Giant Disagreement

Go ahead. Admit it.

It's OK. You are probably one of the millions of people whose head hit the pillow Sunday night thinking, "That was the best Super Bowl of all time."

And why wouldn't you think that? Football God knows there is plenty of evidence to support your claim. The unbeatable Patriots are upset on their quest for 19-0. Eli Manning outduels Tom Brady. David Tyree's circus one-hand-against-the-helmet catch. Surely this was an epic clash. Heck, a Super Bowl record 97.5 million people tuned in. Only the M.A.S.H series finale can claim to have had a larger viewership.

On the other hand, I almost went to bed during the game.

Now, let me be fair. The final 11 minutes of the 4th quarter could quite possible be considered the greatest 11 minutes in Super Bowl history. After an offensively offensive day, two marquee quarterbacks led their team on clutch drives, answering the other each time to reclaim the lead. However, the game as a whole was severely lacking.

For a team purporting to be the greatest in NFL history, the New England Patriots could not even make the claim to be the best team on the field at university of Phoenix Stadium Sunday. An offensive line the boasts three Pro Bowlers allowed Brady to be sacked five times and hurried an additional nine times. The line was equally inept in their run blocking, paving the way for a grand total of 45 net rushing yards. Perhaps the guys were thinking about Hawaii's blue skies and Mai Tai's a week too soon.

Undoubtedly, there are those that will credit the Giants defense for the Patriots' struggles. And much of that praise in warranted. The Giants defensive line was a stronger, faster, more determined bunch all evening, and it showed -- until the point when it mattered most! After Manning drove for the go ahead score in the final frame, that vaunted Giants defense grabbed the throat, allowing Tom Brady to methodically march 80 yards in 12 plays, chewing up more than five minutes off the game clock. So much for 'Defense Wins Championships.' The Giants D almost lost this one.

But not for Eli Manning. Sort of.

The game's MVP won the award almost by default. The Pats held the edge on first downs, while the Giants totaled more net yards. Time of possession was even. Both teams were 50 percent on third-down conversions. Neither team cracked 100 yards rushing. Until Manning hit David Tyree for a score at the 11:05 mark of the 4th quarter, the MVP had guided his team to a grand total of three points in the game! And that chip shot figgie came on the game's first possession after Manning failed to get his team in the endzone following a 16 play drive that ate up ten minutes to open the game.

Manning won the honor based on his work on the Giants' game-winning drive. Surely Super Bowl history will look at David Tyree's catch as among the greatest in the game's history. Rightfully so. Manning eluded two New England defenders who had him in their grasp to scramble around, buying just enough time to loft a dying duck to Tyree who fought off Rodney Harrison's blanket coverage with one hand while pinning the ball against his helmet with the other. Thirty-two yards later, we have a play that will buy Tyree free meals in New York City for the rest of his life and a highlight reel staple for decades.

What we will probably never see again is the play before that one. It is a play that could have been equally as memorable in Patriots lore as it would have sealed 19-0 and a fourth Super Bowl title in seven seasons. Manning miscommunicated with his receiver and lofted a pass down the right sideline. As Tyree cut his rout short, All Pro corner Asante Samuel was waiting in perfect position to snag the INT and seal the win for the Patriots. Samuel jumped, opened his hands, and then forgot to close them. The ball passed through Samuel's hands, falling helplessly to the turf, allowing Manning the opportunity to hit Tyree for the big gainer on the next play. Manning was thisclose to being the goat and Samuel the hero.

But that was the story of this game: great NFL players consistently making goofs. Steve Smith allowed a ball to bounce off his hands in the second quarter, tossing it into the hands of Ellis Hobbs of the Patriots. Eli Manning held the ball like a loaf of bread, fumbling twice after being hit by patriots defenders. The Pats defense could not receover either fumble, despite having numbers around it both times. There were dropped interceptions, missed receivers, shanked kick-offs, missed blocks, and even Tom Petty was boring at halftime. Seriously, could he have cared any less during that show? Maybe his last dance with Mary Jane took place in the bowels of University of Phoenix Satdium to entertain himself during an unentertaining first half.

There are football purists who will claim that they love a good old fashioned defensive ballgame. I have no problem with good defense. What I have a problem with is ineptitude on both sides of the ball. And there was plenty of that to go around Sunday. Just because a game is competitive, does not mean it is a quality product. I used to watch a minor leafue hockey team in Baton Rouge battle to 4-3 victories or shootout losses. The games were competitive, but the quality of play was lacking. That's what we were treated to Sunday: a competitive minor league hockey game.

Think of it this was: had this been a game between the Bengals and Chiefs in week 3, would you have watched? Not just no, but heck no!

Congratulations to Eli Manning and the Giants. You did what no one else could do this season -- beat the Patriots.

And you've duped America into believeing you did it all in Super fashion.