Wow...

Derok, your thoughts?

The Giants did everything they needed to do to put themsevles in position to win the game. Their best shot was to play tough D, rough us up, keep it close and hope the ball bounced their way. That's exactly what happened. They were the better team out there tonight, no question, and they deserved to win.

This one hurts, but not nearly as bad as last year when we choked away what was basically a Super Bowl to our arch-rival Peyton and the Colts. This one was anybody's game and it didn't go our way.

I can't complain too much as this marks the second time in my life that I've gone over 365 days without my team losing a football game. I'm just proud to be a Patriots fan. It's been an amazing season, even if the ending wasn't \"perfect\".

It just goes to show that anything is possible. Who's up for the T-Wolves finishing 30-6 and winning the 2008 NBA title?

www.derok.net/patriots/super-bowl-xlii-recap.html

DeROK wrote:

My personal thoughts were that the only way the Giants would win was if they were able to apply consistent pressure to Brady... which they did. It wasn't really that the Pats line played bad, the Giants pass rushers were just DOMINANT.

I never thought the Giants would win a low scoring defensive battle. I also thought that if they were going to win it would have to be a shootout. Wow, was I wrong.

hahaha at the Wolves finish. Then again, a lot of people didn't think the Giants would make the playoffs. So yeah, I guess anything IS indeed possible.

Wow, what a loss. I was pulling for the Pats the entire game. Very disappointed they lost. WHAT A FREAKIN CATCH BY TYREE though, that one hander against the helmet was simply amazing!

So, what's the over/under on when Simmons leaves his house next??? I'll start it at 180 days. I'll also take the over. I bet he chain smoked at least two packs of Marlboro's tonight lol.

Thinking back to your thoughts on Tomlin's decision to go for 2 from the 12 yard line, Derok, I have to ask you..... What are your thoughts on Belichek going for it on 4th and 13 from the 32 yard line when down 10-7?????

BonK wrote:

That was ridiculous!!!! I forgot to mention that, but like you, I could NOT believe they went for that on 4 and 13. Terrible, terrible decision.

College Wolf wrote:
The only thing worse than decision to go for it was the actual play they called. Where were the intermediate slants and if everything was covered how does Brady not throw a jump ball for Moss?

I've never personally occilated on who I was routing for so much in a game. I found both of the teams likeable.

NE
Pros
1. Unless it is a team I specifically hate I always cheer for historic events. So I was routing for the undefeated season.
2. Randy Moss
3. I believe it makes good football sense to go for it on 4th down WAY more than teams actually do (not necessarily when you are in FG range and have long yardage) so I rout for that Belichek to keep that up.

Cons
1. These players and those fans gotten their fair share and then some.
2. I get sick of the gushing over Tom Brady.

Giants
1. They beat the Pack
2. The back to back years for the brothers is cool
3. Vets who have been close
4. I love a superbowl champ who got the snot kicked out of them by the Vikings
5. Eli was called a bust by national writers this year. I love a good redemption story.

Cons
1. NFC championship game of yester-year (I won't mention the year and I definately won't mention the score)

Anyways... as a result of this inner-conflict my heart couldn't pick a team. I ended up basically routing for whoever had the last exiting play or was on offense. I can't think of the last time I've been so non-commital with a major sporting event.

One last note. The look I saw in Tom Brady's face all season on the field and on the sideline was that of a gladiator. His eyes were steely and his had a sneer. In previous years it was a calm confidense, but this year I saw a sneer.

Yesterday that entire demenor was gone. His eyes look like they were begging for guys to be open, plays to be made and the win in the books. As great a player as Brady is and as great a team as the Patriots are I think the burden of being undefeated sucked a lot of life out of all those guys.

pants wrote:

I completely agree... very well said.

To reply to Bonk's question, I will quote myself as the Patriots lined up on 4th down...

\"This is absolutely insane!\"

I was 1,000,000% against that call. We were up 7-3 at that point, not down 10-7, by the way. Anyway, what were the odds of converting that 1st down? 15%? I think that's generous. And even if you do get it, you're certainly not guaranteed a touchdown. You might end up kicking a field goal anyway.

A 49 yard field goal INDOORS - if you can't count on your kicker to put it thought the uprights in that situation, then he shouldn't be your kicker. Basically, Belichick is telling me that he feels Gostkowski has about a 15% chance of making that kick. That's ridiculous. Awful, awful call. Inexcusable.

The Patriots made several bad management decisions that game. Even our final drive was mismanaged in my opinion. Once we got inside the 30, we should've been in clock-kill mode. Try to get a TD with as little left as possible. Worst case we're kicking a field goal and heading into OT. I didn't like the fact that we gave the Giants the ball with 3 time outs, the 2 minute warning, and a defense that was clearly starting to tire.

Honestly, if you were in that situation in Madden, down three with the ball inside the 30 and over 2 minutes to play, isn't that how you would play it?

I won't kill them for it too much, but I definitely didn't like it. There have been several instances this entire post-season where I felt the Patriots just acted like they were invincible and didn't consider the clock and game management decisions. It certainly caught up to us last night.

To respond to pants, the Patriots looked completely different last night than they had all season. All year they never let themselves think about going undefeated, just one game at a time.

Well this time, one game at a time meant going undefeated, and I think they weren't loose enough and played far too conservative. They were still a \"Eli and Tyree not making a super-human play\" away from winning, it just didn't go our way.

To tell ya the truth... I was pretty pissed/dejected/disappointed that the Pats lost.

I wanted Moss to win a Superbowl and prove all the dumba$$ haters wrong, and I also wanted to see History that could never be broken, only equaled.