up the middle set up 3rd and 8. Manning was sacked, and Tynes came in for a 33 yarder. It was good, and the Giants were within 17-15.

After a touchback, Brady hit Branch for 11 and Green Ellis ran for 7 as the third quarter ended. New England began the fourth quarter quickly facing 1st and 10 at their own 43. Brady rolled out to his right, and unleashed a bomb just before getting hit by Jason Pierre-Paul. Chase Blackburn and Rob Gronkowski both jumped up for it, and Blackburn came down with the interception. The first turnover of the game functioned as a punt, as the Giants took over at their own 8.

On 2nd and 10 Bradshaw got the carry, and he fumbled. Again the Giants were spared total disaster when Chris Snee recovered to keep the Giants with 3rd and 7. The Patriots jumped offsides, and on 3rd and 2, Manning found Nicks for 12. On 3rd and 1 from the Giants 37, Manning hit Cruz for 8 and Manningham for 12. On 3rd and 5 from the New England 38, a costly false start followed by an incomplete pass meant another punt. Steve Weatherford hit yet another solid one and the Patriots were pinned at their own 8 with 9 1/2 minutes left in the Super Bowl.

On 3rd and 5, Brady appeared to be sacked when he escaped and found Danny Woodhead for 19 yards. On 2nd and 7 Welker took an end around and gained 11. On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 47, Brady found Hernandez for 4 yards. Only 4:40 separated the Patriots from a championship. A touchdown would put the game out of reach, and even a field goal would make it tough. Yet on 2nd and 11, rather than grind down more clock, the Patriots decided to go for it all. Brady went deep twice for the home run ball, and both times the ball fell incomplete. On second down the throw was high, and Welker dropped it. It was catchable. On 3rd down the receiver got blasted to break the play up. The Patriots punted from the Giants 44. Four years ago Eli Manning had 2:42 to try and shock the world.  This time he had 3:46 and one timeout, plenty of time. Yet they were at their own 12 yard line.

Now it was Manning who decided to go deep right away. He found Manningham for a 38 yard gain to midfield as Manningham somehow got two feet down just before being forced out by two defenders. Bill Bellichick challenged the catch and the call was confirmed. This cost the Patriots a critical timeout that would play a major role later on. Manning hit Manningham for 16 and Nicks for 14. At the 2 minute warning, the Giants had 1st and 10 at the Patriots 18. Bradshaw ran for 7 as the clock tucked down to 1:15. In a curious decision, Bill Bellichick decided not to use a timeout. Yet in an even more bizarre decision, Tom Coughlin called a pass play. Nicks caught Manning’s pass for a 4 yard gain, but he was forced out of bounds to stop the clock with 1:09 left. This allowed the Patriots to save their 2 timeouts.

Now the game turned into a chess match. On 1st and goal at the 7, an interesting situation was developing. The Patriots had only 2 timeouts. A field goal from this distance would have only been 24 yards. The Giants could have refused to score, force the Patriots to use their timeouts, and on 3rd and goal take a knee and bring the clock down to only a few seconds. Lawrence Tynes could kick the chip shot for an 18-17 Giants win without giving Brady another chance.

Bill Bellichick also understood this. On 2nd and goal from the 6, the Patriots took their second timeout. Yet the only option the Patriots had was to let the Giants score a touchdown. Letting the other teams core seems counter-intuitive, but giving Brady a chance with one minute left was better than having no chance and hoping a 24 yard field goal was no good. So Bellichick smartly told his defense to let the Giants score. Coughlin told his players just as smartly to refuse to score. Yet coaches can only do so much. It comes down to players to execute.

Ahmad Bradshaw got the carry and had a clear path to the end zone. The Patriots were letting him score. At the last moment Bradshaw realized he was not supposed to score. At around the one yard line he tried to turn around and stop himself from scoring as a Patriots defender was actually trying to knock him into the end zone. Bradshaw lost his balance, and fell backward into the end zone for the touchdown. It seems crazy, but the coach and the player who just saw the go ahead touchdown were both upset. The 2 point conversion try was meaningless, and it failed. The Giants led by 4 points, but the Patriots would have one more shot from their 20 with 57 seconds left and one timeout. Tom Brady would have his chance, and Bradshaw could only watch and hope he was not the goat of the game.

Despite Brady at one point setting an NFL record with 16 straight completions, the fourth quarter was marked by some critical drops. A pair of dropped passes that both should have been caught meant 3rd and 10. Again it was the Tuck Rule as Justin Tuck played the role of Jay Alford 4 years ago. Tuck did not hit Brady quite as hard as Alford, but the sack followed by the final patriots timeout meant 4th and 16 from their 14 with 33 seconds left.

The Patriots needed a miracle, and they got one. Brady hit Branch at the sideline for a 19 yard gain. Brady then found Hernandez over the middle for 11 and then spiked the ball to stop the clock. 17 seconds remained. Brady went deep to the end zone incomplete. The Giants were called for 12 men on the field, but it did not hurt them. The Patriots gained 5 yards but lost 8 seconds to leave only 9 ticks on the clock. After another incompletion, the entire Super Bowl came down to the final play. On 3rd and 5 from just shy of midfield, Brady prepared the Hail Mary.

Brady avoided the rush, stopped, set, and heaved a bomb that was perfectly thrown to the middle of the end zone. Receivers and defenders all jumped up and had a shot at it. It was batted back, and Gronkowski dove for it. It bounced on the ground just before he arrived. The pass was incomplete, and again the Giants had defeated the Patriots in a thriller.

Brady was 27 of 41 for 276 yards, 2 touchdowns, and the one interception. Manning was 30 of 40 for 296 yards with one touchdown and 0 interceptions. Neither team lost a fumble. Manning for the second time was the MVP. Nobody in their right mind would consider it, but Giants punter Steve Weatherford could have been the MVP. His punting made a big difference in the game. The Giants dominated in time of possession, holding it for over 37 minutes to only 22 for the Patriots. Nicks had 10 receptions for 109 yards.

Unlike 4 years ago where Bellichick walked off the field and refused to shake Coughlin’s hand, this time the 2 coaches met on the field and shared a lengthy hug. Bellichick thoroughly congratulated Coughlin. A jubilant Coughlin after getting the Gatorade bath was receiving hugs from random people, including 1980s rapper Flavor Flav. There was no word on whether Coughlin knew who he was.

Bellichick and Brady won 3 Super Bowls together but since then have lost the last two of them. Yet Now Coughlin and Manning have two together.

Now is where the bar questions get debated.

Is Coughlin a Hall of Famer? Absolutely.

Are the legacies of Bellichick and Brady safe? Absolutely.

Is Eli Manning better than Peyton since Eli leads in rings 2 to 1? No.

Is Eli a Hall of Famer? Possibly?

Are either Bellichick and Coughlin better than Bill Parcells? No.

Yet Coughlin and Bellichick still know how to get more with less. The Patriots were not as good as their 13-3 record, with a suspect defense all year. As for the Giants, they became the only 9-7 team ever to win it all. When the Giants were 7-7, Coughlin was being called out by many as deserving to be fired. Now he could be given a lifetime contract and fans would approve. The New York Post Super Bowl edition is a sweet one when the Giants win. Another man vindicated was retired Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi, who gave up what was seen as a king’s ransom for Eli Manning. Now that ransom seems a pittance.

Super Bowl XLVI was now in the books. The 2011-2012 football season has ended. The last play of the very first game in September came down to the final play. The last play of the last game in February also came down to the final play. This is why the National Football League remains the king of all sports. The season began with a grieving Robert Kraft being hugged by Jeff Saturday as the lockout ended. Kraft was praised as the man who saved the game of football. The season ended with the Patriots coming so close, but grieving at what could have been. The final score said Giants 21, Patriots 17. Yet the biggest winners outside of New York were football fans everywhere, who were treated to a fine game with a fantastic finish.

Now there are a couple weeks until the NFL Combine, 10 weeks until the Draft, and six months until the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. For now, the confetti in Indianapolis will be replaced by the confetti from the ticker tape parade the home fans will be attending. 21-17 Giants

eric

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