[detroitsportsfan]

Thought I'd start a thread for the big game tonite. Post away!

[detroitsportsfan]

Early Prediction: Tom Brady & The Patriots get revenge against the Giants for losing to them a few years back in the Super Bowl. Brady named MVP of the game and cements himself as the best damn quarterback in the past decade. Close game, back-and-forth, with New England beating NY 27-23.

[Stefan S]

little that I know about such matters but it looks to me like the Giants have some advantage in size and power, but the Patriots can compensate for it using their speed and superior conditioning...

[Stefan S]

^^^ these two guys with the guns should be great assets
I do not know the Giants have an answer to it

[papalawrence]

So far the Giants seem to be the superior team -- on both sides of the ball. But it's early and NE has a lot of weapons.

[hack]

I wish I'd seen the Giants/Niners game. These track-meet games are more and more common and seemingly the only ones I see lately. Doesn't help being a Lions fan I guess...

[detroitsportsfan]

NY Giants control most of the 1st half but New England puts together an impressive drive for a touchdown to end the half. 10-9 New England @ half-time.

[RugbyPike#11]

Madonna lipsyncs, but doesn't cause me to jam a pencil into my ear like the Black-Eyed Peas did last year.

[detroitsportsfan]

Giants win. Patriots have a chance at the end with a hail-mary in the end zone but it gets batted down. Eli Manning wins his 2nd Super Bowl (both victories against New England). If I'm not mistaken, Tom Brady is now 3-3 in Super Bowl appearances (?).

[Dave Bing]

Fun game. Glad to see Brady and Belli go down. Brady is one of the only Wolverines I root against. Nice that Manningham made the play of the game!

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by detroitsportsfan

NY Giants control most of the 1st half but New England puts together an impressive drive for a touchdown to end the half. 10-9 New England @ half-time.

it felt like the Giants should have been up by 3-4 points.
This score just felt wrong.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by RugbyPike#11

Madonna lipsyncs, but doesn't cause me to jam a pencil into my ear like the Black-Eyed Peas did last year.

Never understood the hype about her
since she neither can sing (or lips sing) nor can she dance.

She is a self-created cultural phenomenon about
being a cultural phenomenon.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by detroitsportsfan

Giants win. Patriots have a chance at the end with a hail-mary in the end zone but it gets batted down. Eli Manning wins his 2nd Super Bowl (both victories against New England). If I'm not mistaken, Tom Brady is now 3-3 in Super Bowl appearances (?).

I think 3-2, both losses to Eli.

Tonight, he made but one mistake, the interception (which did not cost them directly any points).
The Giants had two fumbles but no TO.

On the last drive, his wides dropped 2 routine passes they should have caught before he converted on 4th and 16. Belichek burned a TO, but I guess you got to challenge such a border line call. Maybe if he has that extra TO, maybe if he does not use so much time at the beginning of the series (one of those earlier passes is caught), maybe then he would have a better prayer.

So, over all, it will always be on his shoulders even though, except for this one TO, it was almost a perfect game. Still, the Giants seem to be in NE heads. You just sensed at the end the Gs had all the momentum. Also, Eli had as perfect game as it is humanly possible.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by Dave Bing

Fun game. Glad to see Brady and Belli go down. Brady is one of the only Wolverines I root against. Nice that Manningham made the play of the game!

I'll second most of the sentiments.
Not that I was actively rooting against anyone in this fight, still
I kind of dislike Belichek. So, yeah, it's good they lost.

Plus, a great game really. Few penalties.
almost no TOs. Bot QBs played great.
It went to the last two series and the last few plays.
One of the best Super Bowls in recent memories.

[Mainevent]

Brady did not play great in the 2nd half. The INT was a bad decision and a poor throw. The pass to Welker certainly could have been caught (the Giants players made numerous tough catches during the game) but it was an off target throw. The first pass on the last drive to Branch was behind him when he had 20+ yards and running room in front of him.

Eli's a funny guy. He had a great game no doubt, but there were several throws that he had into tons of traffic and somehow the ball got through and his WRs made catches on them. You've got to give him credit (pass rush/pressure never seems to bother him), but he seemed to play with a horseshoe up his but the past couple of games. Though, the line between greatness and luck can be just that thin sometimes.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by Mainevent

Though, the line between greatness and luck can be just that thin sometimes.

The ancient Greeks had a distinction between luck, which is out of our control, and good fortune, that we bring upon ourselves.

The Giants were very fortunate on many of Eli's passes.
And they also were so darn lucky on those two fumbles.

Brady did not play great in the 2nd half. The INT was a bad decision and a poor throw. The pass to Welker certainly could have been caught (the Giants players made numerous tough catches during the game) but it was an off target throw. The first pass on the last drive to Branch was behind him when he had 20+ yards and running room in front of him.

it felt to me like he carries other meetings with Eli on his shoulders.

[detroitsportsfan]

You are correct. Brady is 3-2 in Super Bowl appearances.

Wes Welker dropped a crucial pass late (when does he drop passes? he's a big-time player) as did Aaron Hernandez (who was having a good game until then). Big playmaking tight end Rob Gronkowski was pretty much a non-factor (hobbled by injury).

Both quarterbacks played pretty good (not great). Both secondaries looked poor (good news for the Lions who are weak in that area). Not much in the way of turnovers or penalties or really big plays in the game. I thought, for a Super Bowl game, it was fairly entertaining and enjoyable to watch. Actually, after watching this game, I get the feeling the Lions are closer to getting to this level than I originally thought. They have to resign some of their key free agents, need another good draft and probably have to pursue a few key free agents in the offseason. A couple more years of seasoning and they could be a contender for the Super Bowl (given that most of their key players are still pretty young).

Originally Posted by Stefan S

I think 3-2, both losses to Eli.

On the last drive, his wides dropped 2 routine passes they should have caught before he converted on 4th and 16. Belichek burned a TO, but I guess you got to challenge such a border line call. Maybe if he has that extra TO, maybe if he does not use so much time at the beginning of the series (one of those earlier passes is caught), maybe then he would have a better prayer.

[Orwellian O.]

game sucked....

[hack]

I thought it sucked too. I've always been slightly more into college football for the larger variety of methodologies, but in general I don't like football when the defense is playing the role of the Washington Generals out there. That was basketball on grass, and not just today's basketball. The 80s no-defense version. Since when do you get to the SB with a defense that can't tackle, cover or get off the freakin field? Some of this is the rules and that's understood, but some of it is just, well, fucking tackle!

[tin mad dog]

It looked like the Pats let the Giants score that last TD so they would still have some time on the clock to try to win it. Otherwise, the Giants run the clock down and kick an easy FG to win.

[Stefan S]

Originally Posted by tin mad dog

It looked like the Pats let the Giants score that last TD so they would still have some time on the clock to try to win it. Otherwise, the Giants run the clock down and kick an easy FG to win.

So it looked and, also, it looked like the Giants were under the order, from their coach, to stop on the 1 yard line.

[RugbyPike#11]

According to Bradshaw, he didn't have any direction to take a knee until Eli shouted, as he was handing off the ball, "Don't score!"

Looks like it registered with Bradshaw just a few milliseconds too late.

[RugbyPike#11]

Against Eli Manning's orders, Ahmad Bradshaw scores the Giants' winning touchdown - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[Mainevent]

but in general I don't like football when the defense is playing the role of the Washington Generals out there.

21-17 is too high scoring for you?

[ThaMaestro]

I thought it was a fun game. Yeah, there were moments when it was drawn out a bit, but NE's drive at the end of the half and the end of the fourth quarter were a lot of fun.

It kinda mirrored Madonna's performance: boring, sucks, boring, SHE SLIPS! hahaha, sucks, boring, boring, Like a prayer, pretty good, She vanished! WORLD PEACE!

[hack]

Originally Posted by Mainevent

21-17 is too high scoring for you?

Agreed that it wasn't a high-scoring game. Nonetheless it is a different kind of football. While I understand why it must be so, it is not what appeals to me.

[tin mad dog]

I had a good buzz going by halftime so I was kind of entertained by Madonna, even with the lip synching. This could have also had to do with how bad the Black Eyed Peas were last year.

[Dave Bing]

She was fine. Doesn't move like she used to but, in truth, who does?

[Mel Kiper Jr]

Originally Posted by hack

Agreed that it wasn't a high-scoring game. Nonetheless it is a different kind of football. While I understand why it must be so, it is not what appeals to me.

What is your ideal game?

[hack]

Well I've always been more of a fan of college football, but in general I would like to see more balance.