I thought it was a pretty dull game. Don't like either team. Feel like it Gronk was healthy the Pats win. This game pretty much summed up the season. More like the best team lost the game more than the other won it. Much like Balt etc. Welker especially+maybe even Branch catch the ball + it's game over. Bradshaw's greed about cost his team the Super Bowl. Not a big Eli fan but happy for him. No doubting he is clutch in the 4th!! Nicks is a top 10 WR if he can ever stay healthy a full season.

The Pats were a pain because of their 2 stud TE's then Welker in the slot. Gronk this season is as good as any TE in history. Him being out was HUGE!!! I think Brady cost NE this game more than anything. I feel like BGE would have had a good game NY had the ball almost the whole 1st quarter. That killed the Pats running game + play action. Dumb safety by Brady. Cardinal rules for QB are don't throw over middle late+don't throw across your body. Gronk had his guy smoked. Brady threw late over the middle across his body+ unerthrew him for the int. Those two plays were the game changers.

 

Excuses for injuries just don't cut it IMO. The Giants lost two tight ends during the game and they were missing several key players all year long. Gronkowski played the last time the Giants and Pats met in New England (and Hakeem Nicks sat out) and the Giants won that game too.

IMO the Patriots lost the game by getting conservative in the last 5-6 minutes of the game. Leading by two with the ball, and they stopped attacking?? They had moved the ball well through the short passing game, and got too in love with the run to try & milk time, and then couldn't convert the first down when they had to. If they keep trying to score vs. milking clock; they win the big game? Crazy game with a few key breaks going NY's way--Agree with Clyde that it wasn't a very entertaining game, considering the type QB's & offenses in the game. Hoodie needs a new "O" coordinator IMO? If I had to point to a couple points of difference, I'd say play calling in critical situations, receivers, and a couple "not lost" fumbles by NY.

 

Trust me, Hoodie will be getting a new OC, it's written in the stars. As I watched this game wind down, I saw a need for a rule change (hope the commish noticed as well). 17 ticks to play and the G men get flagged for 12 men on the field (I'm sure this was by design). The "dead" play took 8 ticks off the clock. The Patriots did get the 5 yards, but that time was valuable and was gone. Rule change: defensive penalty under 2 min to play and you get the yardage plus the time back.

Trust me, Hoodie will be getting a new OC, it's written in the stars. As I watched this game wind down, I saw a need for a rule change (hope the commish noticed as well). 17 ticks to play and the G men get flagged for 12 men on the field (I'm sure this was by design). The "dead" play took 8 ticks off the clock. The Patriots did get the 5 yards, but that time was valuable and was gone. Rule change: defensive penalty under 2 min to play and you get the yardage plus the time back.

 

I was thinking the same, they can't end on a defensive play but really in a situation like that the time should get put back on the clock.

I was thinking the same, they can't end on a defensive play but really in a situation like that the time should get put back on the clock.

 

We agree SF41. Otherwise, the Defensive team would throw 12 men on the field to chew up clock on similar drives. Rule change needed. What was more important to the G Men in that situation? 5 yards or 8 seconds?

We agree SF41. Otherwise, the Defensive team would throw 12 men on the field to chew up clock on similar drives. Rule change needed. What was more important to the G Men in that situation? 5 yards or 8 seconds?

 

Yup, perhaps in that situation if it did happen a second or third time basically any time after a first time it should be treated as a 15 yard penalty as well. I wanted the Giants to win but I did think that was kind of cheap at the end.

Obviously the play of the game or the brain freeze of the game whichever way you want to think of it, was the safety! If Brady doesn't give the Giants those two points, and I use GIVE as the correct term, NE just might have gotten close enough to try for a game winning FG to pull out a victory.

Lot's of if's in this game on both sides. That's the beauty of a close game. Little bit too close for my comfort though.

They coached together on the Giants back with Parcells so I'm sure they're probably friends.

 

I don't think Belichik has any friends.

Obviously the play of the game or the brain freeze of the game whichever way you want to think of it, was the safety! If Brady doesn't give the Giants those two points, and I use GIVE as the correct term, NE just might have gotten close enough to try for a game winning FG to pull out a victory.

 

Absolutely right. Not to mention that safety allowed the Giants to have the ball almost the entire first quarter. That play really changed the entire game. Brady had two receivers on routes near the sideline. He easily could have overthrown one on purpose and thrown the ball out of bounds to avoid the sack.

After further review, I will agree that the pass to Welker was more catchable than I thought. Still a very difficult catch. However, I still say the fault for that incompletion was 75% bad pass by Brady and 25% the failure to catch it by Welker. That play is reminding me of the Cubs playoff collapse when the fan tried to catch the foul ball. Everyone is blaming the fan and no one is blaming SS Alex Gonzalez who made the error right after that. Brady is getting the Alex Gonzalez coverup on that play. Welker was so wide open is the thing. It isn't like Brady was trying to squeeze the ball in a tight spot.

I know where you're coming from HB on the injuries but your kidding yourself if you don't think Gronk hurt wasn't HUGE! He made the Pats this year w the greatest season in NFL history from the TE spot. The guy is a freak!

As a coach I don't like seeing 2 TE set at all if you have 2 TE's that can play. It's the one formation that really limits what you can do + puts defenses in bad mismatches #'s wise.

Congrats on the win. I can't stomach the Giants but happy for you.

I agree Brady hurt his team last night. As mentioned not only did that play cost 2 pts but it cost time. I felt like BGE was effective. That play took them out of the running game some which opens their play action up. Bad throw on Welker wide open. Branch dropped a couple. I thought Brady looked like Flacco at times holding the ball to long.

That throw late in the play over the middle across his body to Gronk hurt too. Gronk had a TD but Brady couldn't get the ball there. Yet another play that cost them a lot on time of possession.

I still for the life of me do not understand how New England was favored in the game. I guess people just see Belichik/Brady and believe they cannot lose. Seriously, besides at QB (and the gap is not that large), where would you say NE had an advantage on the field? TE was the only advantage and Gronk was hurt. Also makes the Giants season that much more perplexing when you think about it.