Superbowl XLII: A Giant upset

There are so many storylines, and so many things to write about, now that the game has been played. No matter the outcome, this was a signature game in many respects, but as it unfolded, it created so much more than just the Perfection angle.

For the Giants, a fantastic and vindicating win on many levels. In the post-game press conference, there were many that put this game as the biggest win for the franchise. That's really saying something, considering the franchise was a founding member of professional football leagues in the country. But they're right: four road games later, after playing pro-bowl quarterbacks, record setting offenses, and MVPs, the Giants are the champions.

Vindication for Eli Manning? This has to be a proud moment for Peyton and Archie, considering the scrutiny and media abuse that Eli has been battling since he was traded for by the Giants - neither father nor brother were under this kind of microscope in their careers. Has to be a feel good moment for a guy being called a bust 5 weeks ago, to be named MVP of the Superbowl. And really, it was on his shoulders for the last five games, and he wasn't just a caretaker, he was the catalyst. Disinterested and goofy, to calm and cold blooded in a handful of games, that has to be a record for a turnaround. And through the biggest games of his life, the playoffs and Superbowl, Eli was as close to perfect as you could come, his one turnover was a tipped pass that should have been caught.

Kudos to the Giants coaching staff for that gameplan. On the surface, everyone knew what they had to do: pressure Tom Brady, hope for breaks with the WRs, control the clock, and limit mistakes - basically a perfect game. The truth is, everyone knew what they had to do, but no one believed they would accomplish it, myself included. You could see the gameplan unfolding throughout the first half, however, and it wasn't until they were 1.5 possessions in the first quarter that we knew we were in for a treat. Offensively, the Giants controlled the clock with their running game, the short passing game, and never snapping the ball with more than 5 seconds left on the play clock. Defensively they dominated a previously uncontrollable offense. The defensive line was beyond outstanding, often collapsing the pocket with just 4 people, and a depleted secondary kept them in the game as long as they needed to.

Most importantly, this isn't a choke, and that's what makes this Superbowl so great. Both sides agreed that there were no terrible performances or wilting to the pressure in this game, there were just magnificent performances. It was a clean game, where I forgot that there was even a refereeing crew. It was a physical game, and Tom Brady can attest to that. And there was no giving away the game, only taking, and ultimately that's what makes it the best Superbowl in recent history, nothing came easy, and the winner earned it.