Wow …what a super bowl easily one of the best finishes I have ever watched in the big game. I felt that coming in to this game that it would be close but I didn’t think the New York Giants could beat the mighty 18-0 New England patriots. This is easily one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.
Eli Manning showed what he is made of converting on a couple of key third downs to sustain a key scoring drive which ended with a field goal. More importantly it ate up a big chunk of the clock and set a pace that favored the giants and helped to focus his team. This set the stage for his performance in the forth quarter which was the type legends are made …with his 13 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress who was inexplicably open in the end one he allowed his team to win the super bowl. I was happy to see Manning excel after going 19-of-34 for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Regardless of what the giants gave up to acquire him I don’t think anyone will ever be able to call his acquisition a bad trade again. A Super Bowl MVP award has a way of changing peoples opinions. I was just as happy to see future Hall of Famer Michael Strahan who after threatening to retire in the off season win the super bowl he deserves. He led a Giants defensive line, which played outstanding, and even more so than the play of Eli Manning may have been the difference in the game. His leadership had a calming effect to the team and his larger than life personality seemed to take a lot of the pressure of some of the less experienced players. Tom Coughlins much talked about change to a softer coach allowed the team to take the steps needed and gave him the super bowl that will define his career. Plaxico Burress was the forth giant to cement his legacy for a receiver who was apparently injured for most of this season he been amazing in he playoffs. He plays the game with such passion it rubs off on all those around him. The Giants receivers Amani Toomer, Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith and David Tyree looked every bit as good as New England’s record setters maybe better.
The Patriots loss will have many searching for where it all went wrong how do you come this close to a perfect season only to blow it at the end. The blame should fall on the pats offensive line who were dominated by the giants defense which didn’t allow the pats to have any type of sustained running attack Laurence Maroney had a pathetic 2.6 yards per carry. Overall tom Brady didn’t have a bad game he finished 29-of-48 for 266 yards and a touchdown, he didn’t have a great game either but his spot as one of the best quarterbacks of a time hasn’t been tarnished.
Last but not least the biggest loser of all was Tiki Barber. The selfish outspoken former Running back of the New York Giants .He threw his team under the bus last season announcing that he had lost his desire to play mid season a classless and selfish move from a player who is supposed to be a team leader. Then not content to just retire and leave the team. He again tried to throw the team under he bus criticizing the leadership of coach Coughlin and Eli Manning. A funny thing happened though the Giants without Barber became a better team and his criticism of Eli Manning who he had said had comical leadership abilities looks especially foolish now. Eli proved Sunday night he is twice the leader that Tiki ever was. The Giants won because the players on the team believed in one another. Tiki said he was happy for his former but I have to think he was hoping hey would be crushed by the pats and Eli would throw four interceptions. After Sunday people are going to remember Tiki as quitter, a star player whose team became better once his giant ego left.
