Super Bowl XLII Notes

You have to question why Belichick did not go for the 48 yard FG on 4th and 13 on the first drive of the second half. One of the announcers said that he was not surprised the Patriots were going for it because it was a habit of theirs through out the season. True, they did go for it on 4th down a lot this year, but how many of those attempts were from 13 yards? Get Gastowski out on the field for the attempt! He has never kicked a FG in a Super Bowl so why not give him a shot? Did Belichick really want Gastowski’s first Super Bowl FG attempt to be of the game winning variety? Gastowski was 3-5 during the regular season on FG beyond 40 yards with a long of 45. With the adrenalin, the atmosphere, the pressure of the Super Bowl, it would have been nice to see if the kid had a big kick in him.


The Giants had the benefit of two non calls. The first was when Toomer pushed off of the CB's helmet on a 38 yard completion in the 2nd Q. It was a beautiful sideline catch, but one that should have been called back. The drive ended in an INT off of Smith's hands. The second non call was on the Giant winning drive, when Manning escaped 4 Pats defenders and threw the pass that Tyree caught against his helmet. As Manning escaped pressure, there was a blatant hold on a Patriot defender trying to get at Manning for a second time.


The Giant defensive line dominated the best O-line in football and won the game for the Giants. Why did the patriots not give Brady a bit more support. There were times this season I remember the Patriots keeping a TE and a RB in pass support, block and flare out if need be, to assure Brady would not get touched and have an outlet if the downfield receivers were covered. That did not happen this game. The Pats trusted their O-line to a fault, reminiscent of the Giant-Eagle game from early in the year when the Giants registered double digit sacks.

Brady missed receivers. This never happens to him on the big stage, a clear testament to the pounding the Giants administered to Brady. He missed Moss on a seam route early in the 4th Q on 2nd and 7 from the NE 31 that looked like a TD if completed. He missed Moss on an easy 6 yard out for a TD. Brady threw high, short and wide of receivers, never getting into a rhythm.

The Giants deserved to win this game, no one can deny it, but on the game winning Giant drive, the Patriot defense dropped two interceptions. Asante Samuel did not look up in time on a sideline out route. The ball went over the receiver’s head and Samuel got both hands on the pass after jumping a second late. Rodney Harrison dropped an INT on the same drive when Manning threw into double coverage. The Patriot defense played well, but in the past would have come up with a game changing play, especially in the 4th Q of a big game.

I do not think Manning was the MVP of the game. He played well, true, but the award was most deserved by a defensive player. Justin Tuck ended the game with 5 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble. He lined up at DE, DT and LB and was constantly in the backfield putting pressure on Brady.