Super Bowl was the season in Microcosm

mi·cro·cosm

The season started with such promise - at 6-2 the Giants had a full two-game lead in their division.

The Super Bowl started with such promise - a safety on the Patriots first play of the game and a methodical touchdown march culminated in a 9-0 lead.

The season started to unravel right around the halfway point. A four game losing streak put into jeopardy all the good that happened before. The defense suddenly couldn't stop anyone and the offense shot itself in the foot time and time again. We were suddenly a .500 team.

The Super Bowl started to unravel right around the halfway point. The Patriots marched 96 yards - really 98 since their first play was a penalty - and Brady didn't miss a single pass. Then they started the second half of the game with another touchdown drive that looked so easy. We were suddenly two scores down.

When the season seemed like it was about to spiral out of control, the Giants had a big game against the Cowboys.

When the game seemed like it was about to spiral out of control, the Giants moved the ball into position for two field goals to make a game of it.

The Giants were down 7-3 against the Jets in a must-win situation when a huge play from Eli Manning to one of his unheralded wide receivers turned the game around and set the team up for an important win.

The Giants were down 17-15 against the Patriots when a huge play from Eli Manning to one of his unheralded wide recievers turned the game around and set the team up for an important score.

When the Giants turned the corner on the season, they didn't let down. They beat everyone when they had to - even though sometimes it wasn't pretty - and finally secured a playoff spot.

When the Giants turned the corner in the game, they didn't let down. They stopped the Patriots when they had to - even though it sometimes wasn't pretty - and finally secured a World Championship.

The season compares to 2007 in so many ways, it's scary. But the Super Bowl compared to the regular season in so many ways, it's not so scary. It's just the way it had to happen. And it did.