It's all over in Glendale and it was yet another extremely competitive Super Bowl for the Patriots. That's 4-Super Bowls in a row for them that have come down to the game's final moments. Only this time, it was their opponent who made the game's defining play. Actually the game's two defining plays that gave the Giants the upset win, 17-14. Not far off from Plaxico's 23-17 prediction!! The NY Daily News headline is 100% correct. The Giants actually won this game - there was nothing fluky about any of their 4 postseason wins and certainly not in this one.The TD catch by Burress will be replayed over and over for years to come, b/c it was the winning score. Beautifully executed by Burress getting Hobbs off-balance and just a simple - but perfect throw by Manning to win the game.
But the 3rd-and-5 conversion with 1:15 remaining was truly the most remarkable play of the game. Three Patriots (Thomas, Green & Seymour) had their mitts on Manning as he dropped back, but he was able to wriggle free just to even attempt to make a play. He saw David Tyree down the middle of the field and he put one up there in hopes his guy would make a play. Tyree out-jumped and out-muscled likely Hall-of-Famer Rodney Harrison for the ball and showed incredible hand strength to come down with the ball cleanly. The 32-yard catch gave the Giants a 1st down with :59 seconds left at the Pats 24-yard line.
They scored 4 plays later, after converting their 8th 3rd down of the game on a great throw and catch from Manning to Steve Smith.
- Just last week, I had said I really didn't think Eli had really turned the corner as much as he'd become a smarter manager of the game, knowing that mistake free football is winning football. But tonight, he put that question to rest. In order to win, he personally has to make plays and that's exactly what he did. He put a ton of throws right where they needed to be all night long - especially on the final drive. 7 of the 8 third down conversions came on Manning completions - he was outstanding.
- Since I've been behind the scenes producing live TV on the fly, I feel like it's fine for me to criticize - the gang at ESPNews put up graphic after graphic that was wrong. Eli's credited with an interception-free postseason according to their numbers. (I seem to recall an INT in this game - even tipped balls count against the QB!). Tom Coughlin's record in the postseason as Giants HC is now 4-2, not 3-2. (Wild Card teams that win Super Bowls need 4 wins to do so. They beat Tampa Bay, Dallas & Green Bay before this win over NE. My math says that's 4 wins for Coach C.)
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Too bad Miguel Tejada's arrival as an Astro is marred by the steroid controversy, because there is no doubt he can swing it with the best of 'em. He'll report for Spring Training on Valentine's Day and he'll be fresh off delivering a two HRs in game one of Day one in the Caribbean World Series. He broke the all-time mark of Tony Armas with those 2 bombs giving him 13 in his career.----------------------------------------
The Super Bowl was so entertaining that I don't remember too many of the commercials. Chris Kattan & Justin Timberlake weren't bad. Myspace has all the spots that run during the broadcast. You must check out the behind the scenes for the NFL spot that featured Texans OL Ephraim Salaam & Chester Pitts.Here were the 25 most memorable SB ads before tonight. (Gorilla Mask)
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This has been running wild for the last few days, but in case you missed it, Chris Berman is very unhappy. NSFW language. I'll just give you the vid.UFC 81 over the weekend gave the fans just want they wanted from newcomer Brock Lesnar. He dominated Frank Mir for 89 seconds. One second later, Lesnar submitted. Here's the entire fight.
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Because of Super Sunday, I bet there are a few people that missed yet another championship Sunday from Tiger Woods. He started the day 4 shots back of one of the world's best - Ernie Els. While Tiger was charging, Els was folding, putting his approach on the final hole into the drink. That's 4 in a row and seven of his last 8 where Tiger's come out on top.The worldwide leader must be worried about the drunken Dana Jacobson backlash, so Stan Verrett had to pay - with an apology for what most would call nothing. (Awful Announcing)
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2 comments:
So where does Eli line up with the all time greats?
Eli just got in the line - and no cuts, start at the back my friend. One great day on the game's biggest stage, coupled with several slightly above average regular seasons doesn't do much for me yet.
---- WEX
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