Do the New York Giants have a chance against the undefeated New England Patriots? Yes, but they'll need to play the game of their lives, plus have a few bounces go their way.
In 1990 the San Francisco 49ers, led by quarterback Joe Montana, were coming off two consecutive Super Bowl victories and again had the best record in the league at 14-2. Only the New York Giants, whom the Niners had beaten earlier in the season, stood in their path to an unprecedented third Super Bowl and a probable victory over the Buffalo Bills. The 49ers had everything going for them---the aura of a champion, the homefield advantage, the ball, and the lead with less than 3 minutes to go in the game. But All-Pro running back Roger Craig fumbled, and the Giants prevailed with a field goal at the end, 15-13, and beat the Bills in the Super Bowl.
The Lawrence Taylor Giants foiled the Niners' claim to be the "best team ever" based on continuous performance over several seasons. Can the Eli Manning Giants beat possibly the single-season-best-team-ever, led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick? Let the game begin.
3:40 PM PST - The opening drive by the Giants is impressively controlled. They're mixing up short passes and runs and are dominating the line of scrimmage. The Giants are inside New England's 30.
3:50 PM PST - New England's defense tightens and the Giants strike first with a field goal, 3-0.
4:07 PM PST - New England answers with a drive that ends with a one-yard run for a touchdown by Laurence Maroney. They lead 7-3. Tom Brady has been off slightly on a couple of passes---funny how we hold him to a different standard, just as we did with Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Troy Aikman.
4:20 PM PST - A sensational sideline catch by Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer put the Giants inside the NE 20. But fortunes reversed when the ball was intercepted after bouncing off the Giants receiver on a subsequent play. If Brady marches down the field for a score, New England will be on the verge of asserting its dominance. (In most Super Bowls the trend establishes in the second quarter and ends in a blowout.)
4:30 PM PST - The Giants hold New England on their side of the field. The Patriots punt, and the Giants go nowhere on their possession. In fact the Giants are lucky they get to punt, since a muffed handoff looked at first like it was New England's ball.
The Giants have made the mistakes--a fumble, interception, and pass-interference penalty that led to the Patriots score. If the half ends with the Giants within one score of the Pats, their perseverance in the face of miscues may be somewhat paradoxically a confidence-builder for New York.
4:35 PM PST - Tom Brady has been sacked twice, and the Patriots punt. The Giants are running the football and are now inside the Patriots 30. They appear to be winning the battle at the line of scrimmage, both offensively and defensively.
4:45 PM PST - Inside the NE 30, Giants QB Eli Manning is sacked and fumbles. In the ensuing scramble the Giants are called for an "illegal bat" (is this baseball?) for trying to knock the ball forward. The penalty pushes the Giants back out of field goal range and they are forced to punt. New England's ball on their own 11.
5:00 PM PST - It's all on Brady's shoulders as he passes New England to midfield. But he's getting hit on every play. He's sacked and fumbles, but the Giants only have ten seconds left in the half to score. Score at the end of the half, 7-3.
5:30 PM PST - New England takes the kickoff, and their drive stalls at midfield. They punt...but wait, do the Giants have 12 men on the field? The five-yard penalty would give the Pats a first down. Belichick challenges the non-call. Another Giants mistake. Will this be more the Giants losing the game versus New England seizing the victory?
5:38 PM PST - New England's challenge is upheld. First down. How many times can you give Tom Brady a second chance?
5:45 PM PST - The Giants hold. New England is within field goal range, but Brady is sacked! NE foregoes a 49-yard field goal attempt and goes for it on fourth down. The pass falls incomplete, and the Giants take over on their own 31. If the Giants lose, it won't be the defense's fault.
5:53 PM PST - Eli Manning's passes fall incomplete, and the punt goes out of bounds on the New England 10. How long can New England keep losing the battle of field position and hold the lead?
6:00 PM PST - Under fierce pressure Brady passes the Patriots to midfield, where the Giants hold. The quarter ends, 7-3, with the Giants about to receive a punt near their end zone.
Although low-scoring, it's been a good game. Looks like I'll have to watch until the end. The under-bettors can start cashing their checks.
6:09 PM PST - On the first play from scrimmage, Eli Manning completes a 45-yard pass to Kevin Boss. Where did that come from? Another pass is completed to the New England 12. Is that Peyton down there?
6:11 PM PST - Manning passes for a touchdown to David Tyree. Giants 10, Patriots 7 with 11 minutes to go in the game. Brady has 'em just where he wants 'em.
6:20 PM PST - The Giants are hitting Brady on every play. Looks like the Patriots have given up on the run. The Patriots punt. The clock and the game's elusive momentum are tipping in favor of the Giants. If the Patriots win now, they'll deserve the accolades.
6:30 PM PST - The Giants can't close the deal and have to punt. With seven minutes to go, the New England offense has plenty of time. Because of the Giants pass rush, they shorten the passing game. Brady dinks and dunks the ball, and before you know it the Patriots are inside the Giants 30.
6:37 PM PST - 4 minutes to go in the game. Randy Moss makes a catch just inside the 20. Another pass goes to running back Kevin Faulk. First and goal on the 8. Excitement builds. No matter who wins, this has been a good Super Bowl. Will it be a great one?
6:40 PM PST - Brady misses a wide-open Randy Moss in the end zone. He underthrows the next pass to a running back. Could he be hurt, tired, and/or rattled? Close-ups on TV say no. Less than 3 minutes to go.
6:42 PM PST - Touchdown pass to Randy Moss. From one future Hall-of-Famer to another. Patriots 14, Giants 10. With more than 2:42 to go, the Giants will have an opportunity. Will they seize it?
6:44 PM PST - The Giants are on their own 30 after two incomplete passes. It's third down and 10 at the two-minute warning. This is Eli Manning's Super Bowl. Either he or Tom Brady will be the MVP.
6:44 PM PST - Huge decision for the Giants. Fourth-and-one on their own 37. They go for it and just make it.
6:50 PM PST - Unbelievable play by Eli Manning. He looked like he was grabbed by two Patriots, somehow got away, and heaved it downfield for a 32-yard leaping catch by David Tyree. With 59 seconds to go, New York is on New England's 24 yard line.
6:55 PM PST - Third and 11 on the Patriots 25. The Giants were forced to call their last time out when Manning was tackled for a one-yard loss. A sideline pass to Steve Smith just makes it to the first down marker before Smith goes out of bounds. Is my heart racing or stopping?
6:56 PM PST - Touchdown pass to Burress! Giants 17, Patriots 14.
6:59 PM PST - Brady is sacked. With 19 seconds left to get within field goal range, it's third and 20. A bomb to Moss is broken up. Now it's fourth down and 20.
7:01 PM PST - The bomb falls incomplete! Final Score, Giants 17, Patriots 14. Whew. What a game. What a season. Well, even Tiger Woods doesn't win 'em all.
© 2008 Stephen Yuen
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