Like millions of others, I watched the superbowl without any vested interest in the outcome of the game – I don’t bet, my hometown isn’t in there, and in general, most from the NE are just… Northern. Yet, I found myself with several other close friends and family yelling, jumping up, and ultimately celebrating in the win of the underdog – thanks to a catch by someone I HAD an interest in during the season (Plaxico Burress). I’ve played fantasy football for two years now and this year, Plaxico was one of my best receivers.
So, this year, my interest (or disinterest) in some characters has grown based on my roster. I was a little more interested in winning this year than last, which has led me to watch more games. To see what teams are shaping out. Holding on to hope that Houston could have made the wild card spot…
Add to that that football games look freaking AWESOME in High-Def. The field, the graphics, the wide-ness.
Yes, our foray into high-def-dom this Christmas led me to watch almost every playoff game. And the funny thing is, this season has some of the best playoff games in many, many years. Close, down to the wire games that is more or less the overall desire of every fan… Why? Blowouts suck. It’s no fun watching a team with better players do whatever they want against the other. A last second field goal, a replacement in the secondary that leads to an interception – it’s strategy and execution – the two things that guys would love have more of – and succeed.
No, this year has made me a football fan. I’m not specific to any team, mind you. I’m siding with the my roster or hometown most of the time (“just throw to my freaking Tight End!!!”) and in the playoffs, let’s see the results after the smoke clears, unless my boys are playin’.
Now, for this year’s super bowl, it was truly the best vs the underdogs. With a 10-6 record, the Giants didn’t have an establish QB or rock steady WR, but what they did is something not seen of late in Super Bowls – they STEPPED UP. I commented all night about the aspects of each team played, but the MVP in MY BOOK is the Giants defensive line that just TORE UP the Pats and Brady and kept then from scoring while Manning, Smith and Burress tried to connect time and time again. And for all that, I think it comes down to this:
You opponent will make mistakes. If you execute a good plan when they do, you will win.
That’s exactly what happened this Super Bowl. The Fourth quarter rolled around and the Pat Defense let the Giants have it. 40 seconds from the end of the game, Burress runs the left slant and his defender slipped and stumbled, allow him to get open and score the winnign touchdown. Man-on-man and you’re not on your man – and the Giants executed. And in the first quarter, the Pat’s D took the quarter to figure out how to stop the Giants’ run. But, too late.
Definitely a night to remember.
Thanks for a great game guys.