'Kudos & Wet Willies,' Super Bowl XLII edition
The New York Giants are Super Bowl champions! I had to say that one more time before I get on with some analysis.
I know I am biased, but this will have to go down not only as one of the greatest Super Bowl upsets ever, but as one of the best of the 42 Super Bowls ever played.
The game featured great defense, a classic Tom Brady late-game drive, an even better Super Bowl-winning drive from Eli Manning, an unlikely hero in David Tyree and enough twists and turns that you could spend all day dissecting each and every drive.
This Giants' victory typified the type of team they are, and the type of season they had.
I thought the Giants would have to be perfect to beat the Patriots. They weren't close to perfect. They missed some opportunities in the first half, including a critical interception on a ball muffed by Steve Smith. An Antonio Pierce penalty helped New England get its first touchdown. There were a couple of fumbles that they, fortunately, recovered.
This, though, is the way the Giants have played all year. Never perfect, often not pretty. They continue to believe and continue to press the action, though. And, just when you begin to despair, here comes a 45-yard pass to Kevin Boss. A touchdown pass to David Tyree. Then, after an answering drive by New England, a catch by Tyree that may have been the best ever in a Super Bowl, and a game-winning pass to Plaxico Burress.
Through it all, there was bruising, aggressive, take no prisoners defense. The Giants put more pressure on Tom Brady, and hit him more often than anyone probably has all season.
I suppose this is the way the Giants were meant to win. With grit, determination and unlikely heroes helping them to a victory no one thought they could achieve.
It wasn't easy. It wasn't pretty. It was, however, good enough to win a Super Bowl championship. The Giants, though, would probably have it no other way.
Here are your 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'
Kudos to ...
• Eli Manning: Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, that is. When the Giants needed him the most, Eli answered the call leading a 12-play, 83-yard drive to win the game in the final minutes. The great play he made spinning away from a sack and finding David Tyree for a 32-yard gain will be remembered forever in Giants' lore.
• The entire Giants defense: What New York did to New England, holding the highest-scoring team in NFL history to a paltry 14 points, was absolutely incredible. The front line, led by Justin Tuck, Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, pressured Tom Brady all night. James Butler and Antonio Pierce each made 11 tackles. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had a brilliant plan that frustrated Tom Brady like no one has all year.
• David Tyree: Overlooked as a receiver throughout his career Tyree made the two biggest catches of his life in the fourth quarter. First, catching a go-ahead touchdown pass on a 5-yard pass from Manning. Then, after New England recaptured the lead it was Tyree with an unreal leaping catch against his helmet on the ball Eli simply flung down the field that set up the game-winning score.
• Plaxico Burress: 'Gameday' caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. Enough said.
• Tom Coughlin: The Super Bowl winning coach deserves kudos not for what he did last night, but for changing his approach and creating the environment and team personality that made last night possible. The Giants are a gritty, imperfect team that doesn't quit and that personality served them well last night.
• Steve Smith: The rookie was huge, catching five passes for 50 yards. Several of those were catches that helped keep the Giants in possession of the ball.
• Jerry Reese: The rookie general manager's brilliant draft and ability to improve the roster during the season -- an NFL rarity -- were a key to this championship. Draft picks like Smith, Kevin Boss, Ahmad Bradshaw, Aaron Ross and Jay Alford were key contributors, as were in-season acquisitions Madison Hedgecock and Domenic Hixon.
• Peyton Manning: Eli's big brother did more than just sit and watch the game. He was into it and showed a lot of emotion. I don't know if anyone else got a kick out of it, but I did.
Wet Willies to ...
• Chase Blackburn: Blackburn's 12th man on the field penalty was very nearly a devastating one for the Giants. Not knowing whether or not you belong on the field on a punt return in the Super Bowl is unforgivable. He's lucky the Giants bailed him out.
• The Patriots: They couldn't finish off the only thing that really mattered in their entire season, winning the Super Bowl. They were outplayed most of the game, had no answers for the Giants' pass rush and couldn't stop Eli Manning when it mattered most.
0 recs |
36
comments
Comments
Hey
by wankerboy on Feb 4, 2008 12:26 AM EST 0 recs
Upset
I am not accepting arguments to the contrary.
And hey, how happy is Archie Manning right now?
I have not been drunk in a long time I am so drunk right now.
The Giants get a lifetime pass from me.
by wankerboy on Feb 4, 2008 12:28 AM EST 0 recs
Good freaking golly!
Ahhh, screw work tomorrow... GO GIANTS!!!
by mwilli on Feb 4, 2008 12:30 AM EST 0 recs
Can't wait to hear
by drunkUncle on Feb 4, 2008 12:44 AM EST 0 recs
Congrats to your Giants!
You guys have a good thing going with Eli which I hope can come to fruition sometime in JaMarcus.
Your guys shocked the world and you deserve this one.
by oaklandSMASH on Feb 4, 2008 12:57 AM EST 0 recs
JaMarcus
Support your guy, and don't expect too much too soon. I know that's easier said than done, but if he has what it takes, your patience will be rewarded in the long run.
The Raiders have a long and colorful history in the league. I look forward to their return to prominence.
by django48 on
Feb 4, 2008 10:30 AM EST
up
0 recs
That Play
For most of this run, Eli has only been asked to manage the game, but tonight he did much more
by NYERinSF on Feb 4, 2008 12:59 AM EST 0 recs
in a way
by cjmulrain on
Feb 4, 2008 1:32 AM EST
up
0 recs
Good comparison
by ETVal on
Feb 4, 2008 7:19 AM EST
up
0 recs
I didn't sleep all night.
This is the stuff that legends are made of.
by django48 on
Feb 4, 2008 10:34 AM EST
up
0 recs
Kevin Boss held his own
by epicrain1 on Feb 4, 2008 1:07 AM EST 0 recs
wow.
by NumberFour on Feb 4, 2008 1:32 AM EST 0 recs
This feels like Meth
by BlueMe on Feb 4, 2008 1:35 AM EST 0 recs
Like Hmmm.... The start of a Bender
by johnd134 on Feb 4, 2008 2:30 AM EST 0 recs
BBV
by ETVal on
Feb 4, 2008 7:21 AM EST
up
0 recs
How about the Pro Bowl next week?
by Mr Met on Feb 4, 2008 2:33 AM EST 0 recs
Great stuff
by ETVal on
Feb 4, 2008 9:22 AM EST
up
0 recs
Pro Bowl
Maybe it will get the league to re-think the Pro Bowl selection process. Having only one member of the championship team playing should be an embarrassment to Goodell.
by django48 on
Feb 4, 2008 10:39 AM EST
up
0 recs
Congratulations and thanks
I agree, it's the greatest upset in NFL history, and the best superbowl I've ever seen. This game, and the Patriot's loss to the other Manning in last year's AFC championship game, were my two all time favorites.
Again, congratulations. Enjoy!
by coltsfanawalt on Feb 4, 2008 4:07 AM EST 0 recs
Congrats!!!
An awesome commercial that I happened to see on ESPN:
http://www.rbk.com/us/perfectville/
by TheSeaMammals on Feb 4, 2008 5:14 AM EST 0 recs
unbelievable
the thought of the giants winning never actually entered my mind until tyree's catch. then there was no doubt the giants were winning that game.
as a side note, i have really enjoyed discussing the team with all you guys this season. congrats to everybody and i hope everybody enjoyed that win as much as i did.
G-MEN!
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Feb 4, 2008 6:23 AM EST 0 recs
Along with 'wide right'
by ETVal on
Feb 4, 2008 7:23 AM EST
up
0 recs
to theseamammals...
by giant fan since 57 on Feb 4, 2008 7:24 AM EST 0 recs
Wow
by potroast on Feb 4, 2008 9:07 AM EST 0 recs
best post of the day
It should have been the Cowboys winning that game last night and Romo being crowned MVP, not the Giants or Eli although they did deserve it, however, we all know the Cowboys are a much better team and thats whats really disheartening about the whole thing.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 08:50:01 AM EDT
[ Reply to This ]
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Feb 4, 2008 9:29 AM EST 0 recs
Sweet Fancy Moses
Oh well.....he can stew about this for the next 9 months
"SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS"
I got one last kudo for the season.....
GB Packer fans, for being the only fans we encountered who were classy before and after the game
by jrs1940 on
Feb 4, 2008 9:47 AM EST
up
0 recs
about 90% of the pats
truepatsfan made them look bad.
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on
Feb 4, 2008 9:53 AM EST
up
0 recs
He's just delusional
by ETVal on
Feb 4, 2008 9:59 AM EST
up
0 recs
Belly's game Plan
- Stop the run--he more or less succeeded.
- Make Eli beat us--he failed.
BTW, the score makes the game look closer than it really was. As usual, we did it the hard way, but we beat the crap out of them at the same time.
Brady has never been hit so hard or so often.
by george cronin on Feb 4, 2008 10:47 AM EST 0 recs
No, he succeeded
by Josh on
Feb 4, 2008 3:33 PM EST
up
0 recs
I love it!
I think this is the best SB I've ever seen.
by kirbir on Feb 4, 2008 1:52 PM EST 0 recs












