It is difficult to blog about the Superbowl when you are at the game in the stands.
For those who have no idea about the results of the game, you should hang your head in shame, and pray I never find you and heap scorn on you.
For those like me who are so addicted to the NFL that you would rather read about a week old recap then flip through channels not containing football, welcome, my fellow leatherheads.
The New York Giants were a gritty team expected to go nowhere this year. Of course, when I say expected, I mean expected by me. Ok, so I thought that meant something. I had them going 8-8.
https://tygrrrrexpress.com/2007/09/2007-nfl-predictions/
Stormwarning knew better.
http://stormwarning.moonagewebdream.com
The Giants were led by quarterback Eli Manning, who many in New York had all but given up on. Their head coach Tom Coughlin was almost fired a year ago. Running back Tiki Barber retired before the season. Defensive star Michael Strahan almost did likewise, but after missing training camp, decided to come back for another season.
Like Pittsburgh a couple years ago, the Giants did it the hard way on the road. The 10-6 team beat the Tampa Buccaneers 24-14. They then shocked the 13-3 Dallas Cowboys 21-17, when Tony Romo’s 4th down pass with 9 seconds left was intercepted in the end zone. They then stunned the 13-3 Green Bay Packers in overtime 23-20, intercepting Brett Favre in the extra period to set up the win.
The Patriots were already a dynasty, winning three Superbowls this decade, and coming one minute short in the AFC Title Game last year of a shot at a fourth visit. Head coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady had done it together. Adding star wide receiver Randy Moss almost made the entire season unfair as the Patriots went undefeated.
Yes, 16-0. They played tough teams in the playoffs, but dispatched the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers with some difficulty. They did not have to face the defending champion Indianapolis Colts, who were shocked by San Diego, but it may not have mattered. The 18-0 Patriots were seeking to become arguably the greatest team of all time…ever. The 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only unbeaten team at 17-0, were getting nervous.
The last game of the regular season featured the Patriots defeating the Giants in New York. Had the Patriots lost a game earlier, they would have most likely rested everybody. The Giants had no reason to play their starters, but decided to, which was criticized at the time. The Giants actually led 28-16, but with the score 28-23, Tom Brady threw his NFL record 50th touchdown pass to Randy Moss, who earned his NFL record 23rd touchdown catch on the same play. The Patriots extended their lead to 38-28, and hung on 38-35 when Eli Manning was intercepted late in the game.
The rematch was a thriller. The Patriots were 12 point favorites, and the only chance the Giants had to win the game was to run the ball up the gut repeatedly, using Brandon Jacobs as a battering ram, and then bringing in Ahmad Bradshaw when the New England defense would tire. They would have to play as they did when they beat a superior Buffalo team for their last Superbowl win 17 years earlier.
This was also the “Tuna Bowl,” since both Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick learned under Bill Parcells. Coughlin and Belichick are mirror images of each other. They are tough defensive minded disciplinarians. They are also Bill Parcells minus the warm and fuzzy charm. I have never seen either of these coaches smile.
The Giants began the game by executing their game plan to perfection. Eli Manning and the offense ripped off yardage gradually, converted third downs, and held the ball for 10 minutes. The drive only led to a Tynes field goal, but the pace was dictated, and the tone was set.
Tom Brady went right to work for the Patriots. With Randy Moss being blanketed most of the game, Wes Welker became the target of choice. Welker ended up tying the Superbowl record with 11 receptions. After 5 minutes, on the first play of the second quarter, Lawrence Maroney crashed over from the one foot line to put New England up 7-3. The run was set up by a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone on the last play of the first quarter. It occurred on 3rd down, and seemed to be a Big Blue Blunder.
The Superbowl then turned into a defensive slugfest with no scoring again until the fourth quarter. Both offenses actually had several chances, but luck combined with stout resilience benefitted the defenses.
90 seconds after the Patriots scored, Manning had already led the Giants to the New England 15 yard line. Yet on 3rd and 5, Manning’s pass to Steve Smith bounced right off his chest, and was intercepted by Ellis Hobbs. Instead of first and goal, it was a turnover.
The Patriots had the ball on their own 10 yard line with 1:47 left in the half, and of course Bill Belichick decided to try and go 90 yards. New Englnd does not take knees. They take out kneecaps. With 22 seconds left, the Patriots were already at the New York 45, but when Brady went back to throw the long ball, he was hit, resulting in a fumble that the Giants recovered.
Justin Tuck hit Brady, and Osi Umenyora recovered. Eli Mannings Hail Mary actually made it oevr the New England defenders to Steve SMith, but he did not see it, as it fell incomplete. Although the Patriots led at the half, the story of the first 30 minutes was the Giants defense, specifically the linebackers, destroying the Patriots offensive line. Umenyora was the only member of the entire team going to the Pro Bowl, while the Patriots had several. Yet the entire defense played like demons possessed, as Tuck had the game of a lifetime. Umenyora and Strahan had monster games as well.
In the second half, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo continued to order a combination of blitzes that left Brady bruised, battered, and beaten up. Brady was sacked a season high 5 times, and was hit 23 times.
The Patriots took the second half kickoff, but after 4 minutes had to punt. Yet Bill Belichick showed why he earned his reputation as a genius, challenging that the Giants had 12 men on the field. Replay showed that one player racing to the sidelines did not take his last step until after the ball was snapped. It was a successful challenge, and the Patriots kept the ball.
Yet Bill Belichick reinforced his other reputation, one of arrogance, 4 minutes later. On 4th and 13 from the New York 31, Belichick decided to go for it rather than kick a 48 yard field goal. Brady’s deep pass was out of the corner of the end zone incomplete. After 8 minutes, the Patriots turned it over on downs.
This game was seen by many as a reversal of the Superbowl 6 years earlier. The 2001 Patriots were a resilient 11-5 team that had beaten better teams in the playoffs and had shocked people to get there. The 14-2 Rams were the Greatest Show on Turf, had all the superstars, and a coach that was considered both a genius and arrogant. The Rams had beaten the Patriots in New England. The Patriots shocked the world, and defeated the Rams in one of the all time Superbowl upsets. Many blamed the Rams, and Martz in particular, for simply being too arrogant, and losing a game that should have been an easy victory. Their high octane offense ran into a brilliantly devised defense created by Bill Belichick.
Six years later, the Patriots were the ones trying to shake off the fact that they actually were in a competitive game against a hungry underdog that perhaps they took too lightly. Passing up a field goal attempt on a long fourth down gamble showed a smug attitude that would come back to bite them.
The Patriots would get the ball back, but with three minutes left in the third quarter, they were backed up to their own five yard line. They did reach past midfield with seconds left in the quarter, but a false start penalty pushed New England back and the drive stalled.
The Patriots punted on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the Giants took over at their own 20 after a touchback. After three quarters of defense, the offenses would finally see some life.
On the first play from scrimmage, Manning’s short pass over the middle to Kevin Boss led to a 45 yard gain before boss was dragged down. Boss is not legendary Mark Bavaro, or even injured Jeremy Shockey, but he dragged a pair of New England defenders in superstar fashion on that play. On 3rd and 4 from the 30, Manning went to Steve Smith again. This time he caught it at the 12 yard line. Manning then found the most unlikely Superbowl hero in many years in the form of David Tyree.
If anybody knew David Tyree before this game, they did not tell me about him. He was the Giants fourth receiver. Yet he entered the record books when Manning found him over the middle for a five yard touchdown pass. The Giants led 10-7 with 11 minutes remaining in the game. New England’s dynasty was now teetering.
Yet despite the fact that Brady was getting hit on every play, he showed his championship toughness that champions exhibit when it matters most. He led the Patriots 89 yards, eating up over 8 minutes of clock. On 3rd down and goal, the Giants needed one more stop to force the tying field goal. They had stopped the Patriots the entire game. They could not stop them this time. Neither could the rest of the league. A touchdown pass to Randy Moss, who had been held in check the entire game, put the Patriots up 14-10 with 2:42 remaining.
New England had done it again. They had scraped out another win at the last possible moment. 19-0, the greatest team ever, and four Superbowls in seven years, almost five. It would have been five had Peyton Manning not beaten them a year earlier. Yet this was not the Colts and Peyton Manning. It was Eli Manning. He was not his brother. The game was over. The defense had fought hard, but the offense of the Giants had nothing left.
Yes, they did. They had heart. The Giants started at their own 17 yard line. They had all three timeouts plus the two minute warning. At the two minute warning, the Giants faced third and 10 at their own 28. Manning completed the pass to Amani Toomer, but Toomer had to come back for the short throw, leaving him less than a yard short. On 4th and 1, with everything on the line, the Giants were granted a measurement, allowing the clock to temporarily stop. This allowed the Giants to get up to the line.
They could have punted, given that they had all three timouts, but going for it was the right call with 1:40 remaining. Battering ram Brandon Jacobs picked up the first down, and the Giants called their first timeout with 1:28 left. They were still at their own 38 yard line. The next play had Eli get caught after a five yard scramble, forcing the Giants to burn their second timeout with 1:20 left. Manning was almost intercepted on the next play, but the ball was just high enough. It bounced off the outstretched fingertips of Asanti Samuels.
On 3rd and 5, a play occurred that will be in NFL history forever. One of the craziest plays I have ever seen occurred, and I saw it live. I still could not believe what I witnessed. Eli Manning stepped back to pass, and was caught in the pocket for what appeared to be a certain sack. There were two or three Patriots with a shot, and one had him by the Jersey. He spun out, and heaved the ball before being hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtN_ooMjpvk
This was only half the miracle play that should forever be known as “The Scramble.” His Fran Tarkenton impersonation was fabulous, but the reception was even more spectacular. David Tyree, with Rodney Harrison defending him perfectly, caught the ball against his helmet one handed. Harrison tried to pry it loose, but somehow Tyree kept the ball lodged between his hand and his helmet. Going to the ground, the ball never touched the ground or came loose. That catch could not be made in the circus. David Tyree made it as Harrison and the rest of the world remained stunned. One minute remained, and the Giants were at the New England 25, and Michael Strahan was screaming on the sidelines that the Giants would win 17-14. To give Strahan even more credit, he said it at the beginning of the drive when the Giants were 83 yards away.
Manning was brought down for no gain on the next play, and the Giants took their final timeout with 50 seconds remaining. On 3rd and 11 with with 45 seconds remaining, Manning completed a 12 yard pass to Steve Smith, who got out of bounds with 39 seconds remaining.
On the next play, Manning lobbed an end zone pass to Plaxico Burress. Burress had been silent the entire game, but he faked out Ellis Hobbs, who had intercepted Manning earlier. The 14 yard touchdown pass put the Giants up 17-14 with only 35 seconds remaining.
The stadium erupted, but after initial cheering, the Giants fans went silent, and reminded themselves that the game was not over. Dynasties do not die out naturally. They have to be killed, and the Patriots had 35 seconds and three timeouts.
From the 25 yard line, Brady’s first deep pass was incomplete. Brady got absolutely belted on the next play by Rookie Jay Alford. Alford came straight up the middle and drilled Brady in the chest. It might have been the best hit of the game. As badly as Brady got leveled, he showed his veteran poise by immediately calling timeout while on his back.
19 seconds remained. At that moment, on third and 20, Brady rolled out, looked for Randy Moss, and threw the ball 68 yards. Moss was double covered, but as fans everywhere held their breath, he still almost caught it. It was knocked away incomplete. One more yard in the air and it might have been a touchdown. Instead, with 10 seconds left, the Patriots faced fourth and 20. Brady again rolled out, threw it 65 yards in the area for Moss, and watched it fall incomplete. Moss was again double covered, and this heave was easily batted away.
The New York Football Giants had shocked the world. The 1972 Dolphins popped their champagne corks. their would be no 19-0 season. The Patriots were nothing more than a footnote, another great regular season team that blew up in the playoffs. A sign on the internet currently reads “18-1 arrogance.”
Yet this was New York Giant Football. Heart, tough running, critical catches, and ruthless defense. As the confetti came down, the question of “Who wants it More?” was answered.
The Giants had won Superbowl XLII. They are the World Champions.
The G-Men had shocked the world.
As Chris Berman says, “THAT’S…WHY THEY PLAY THE GAMES.”
Although Belichick did run to midfield and share a very sincere embrace with Coughlin, apparently one second remained. Rules required a play be run, and Belichick remained in the locker room for the final kneel down, an ignominious end. Perhaps that passed up field goal opportunity would eat at him. Perhaps he was too dismissive to consider criticism.
It did not matter. History had been smashed, obliterated, and poured upside down.
New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
eric
“Dude!! Mickey Mouse is a big tax and spend liberal who wants free government cheese for everyone at taxpayers expense!
Don’t Do It!”
Now back to the lunatics.
“I call on Senior McPain to refuse his paycheck as long as he is on the road neglecting his job
getting amnesty for illegal aliens.”Minus the slur, I think both nominees should resign their seat. Bob Dole did honorably, and Joseph Lieberman should have done it.
Ross Perot has told us all about McCain’s treachery against his first wife. McCains deliberate resistance against rescuing American POWs from Vietnam and the USSR is a matter of public record.”
Ross Perot? I forgot he was the voice of reason and not somebody into conspiracy theories about his daughter’s wedding.
The following person actually supports McCain, but sometimes even people who agree with me make me hang my head in shame.
“Commenter # 35…nice use of Hitler.
How utterly disgusting.
Yeah yeah, it was only an analogy…spare me.
I don’t care.
Hitler tried to kill my dad. McCain did not. Period.”
Yet the foaming at the mouth continued.
“If you are woo’ed by this man, you are a fool. His actions have been consistently anti-conservative. Even when he happened to vote conservative, it seemed to leave a bad taste in his mouth.”
So the 82% of the time he votes conservative according to the ACU is just an acting job. Somebody buy him some vanilla mint Listerine or Scope.
“I also listened to McCain’s speech today. I found it as short on vision, as are his arms!”
Disgusting. Truly disgusting.
“Anyone know of a site that has McCain’s history? I wanna learn a little more about him.”
The following above comment is very openminded, but I included it for a specific reason. On a site filled with comments, the above fellow felt that none of them had credibility to give him a fair picture. He wanted to go somewhere else to actually learn. Good for him. He is right.
“Bush had indicated early on he would veto anything with amnesty in it. But of course JORGE BUSH was right on board with McCain and kennedy, wasnt he….”
“I cant forget McCains role, but thank god we stopped it and humbled the arrogant SOB.”
“Talked the talk, but will he walk the walk?
Not unless we put the proper planks in the platform then nail McCain’s feet to them.”
I have not heard such violence since I watched an antiwar peace rally.
“Michelle (Malkin) lives in a blue state (Maryland). That state will go democratic even if Pol Pot was running.”
Ok, I admit, that was funny to me. Yet to many, Pol Pot is Hitler. We have to tone it down. Even some liberals would support Dubya to Pol Pot. I hope.
“We have to pound the crap out of McCain until we get some real, quantifiable attention from him on the shamnesty issue.”
“Grab your 2 by 4 Conservative Plank of choice (immigration, border, taxes, judges, global warming, etc), and help pound it into the GOP Party Platform – and from there up-side McCain’s maverick head to fully get his attention.”
So people can threaten to beat up McCain with a 2 by 4, but he cannot defend himself. Got it. Makes sense.
“Condhimmi Rice would be your conservative choice for VP?”
Yeah, Condi is an Arab lover. Oh no wait, she isn’t.
“This is not the country that I grew up in in the 50s: National pride, work ethic, strong families, very low divorce rate, stay at home Moms, decent Hollywood movies and TV, people going to church, neighborhood picnics, one American car in the driveway, ‘57 Chevy Convertibles, board games with Mom & Dad in the evening, the senior prom in the HS gym….. No internet, no cell phones, no Iphones, very little Hollywood trash, no gay issues, no Hondas or Toyotas, no CDs or DVDs……”
Yeah, the 1950s, when liberals controlled everything. No thank you, I will take the last quarter century of conservative dominance. Also, there were gay issues back then. The President of Iran still thinks there are no gays. They always existed, they are just now being treated as human beings. Plus, I like the internet. I meet pretty girls on here.
“Any idea where the rent a mob of McCain supporters came from?”
We are called people. Mobs shout and scream. I am calm and rational.
“But if the man forces God’s hand, because what he is reaching out to take hold of and squeeze to death is too important to God, and he would not let God help him with his own heart in private, then in a very public manner, God will show him and anyone else looking, exactly what he really is.
Today, February 7, exactly 9 months to the day before Election Day – following Super Tuesday, and Ronald Reagan’s birthday, a blackhearted man tries to wrest the Reagan reputation for himself to grab power to NOT be a servant of all, but to be a destroyer,
trying to grab the reputation of Ronald Reagan for himself, the very words of Ronald Reagan in CPAC 1975 show the very ironic Truth about a man who does not in fact have an ounce of humility in his entire body – glaringly portrays the stark contrast.
In this other instance, there is no display of humility, of a heart tuned towards God, or mindful of the First calling of any who would be elevated – “Be a Servant of All! First!”
Nothing could be further from his mind or heart.”
Most religious people are not zealots. Either the above commenter is God…or a zealot. I suspect the latter, but will repent if I am wrong.
“So we must be looking at one of the most rare and most stunning events being prepared for the world stage in all of recorded human history.”
I thought I destroyed that sex tape. Don’t blame Shannon Doherty. She is a sweet girl. I am the sick one. Man I wish I did not make that up. I so adore her.
“You cannot plop a dead vulture on the dining table and get mad at the folks for not sitting down with the family and having a nice holiday meal with you.
And go pick up the furniture YOU knocked over with my bruised body, yourself.
And YOU wash my blood off your hands and the walls – and do it without my help.
I’ll be busy elsewhere.”
I will be busy trying to question why eugenics is illegal when commenters like that exist.
“I cannot imagine anyone on earth spending 10 MINUTES in such a pool having any SYMPATHY or any STOMACH for the sight of McCain on the issue of the WATERBOARDING hysterics he is dishing to our boys, making their jobs the hardest he can – OBVIOUSLY HOPING TO MAKE THEM SO IMPOSSIBLE THE KIDS JUST FLAT DROP OUT OF OUR MILITARY ALL TOGETHER!
The very IDEA of McCAIN being a CONSIDERATION of a Commander in Chief to anyone who has watched his public performance in the MSM for the last 5 years – IN TANDEM AND HARNESS YOKE WITH THE LIKES OF TOADY CHAPPAQUIDDICK KENNEDY AND HANOI JOHN – is enough to make me go CAMPAIGN for the DEMOCRATS AND SOCIALISTS AND COMMUNIT PARTIES IN AMERICA – and RALPH NADER’S GREEN PARTY, TOO!
I may not stop puking for 5 years that YOU had the gall to sit here on Michelle Malkin’s site and ESPOUSE MCCAIN AS A COMMANDER IN CHIEF!
Like Joseph Mengele for teaching BEDSIDE MANNERS TO DOCTORS.
Not to insult Joseph Mengele.
And yes, I am getting MADDER!
I am sorry, I know it is not your fault.
I am not mad at you – I am just very angry.”
Joseph Mengele? I spoke too soon about eugenics. I rarely endorse illegal activity, but somebody get the above guy a call girl and calm him down. Or if he is like many enraged moralists, a call boy.
“PLEASE INVESTIGATE McCAIN BUTT BUDDY FRED with Ann Coulter, George Will, and a dozen other great columnists before doing something that would make you feel JUST AS STUPID AS VOTING FOR McCAIN!”
At this point I thought of the Will Ferrell movie “Anchorman.” Several of the characters started yelling, and then weatherman Brick Tamland (played by Steve Carrell) and his IQ of 48 started yelling randomly just to fit in. I, with an IQ of at least 50, briefly adopted that character with my comments below.
YELLING!
SHOUTING!VICIOUS INSULTS!
BUTT BUDDIES!TOURETTES SYNDROME!RATIONAL DISCOURSE!Oh wait…make that rational discourse.
I thought I was on the Daily Kos website for a second.
McCain is looking better by the minute, and some of his detractors need to be tested for rabies.
I pray the liberal media does not peruse this thread. Ms. Malkin may wish to cancel the entire thread, my own posts included (although I hope she does not).
Hillary could not ask for anything more than some of the above comments.
Ok, back to leading my normal, mainstream conservative life.
NORMAL.”
I am aware that some liberals will use this column to indict all conservatism. I am prepared for that chance. I will not sit back and let a good, decent man and war hero like John McCain be smeared by people not fit to lick his boots.
I expect the liberals to try and destroy him the minute the democrats pick a nominee. I expect them to foam at the mouth. Let them. That is what they do.
All I know is that when the conservatives come out with their guns blazing, somebody had better tell the lead shooters to not be standing in a circle.
It is not the issue of disagreeing. To paraphrase a consultant that I disagreed with, but who knew how to win elections…it’s the vitriol, stupid.
Whether right wingers masquerading as American conservatives, or Palestinians masquerading as poor misunderstood innocents, I have no patience for suicide bombers.
eric