The Highs and Lows (very) of Super Bowl XLII – Running Diary

In the spirit of the Sports Guy, Casey and I thought it would be fun to both keep a running diary during the game. A running diary from both points of view – from a Giants perspective and vice versa. I have left what I wrote intact and didn’t change a thing today – except for spellchecking. I am on the record as saying I will never do this again, as I now view this as bad luck. That being said, congrats to the Giants and all of their fans. They played a hell of a game, and I think it is safe to say, you just lost your defensive coordinator to the Washington Redskins. Here it is:

5:53– Fox’s Fantastic Four make their picks for the game. Everyone except for Frank pick the Pats. Howie Long dons a Red Sox hat. The bandwagon has officially hit all cylinders . I am suddenly afraid, very afraid.

5:55 – The NFL and the Declaration of Independence.. I think Thomas Jefferson had the NFL in mind when he penned the most important document in our nation’s history… How do I write in sarcasm?

6:00 – Dad’s BBQ chicken.. Mmm, Mmm finger licking good.

6:22 – National Anthem song by Jordan Sparks. Pretty good, why does every singer that sings the national anthem have to show that they have range? Whatever happened to just singing the song.

6:26 – Nice recognition of Bill Walsh, and I think the entire NFL walked out for the coin toss. Giants call tails and it is tails – start?
ominous start.

6:30 – First Ford truck commercial. It should have been titled, “This is what happens to your Ford truck during a tornado”.

6:32 – First shot of Bill Belichik and his new hoodie. He decided to get dressed up for the game. If they win, 100,000 if those will be sold tomorrow in the Boston area. Manning hits Buress on 3 and 6.. Burress looks healthy and Manning looks like he is handling his nerves well. Brandon Jacobs did is doing his best impression of Shaun Alexander – one hit and drop.

6:37 – First Bud Light commercial of the night. Is Budweiser admitting that their beer is just shy of being gasoline?

6:40 – Ahmad Bradshaw is getting involved… Uggh. Put him in the category of guys I would want him on my team, but I hate him until he is on the Pats.

6:41 – Dropped pass by Boss. Comment in the room “that was a break for the Pats”. Masters of the obvious.

6:45 – Pats hold G-men to field goal. 3-0. A victory for Pats, after nearly 8 minutes on the field, the defense only gives up 3. Belichek has to be concerned about the 3rd down completions. Why? Because I am worried.

6:50 – Nice long run back by Maroney. Didn’t know he handled kickoff returns. Pats driving with a nice mix of runs and passes. Faulk is a hand away from being in the endzone as he is tripped after a quick swing pass.

6:57 – Hello Glendale police! I would like to report a mugging. Pass interference on Pierce who has his hands all over Watson. Ball down on the 1. First down run by Maroney stopped short. End of 1st quarter. Very fast, first quarter. Fewest possessions in a first quarter, at this rate game might be over in time for the Simpsons.

7:02 – Maroney 1 yard run, puts the Pats up 7-3. Great response to the Giants opening drive.

7:05 – After a dumb Dell commercial, Gostowski kicks the ball out of bounds. Giants to start on the 40 yard line. Thanks for taking care of momentum – can someone please call Adam Vinatieri?

7:08 – First shots of Giselle. They showed Peyton early. If things don’t go well for Eli, will he disappear? Manning throws a weird bomb that looks like Ellis Hobbs gave up on. Did anyone else see the brick wall that Brandon Meriweather hit when he tried to blitz?

7:13 – A ricochet and the first interception of Manning the playoffs. Booyah, Hobbs brings it back to the thirty. Tough play for Steve Smith.

7:14 – Budweiser parody of Rocky. Fantastic, but would have been better if they had the awkward man hug with the dog and horse. Still was it just me or did the horse look a little like Sylvestor Stallone? Giants hold the Pats to 3 and out. Nice response to the interception. Crap, not the response I wanted.

7:21 – Sack and then a fumble. How did the Pats not come away with the ball? 3rd down and a throw away by Manning. It seems like the interception has sapped Manning’s mojo a little. In this case, I am with Austin Powers and yelling, “yeah baby..”. A punt and then a parody/tribute to Thriller.. Are they saying that Michael Jackson looks like a lizard? Just throwing that out there.

7:28 – Back to back sacks by the Giants and the Pats are punting the ball back. Don’t like the fact that the Giants are getting to Brady. His jersey is definitely the dirtiest it has been all season.

7:37 – Manning is sacked and an almost fumble. Followed up by an incompletion from Manning. He suddenly looks rattled and the game might be getting too big for him. 2 minute warning and Dwayne finally gets in Charles’ Fav 5. Charles has a question…

7:49 – After a brief drive, Brady sacked and fumble. Is he holding on to the ball too long? Tuck is a man child. Someone please mess with his Gatorade at halftime. A couple of plays, a Hail Mary and it is halftime. 7-3. A very defensive game, offense needs to make adjustments – like they need to block someone.

8:25 – I am back. Halftime show by Tom Petty is pretty good. But is he 200 years old? He honestly looks like he served time on the Union side of the Civil War.

8:30 – A moderate drive by the Pats that end ups in a punt thanks to Antonio Pierce. Brady still doesn’t look comfortable, but they appear to be trying to get Wes Welker involved. Is it possible that the Giants are making Pats offense predictable? Not liking this start. The thought of Giants fans getting excited about this start, makes me throw up a little in my mouth. Belichik challenges # of players on the field. Can you do that? Joe Gibbs did you know about this? 5 yd. penalty on Giants. This is where Belichik makes his mark on the game. Other than the new hoodie.

8:43 – After getting the ball, Pats drive and the go on strange 4th and 13. Does Belichik not have any confidence in Gostowski? I don’t get it.. Ends up in a futile 4th down incompletion. Phone calls are starting to come in – this observation just came in from a friend, “Brady looks like he doesn’t care.” I am sure he does, but at this point hard to argue.

9:00 – A drive that starts at the Pats 10 yard line, ends to the Giants 45 yd. line. Also brings the 3rd quarter to a close. Pats had the ball for most of the quarter, but don’t have much to show for it. Good thing about this drive is that it changed field position. If Wes Welker made the comment, “ I am the best wide receiver in the NFL, pound by pound “ I would believe him. And for the record – I am a better punter then Chris Hanson.. I am just throwing that out there. He has had the best job in the NFL all season, and he can’t deliver when they need him.

9:11 – A great drive by Giants, started by a long pass to K. Boss and capped with a pass to D. Tyree. Giants up 10-7 and I am starting to hyperventilate. This doesn’t look good. Suddenly everyone in the house is bouncing around.. Only one besides me rooting for Pats at this point is my mother. Just great. No offense to my Mom, but now I know what it is like to attack tanks with swords and horses.

9:20 – A drive by the Pats that doesn’t go far. This really doesn’t look good. I am officially sacrificing a goat at this point. Defense needs to come up big like now… Have to admit, the episode of House that follows this debacle looks good.

9:24 – Escaping a scare (thanks Plaxico), Pats D comes up big. Giants to punt.

9:39 – After the best drive of the night by far for the Pats, Brady hits Moss for a TD. Hell yeah!!! Of course this is after Brady missed Moss wide open 2 plays before that. Giants D is looking tired and is cramping up. Is it possible to tire yourself out by playing too well? Only problem is Brady left 2:42 on the clock. My heart is not going to take this..

9:40 – Big stop on the kickoff by Pats special teams. I had visions of Dixon’s return in Week 17.. The only thing that was going through my head was “not again, not again”. Didn’t it happen this time.

9:56 – My worst fears realized. Pats had multiple chances to pick off Manning. Had him in the grasp a couple of times. And Manning made him pay. Another #$#$# Manning. 35 seconds left and Giants are up 17-14. Brady can only add to his legacy if he can pull off a miracle.

10:04 – It is over. 4 plays and out, as Brady can’t do much with 29 seconds left. Game is over and the Pat’s dream is done. Congrats to the Giants. This one is going to sting. Congrats to Coughlin. Congrats to Eli Manning. Congrats to my uncle, who I am sure is out on a late night sprint around the block. I don’t think this is the greatest collapse in NFL history, but that is for another time. I need to go drink heavily..