TMZ has a great video of the Giants celebrating on the plane, but I can't figure out how to share the link or post it here.

Let's not underestimate the talent of Gronkowski, Hernandez and Welker. Gronkowski set the record for receiving yards by a tight end did he not? And Welker had 122 receptions, one for 99 yards. Cruz and Nicks are outstanding wide receivers and Manningham is good, but he has never had over 1000 yards receiving.

 

Not underestimating their talent at all. Just making the point that he has no gamebreakers in his arsenal.

I think that's why Brady is the best that's ever played + I don't like him. He's done it w guys like Branch, Patten etc not Rice, Jones, Taylor. Nicks has top 10 talent but can't stay healthy a full year. Cruz...what a story! That guy came out of nowhere + is a household name. I agree the Giants D front is outstanding! Pierre Paul has the potential to win multiple Def POY awardas. Tuck had about 3 HUGE plays last night! Remember how bad the Giants secondary was early on in the year! Gronk/Hernandez create a real problem for defenses. That's why I think Gronk being hurt was a MAJOR factor last night. That guy had the best year in NFL history! That can't be mentioned enough. He is just amazing! Welker was decent in Miami but Brady has taken him to a new level. The Pats are weak at WR+corner. I think that's another reason Hoodie is one of the best coaches ever even though I don't have much for him. He puts players in places to make plays.

I heard a great piece on Chad Johnson this past week. Basically it sounds like the Pats run a lot of routes where WR's have to read the coverage + adjust on the fly. He couldn't learn it or be consistant enough to be a factor.

As far as critical on Brady. I think he's as good as has ever played. I think he made a few decisions/throws that cost the Pats the game last night. Eli on the other hand did a great job in decision making.

 

The Gronkowski injury was huge. I expected him to be more effective. That was a big blow to New England's offense.

 

They really need to add a deep threat. They need someone who can stretch the field and put a little pressure on defenses over the top.

 

As great a coach as Belichick is, it is starting to look like he is equally as bad as a personnel man. They need Scott Pioli back.

Doesn't happen often.....but I predicted this back when the Giants beat the Jets....wish I was a betting man.

 

Read an article that you could have had 100-1 on them after the loss to the Packers in week 13!

OK, guys. Sorry to beat a dead horse. But I watched the Welker play again and it confirms even more that it was much more a bad pass than a drop. Those of you talking about the safety, he was 5 yards away from Welker when the ball hit Welker's hands and he wasn't even thinking about making a hit. He was already running to cut off the sideline so Welker wouldn't walk into the end zone with the ball. I agree with everyone that it was catchable but it was a very poor throw by Brady and Brady owns that missed opportunity. If Brady throws that anywhere in a 5 yard window further downfield from where he threw it, I think there is a 50/50 chance Welker scores with one move on the safety. Before you comment, go watch the video again. You can get to it in the link on page 2 of the thread.

Eli was on Letterman last night. Letterman asked, "are you and Brady friends?". Eli answered, "No not really. I don't know if he likes me" :lol: Eli is a funny dude.

Completely agree with everything you said. One thing it does show if you can put pressure on QB's even guys like Brady can make bad decisions. Which is why protecting the QB is so important in this league. Most QB's can throw if they have time.

 

By the way does this give you a little more hope on Dalton. The one thing these playoffs have shown is that you don't have to out duel these top QB's in high scoring games, if your defense slows them down. I honestly thought this would be a high scoring game myself, and suprised to see that scoring 21 points won the game in this one.

 

Little more hope for Dalton? Yes. Also b/c Eli was terrible as a rookie. However are you done with useless Defensive stats? These two defenses were brutally bad according to stats this year and they played in the SB and that SB wasn't high scoring. The reason they did is b/c their QB's are somewhere in the very good to great category.

Little more hope for Dalton? Yes. Also b/c Eli was terrible as a rookie. However are you done with useless Defensive stats? These two defenses were brutally bad according to stats this year and they played in the SB and that SB wasn't high scoring. The reason they did is b/c their QB's are somewhere in the very good to great category.

 

Yet both of these teams made the Super Bowl not because they had a top teir QB, they played defenses in the Championship games that made them look average. If it was not for poor special teams plays for both teams, both the Pats and Giants are not in the Super Bowl. Those top 10 defenses did their job and you know it. However the third part of a football game cost them and it was special teams. So why should I be done with the argument?

 

Especially when the Giants defense in the playoffs since they were healthy played like a top defense. They made Rodgers look average which is hard, obviously they slowed down the 49ers who beat the Saints the week before. Then they held Brady in check to and only allowed them to score 17 points. It's not like they had to have a QB to outduel Brady, their defense made Brady play like an average QB. It has never been about me saying having a top QB is bad. Even average QB's can score more than 17 points a game usually. Which is the amount the Pats scored in the Super Bowl. It has been about you failing to see that having a top defense can also be just as important, and just as important to winning. Teams with top defenses make top QB's look average and then also can beat those top QB's. Both are nice to have. These playoffs showed that even more.

The Manningham catch will go down in NYG history.

 

I don't understand why everyone has flipped out over that catch, even comparing it to the Tyree play. I have several thoughts on that play...

 

The Tyree catch was 99% miraculous luck by a guy who caught 54 career passes, on a throw that was basically a hail mary. The play in this Super Bowl was a normal play. I'm not saying the Manningham catch was easy by any means, but that is a play and catch we've all seen, and it was by a very talented WR who is expected to make those plays. Finally, I think more of the credit on that play should go to Eli for the throw. I thought that throw was absolutely perfect, and considering the moment and situation when it was made, one of the best I've ever seen.

 

Obviously, a lot happens in 60 minutes, but I think this one came down to two plays. The Welker drop and the Manningham catch. The throw from Brady wasn't perfect. It could have been better. Welker is still expected to make that play, and he didn't. On the other side, Manning makes a perfect throw and Manningham does his job and catches the football.

I don't understand why everyone has flipped out over that catch, even comparing it to the Tyree play. I have several thoughts on that play...

 

The Tyree catch was 99% miraculous luck by a guy who caught 54 career passes, on a throw that was basically a hail mary. The play in this Super Bowl was a normal play. I'm not saying the Manningham catch was easy by any means, but that is a play and catch we've all seen, and it was by a very talented WR who is expected to make those plays. Finally, I think more of the credit on that play should go to Eli for the throw. I thought that throw was absolutely perfect, and considering the moment and situation when it was made, one of the best I've ever seen.

 

Obviously, a lot happens in 60 minutes, but I think this one came down to two plays. The Welker drop and the Manningham catch. The throw from Brady wasn't perfect. It could have been better. Welker is still expected to make that play, and he didn't. On the other side, Manning makes a perfect throw and Manningham does his job and catches the football.

 

Why do people make a big deal about "the catch" Dwight Clark made?

 

Manningham made a catch between two defenders, basically with his fingertips, got both feet down without much room and held onto the ball after taking a big hit from the safety. It was an amazing catch, and even bigger because it happened in the super bowl on the final drive. I also agree that the throw was absolutely perfect.

Maria Menulous lost a bet. Thought you all would want to see this.

 

Why do people make a big deal about "the catch" Dwight Clark made?

 

Manningham made a catch between two defenders, basically with his fingertips, got both feet down without much room and held onto the ball after taking a big hit from the safety. It was an amazing catch, and even bigger because it happened in the super bowl on the final drive. I also agree that the throw was absolutely perfect.

 

I guess my point is that I was more impressed by the throw. He deserves credit for a nice catch, but I think Eli deserves more credit for a perfect throw.

I guess my point is that I was more impressed by the throw. He deserves credit for a nice catch, but I think Eli deserves more credit for a perfect throw.

 

Both were impressive. It's going to be hyped a lot since it happened in the super bowl. If Manningham made that catch week 4, it might make the top 10 and get mentioned once.

 

Manningham might have set himself up for a nice payday with his super bowl performance though. He's set to become a free agent.

Maria Menulous lost a bet. Thought you all would want to see this.

 

I would be embarrassed to take a picture with Slater as well.

Yes losing Gronkowski hurt, but it's not like it snuck up on New England. They knew he wouldn't be 100%.

 

And too many people forget the Giants beat the Patriots in New England earlier this year with a healthy Gronkowski and no Hakeem Nicks.

I give them credit for winning without Nicks. The Pats also turned the ball over 4 times that game and missed an easy FG. You don't win many games in the NFL like that no matter who is playing. As far as the Pats knowing Gronk was hurt to me doesn't matter a whole lot. When you have arguably the best player at his position in NFL history in one season and he can't play then it changes your team even if you know it. I can't overstate enough as a coach what a pain 2 good TE's are for a defense to defend. Especially if you have another WR (Welker). The Pats without Gronk this season aren't nearly as good!