I just finished watching Super Bowl XLII, and I have to say that this is one of the best and most exciting Super Bowls that I've ever personally witnessed. The Rams/Titans thriller of 2000 will always hold the top spot for me, but this one was just as exciting. Despite the final score and last minute nature of the game, I felt like the best team definitely won the game. The Giants dominated the game in terms of line play on both sides of the ball, pressuring Brady without even blitzing on most downs, and giving Manning great protection.
The final drive by the Giants was something that could not be scripted, highlighted by the most unbelievable offensive play in the history of the Super Bowl (I would contend). Manning appeared to be nearly sacked by at least three Patriots before completing a desperation 32 yard play to David Tyree with an equally incredible finger-tip-to-helmet-while-extended-and-pulled-to-the-ground catch - how does one even describe this play? Prior to it, I would bet that most people expected the Giants to bow out of their incredible Super Bowl performance with dignity, but in loss. Afterwards, I fully believed that they could win the game. It was just that mind-changing.
As a football fan, I was drawn to the Giants as the underdogs. As a Rams fan, I was incensed after reading the news earlier in the day that the Patriots had taped my favorite team's pre-Super Bowl closed practice session just prior to their improbable Super Bowl XXXVI upset. All morning, I thought back to that game in 2002. The Rams, then at the height of their "Greatest Show on Turf" offensive prowess, would move the ball with ease until they neared the red zone of the Patriots. For over half of the game, they would always hit a wall whenever they reached this point. When they finally did reach the red zone in the fourth quarter, turnovers or sacks would ensue, and it seemed like the Patriots defensive players would know exactly what the Rams offense was about to do before the ball was snapped. Even on the Rams first touchdown to make it 10-17, it was only because a penalty negated a Patriots fumble recovery (again, the Patriots defender was on top of the play as if he knew where the Rams were going before they even moved) that the Rams were finally able to score a touchdown. The report tells us that the Rams ran their red-zone plays in the closed practice session that was alledgedly taped by the Patriots, making a clear connection between painful memory and shocked realization for this football fan. Am I biased Rams fan? If this was the only evidence against the Patriots, I would say yes. However, everyone knows that the Patriots have been caught at this game. The league has seen the evidence and has sanctioned the Patriots. Mangini, the coach that blew the whistle, is a former member of the Patriots organization. I think it's fair to project that we haven't heard the last of the Patriots "Spy-Gate." History will not be changed, but I do believe that the Rams were the far better team in 2002. Without their perhaps unfair advantage, the Patriots might have lived up to their 14-point underdog status...As you can imagine, I was elated to see the Giants win this game for more reasons than one. The Patriots 18-1 season is an incredible achievement, but the Giants epic, upset victory will become the true legend of the 2007-2008 NFL season. The delight of those who celebrate in the Patriots' downfall is telling. The arrogance and ruthlessness of New England is not without consequence. And now that the Patriots are shorn of the one saving grace that has protected them from these consequences - that they "just win" - how will they be viewed now?
- Jet out.
No comments:
Post a Comment