Pregame
It is about 45 minutes until the beginning of Super Bowl XVLI, the New England Patriots vs. NY Giants from Indianapolis.
I decided to stay home and watch the game because I can pay better attention here. If the Patriots were not in the game, I would have gone out somewhere - a sports book or Super Bowl party. Two weeks and non-stop talk about everything (important and not important) leave most people, including myself, ready for kick-off. Here are some things that come to mind as game time approaches.
This will be a Giants crowd - more Giants fans, plus support of Indianapolis fans.
Patriots will likely begin on defense. They always defer if they win the coin toss, and the Giants may could also choose to take the ball to begin the game if they win the toss, so expect to see Stephen Gostkowski kicking the ball through the end zone to begin the action. The Patriots have an edge on special teams.
I bet the Patriots spent a lot of time watching the Giants - Saints game from earlier this season as a blueprint. The Saints use of Darren Sproles, Marcus Colston and Jimmy Graham dominated the Giants defense.
Rob Gronkowski's left ankle - Tony Dungy suggested Gronkowski may not have had a shot in the ankle yet. My understanding is the shot will allow him to be more effective for more of the game, but may not last the entire game. That was Dwight Freeney's experience a few years ago. He said he was effective in the first half, but not the second half. My thought would be to hold off on Gronkowski until he could make it to the end of the game. I know very little about medicine, but a lot about how important Gronkowski is to the Patriots offense. They could use Nate Solder as a TE, if necessary.
I have a feeling Chad Ochocinco is going to contribute to the game in some fashion. Big plays or third down attempts. I think they take at least one or two shots down the field to Ocho in this game.
The marquis inactives are Kevin Faulk for NE and Mark Herzlich for the Giants. Great career in New England for Faulk. WR Tiquan Underwood was cut yesterday - making room for an extra DL (Alex Silvestro) and clearing the way for Ocho to be active. Too bad for Underwood, but makes sense as a football move.
Not sure why Patrick Chung was not introduced as part of the Patriots starters. Also Vollmer. My guess is Chung is in there and Vollmer splits time with Solder. Those are things to watch early.
National Anthem.
I think this game comes down to big plays on defense. Win the third down battles, force a turnover or two, tighten up in the red zone, limit penalties, force field goals instead of touchdowns. Remember the score of the last match-up was 0-0 at halftime before all hell broke loose.
Coin Toss. Heads. Patriots win and defer.
Here is one of the most interesting articles I read this week. The Curious Case of the New England defense. It argues the Patriots defense is not as bad as everybody says. It is also an interesting commentary on the new kick-off rule and field position.
I haven't really been on edge until now. But now I am. Not sure how this narration will go. May limit some of the play-by-play this time. Time to get started.
1st Quarter
15:00 - Gostkowski kick taken out to the 24 yard line.
14:11 - Will be 3rd and 6. These are the big plays in the game. Get off the field on 3rd down.
Nope. Manning to Cruz for about 7. Moore in coverage.
12:56 - Manning to Jake Ballard for 9.
Bradshaw rushes for the 1st down.
11:02 - Manning to Nicks. Muldon jumped the route, but the ball was too high.
10:24 - Deadrick sacks Manning. Looked like receivers were open.
9:51 - Nice run defense. Will be 3rd and 13.
9:14 - Mark Anderson gets Manning. RB DJ Ware missed the block. 4th down. Bent but didn't break on the first drive.
9:00 - Nice punt by Steve Weatherford will put the Patriots on the 6 yard line.
Audi headlights can kill vampires. Nice try...So far Sasha Baron Cohen's movie "The Dictator" is the leader in the clubhouse as the best commercial (pre-game).
8:52 - Brady's first pass attempt is thrown away. Referees call it a safety because there was not a receiver anywhere near the ball. On replay, he was in the end zone and appeared to be in the pocket. Need to see it again when the game comes out of commercial. Yup.
Giants 2, Patriots 0.
8:46 - Good punt and coverage by NE.
8:35 - Pass to fullback and missed tackle by Kyle Arrington. 14 yard play.
7:18 - 24 yard run by Bradshaw.
Not liking how this game is going. Manning is finding open receivers.
Giants in the red zone. Patriots need to keep them out of the end zone.
4:52 - Manning to Nicks. Will be 3rd and 3 on the 11. Ball out, flag on the field. 12 men on the field for NE. F**k!
3:24 - Manning to Cruz for the touchdown. Mayo was in the route, but over-ran the ball.
Giants 9, Patriots 0.
3:18 - That's Julian Edelman, not Danny Woodhead returning the kick. Get our little white guys straight Al Michaels.
Chevy Silverado survives the apocalypse. So far the commercials have been as bad as the game.
BJGE rush then catch make it 3rd and 4.
1:51 - Brady to Branch for the 1st down.
1:19 - Welker for 19.
Patriots are shotgun no-huddle. Now back under center.
Welker end around for a 1st down.
End of 1st Quarter: 9-0 Giants.
2nd Quarter
15:00 - 1st and 10 on the 17. Brady to Hernandez for 2. BJGE gets to the 11. 3rd and 4.
13:52 - Trips left. Brady looks right. JPP knocks it down. FG attempt. Good from 29.
Giants 9, Patriots 3.
13:48 - Giants get the ball on the 20.
Tax Act - Kid pees in pool?
13:30 - Brandon Jacobs gets about 12 on 2nd and 10.
12:55 - Incomplete pass. 2nd and 10. Injury timeout for Travis Beckham.
The Lorax is going to be a new moive.
New leader in the clubhouse is the VW dog in training / Star Wars commercial.
Chris Collinsworth points out Big Vince is on the left end on run downs, nose on pass downs.
3rd down. Nice catch by Hakeem Nicks to continue the drive.
11:24 - 12 men in the huddle. Only penalties have been 12 man penalties and grounding, I think...
11:08 - Bradshaw goes nowhere. 3rd and 15. Big play.
10:33 - Manning to Bradshaw for 11. Giants will punt. Lucky bounce into end-zone. As poorly as this game has gone, that can turn with a touchdown drive by the Patriots. Giants should not let them hang around...
Coke Bears. Meh.
9:55 - JPP knocks down his 2nd pass. 2nd and 10.
9:50 - Woodhead for 3.
9:06 - Brady to Welker may be short...4th down.
8:24 - Zoltan the Punter kicks down to Giants 22. No return.
Torn ACL for Travis Beckham. Too bad for the kid.
Giants running the ball effectively. Not a good sign, but Patriots are leaving safeties back and Giants are opening holes.
4:34 - Jacobs runs for 1st down on 3rd and 1. Flag - holding on Kevin Booth against Big Vince. 3rd and 11.
4:11 - They ran the helmet-catch play to Mario Manningham??? Incomplete with Chung covering.
Nice angled punt. Patriots take over at the 4.
Chevy Sonic skydiving, ok. Star Wars in 3D.
4:03 - False start on Mankins will make it 1st and 12 on the 2.
3:57 - Brady to Welker slant for 5. Woodhead follows for the first down run.
2:55 - Brady to Gronkowski for 20. Ball on NE 35. Good to see. Woodhead run for 4. Michaels and Collinsworth are rightly saying that the Patriots do not want to give the ball back to NY. Plus, they still have three timeouts. Get some points, go to half, get ball back...
2:00 - 2nd and 6. Brady to Hernandez for the 1st down.
1:30 - Hernandez down by contact. Good call. Let's move along.
1:14 - Brady to Woodhead. Flag. Holding on Brian Waters against JPP. Good call. 2nd and 12.
1:05 - Brady to Hernandez for 8. 3rd and 4.
1:05 - Brady to Hernandez. 1st down. Huge play.
0:29 - Brady escapes rush, to Welker for 1st down. Timeout.
Doritos catapult baby. Ok... E-trade speed dating in the nursery is kind of funny.
Wonder why BB did not use timeout before last play. No worries.
Ball on 23. Woodhead could have broke that one if he wasn't off balance... Down to 11.
Woodhead to the 4. Flag. Offsides - declined. 2nd and 2 on the 4. 3rd and 3.
0:15 - Great play by JPP on draw. Leader in the clubhouse for MVP.
0:08 - F**king Woodhead!!!!!!!!!
10-9 Patriots.
Change that last thought. Now it's Danny Woodhead. Great composure by Brady to keep play alive. What a drive.
Dane Fletcher just laid the wood on the KR.
0:04 - Manning takes a knee.
Halftime - Patriots 10, Giants 9.
Now it's Madonna (and Cirque du Soleil)...
Halftime Thoughts:
That last drive was beautiful. Good job by the OL, Brady to keep a few plays alive, Gronkowski catch, Hernandez making some catches, Woodhead finishing it off. Nice play calling and coaching.
Big Vince appears to be over center on expected runs and at end on expected passes.
Patriots out-played, but ahead and get ball back to begin 2nd half. Giants shouldn't have let them hang around...
Manning was having his way with the Patriots on pass plays. I think they went a little heavy on the run and got into unfavorable down and distance on a few drives.
Manning: 13/17 120 yards 1 TD 0 INT.
Brady: 15/18 147 yards 1 TD 0 INT.
Giants are almost 1:1 pass to run. Patriots are 2:1.
Time of possession was almost 2-1 NYG.
Mayo and Boley have been tackling machines for each team. Mayo has done ok in coverage.
JPP has been a beast.
One half left for a championship.
Non-football thoughts while Madonna is on:
These commercials have not been very good for $3.5M per 30 second spot.
Madonna, LMFAO, Nikki Minaj, Cee-Lo Green. Was ok.
Things to look for in 2nd half:
Can the Patriots double-down and get points coming out of the half.
Field position battle.
The big plays - season could turn on the third down plays, penalties, allowing FG's instead of TD's, turnovers.
As Bob Costas noted, will it come down to a kick?
3rd Quarter
15:00 - Edelman runs it out to the 21.
Brady to Ochocinco. Good beginning.
14:23 - Brady to BJGE for 9.
13:52 - Big run by BJGE. Sprung by Conoley and Vollmer.
12:49 - Woodhead run, close to the 1st down. Should measure. Few inches short. 3rd and inches. Look for QB sneak.
12:38 - BJGE off tackle for 1st down. Nice block by Matthew Slater. Brady to Welker for 8. Hate NBC not putting up down and distance right away. The damn SB XLVI graphic is there until they change it.
Brady to Hernandez. Touchdown!!! Total mis-match to have the LB cover Hernandez.
Patriots 17, Giants 9.
Nice run back by Jernigan. Got to admit I was a little worried there.
11:08 - Jacobs up the middle for 5.
10:31 - Ballard reception for 1. 3rd and 4. Spikes blitz was picked up. Pats covered well. Big play coming up.
9:43 - Manning to Nicks for the first down at mid-field.
Highlights of Patriots doubling Victor Cruz.
Bradshaw up the middle for another first down.
Nicks again for 12. Slants to Nicks are effective. Spikes blitz is not.
Big hit by Chung to separate Nicks from the ball. Nicks re-injured shoulder? Incomplete as Ninkovich pressures Manning. 3rd and 10.
7:13 - Manning to Manningham for 5. Moore solid tackle.
6:43 - Tynes good from 38. Patriots defense bent but did not break.
17-12 Patriots.
Edelman return appears short of the 20. Was a little nervous ball came out, but I guess not.
6:31 - BJGE was flattened. JPP down on field. Injury timeout. JPP up on sideline.
Acura NSX Seinfeld-Leno commercial was pretty good. "Soup for you."
6:04 - 3rd and 8. Sack by Tuck. Good coverage. Punt returned to NE 48.
5:32 - Jacobs for 1. 2nd and 9.
4:48 - Manning to Nicks. Ball out. Recovered by NY.
4:09 - Jacobs for 7 yard run. Jacobs close to the first down; may have it. 1st down.
2:57 - Manning to Pasco to the 11. Time for D to tighten up. Bradshaw for 3. Shotgun draw to Bradshaw for no gain.
1:09 - Ninkovich and Anderson get Manning. Huge play. Good coverage. FG is good. Defense kept NY out of the end zone.
Patriots 17, Giants 15.
We'll see how Brady's left shoulder is now...
Patriots will take over at the 20.
0:31 - Brady to Hernandez incomplete. Was on his hands.
0:27 - Brady to Branch for 11. Hot read because he was not covered. BJGE runs for 7. Will be 2nd and about 3 on the NE 38.
4th Quarter
15:00 - BJGE for 5 picks up the 1st down.
Brady escapes rush but is intercepted by Chase Blackburn. Intended for Gronkowski deep. Can't blame the intent. Gronkowski on a LB. Like a punt.
Bradshaw runs - ball out. NY recovers again. Could have been the game right there. Timeout NY. 3rd and 7.
13:23 - Manning incomplete. Flag. Offsides on Ninkovich. 3rd and 2.
Manning to Nicks. Nice play. replay showed Spikes was in the passing lane, but Manning threw it over him.
Bradshaw runs for 2.
11:57 - Manning to Cruz. Will be 3rd and 1. Jake Ballard down on the play, left knee. Injury timeout.
11:31 - Manning to Cruz. Between Spikes and Arrington.
10:43 - Manning to Manningham. Ball to NE 43. Manning to Nicks for 4.
9:35 - Manning to Manningham. Was there, but he did not keep both feet in bounds. Poor play by Manningham.
Timeout Giants.
They would not have gotten the play off so they took timeout #2. Ballard shown falling over as he tests the injury on the sideline.
3rd and 5. False start on Kevin Booth. 3rd and 10. Big play.
Manning to Manningham. Incomplete. No flag on Moore. Very close. Giants will punt. Patriots take over after fair catch at the 8.
Careerbuilder.com monkeys is pretty funny.
9:24 - Brady incomplete as he is pressured. Brady to Welker for 5. Giants pressuring Brady.
8:26 - Brady to Woodhead out of the backfield. 19 yard gain to 32. BJGE pitch left for 3. Antrel Rolle down on the field. Injury timeout.
Samsung Galaxy - The Darkness commercial. Not bad.
7:15 - Reverse to Welker. Nice call. 1st down. Brady blocking.
6:31 - Woodhead for very little. Looks like Tuck wrapped him up on the cut-back.
5:58 - Brady to Gronkowski. 3rd and 3. Huge play coming up.
Huge completion to Hernandez out of the backfield into the flat. Stays in bounds, run clock.
4:33 - BJGE goes nowhere. Canty gets him for -1.
Brady had Welker, can't hang on. 3rd and 11.
Brady to Branch incomplete. 4th and 11. Brady behind the receiver. Zoltan the Punter punts to the 12. Fair catch. 3:46 left.
3:39 - Manning to Mannngham. Looks like a catch. Patriots challenge. Had to challenge the play. Great catch by Manningham. Ball at 50.
3:34 - Manning incomplete.
Manning to Mannngham. Giants down to the 34. Manning to Mannngham for 2.
2:00 - Manning to Nicks. Down to the 18. 14 yard gain. Two minute warning. Run for 7.
1:04 - Timeout after NY run.
0:57 - Bradshaw goes in for the touchdown. Patriots let him score. Giants will go for 2. DJ Ware doesn't get in.
21-17 Giants.
Touchback. Patriots need a touchdown and have one timeout.
0:52 - Branch dropped one.
0:48 - Dropped by Hernandez. Both attempts over the middle.
0:39 - Brady sacked by Tuck. Timeout Patriots. 4th and 16.
Caught by Branch. Out of bounds. Hernandez catch. Spiked.
0:19 - Incomplete. Flag. 12 men on NY.
0:09 - Ball at mid-field.
0:05 - Incomplete to Branch.
0:00 - Hail Mary incompete. Game over.
Giants 21, Patriots 17.
Eli Manning probably wins the MVP.
Good season. Good game. Bad result. Patriots come up short in the end.
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