Super Bowl XLVI Wrap

What a game.

Super Bowl XLVI certainly lived up to the hype – yet the end result was the same.

The Giants outplayed the Patriots in the clutch. I’m not even going to touch the specifics of the game right now for several reasons. I haven’t looked at the game film and ESPN and co. have dealt with it plenty. I probably will go through it at some point.

Rather, I would like to discuss the ramifications of this game – basically what it all means.

Firstly, the question now needs to be raised ‘Are the Giants a dynasty in the making?’ Let me elaborate. Over the course of the last five Super Bowls, the Giants have won two of them. Once knocking off the ‘perfect’ Patriots through superior play in the clutch, something New England used to be known for. If Eli and Coughlin win one more in the next three or four years, I think the topic needs to come up.

On a similar subject, Eli had become ELIte. Leave him alone. I know many people don’t like him because of the way he acted on draft day. That was eight years ago. And it looks like a pretty good decision now, doesn’t it? Regardless of how one personally feels about him, one must admit that he has turned elite. I’m not a huge fan of Brady, but will admit that he is an elite quarterback. Between setting the record for 4^th quarter touchdowns and beating Green Bay, Sand Francisco and the Patriots (all on the road), in the playoffs when it mattered most, Eli had proven he needs to be in the conversation. Big bro Peyton may have four NFL MVPS, but Eli had two Super Bowl MVPs and rings. Both against New England, Peyton’s kryptonite.

Tom Coughlin—now the oldest coach to ever win a Super Bowl—has also changed the way he will be viewed in NFL history. He has now won as many Super Bowls as greats such as Lombardi and Parcells. He has survived New York. He has prepared his team under pressure. He has adapted to the new NFL, yet maintained enough of the ‘old’ coaching style. He had proved that the way to win Super Bowls is the way coaches have for years—quiet preparation, not big talk. He is not Rex Ryan. He controls his team, but not with an iron fist like he used to. And he had maintained a winning atmosphere  

Now, on to New England’s Head Coach and Quarterback.

Let me start by saying that I understand both Brady and Belichick are first ballot hall of famers. Nothing will change that. What I’m  talking about is how they’re viewed. Basically the legacy effect.

Here’s what it comes down to—for Brady more than Belichick.

They won their three Super Bowls in a small window of time—just four years. Yes, dynasty. No doubt. But long term, they didn’t have dominant success. Yes, the 16-0 season, but Indy gave theirs up two years later and Green Bay almost had one this year. And because they did lost the super Bowl that year, it becomes a novelty in NFL history. A what if statement. Then followed several years of regular season success and playoff disappointment. This year, they once again fell short on the big stage.

All I’m saying is that a lot of the credit for New England’s success in those years (2001-2004) went to Brady. Though he was good during those years, the Patriots of today have shown that there was more going on there than just a good quarterback. Those teams proved attitude, that a team first mentality can win championships without dominant players and create a dynasty. Players on those teams say that this mentality was the key to their success –it helped them stay together in times of trouble and have faith they could win the tough games. Those Patriots teams were great—there is no doubt. All I want to raise here is how much of a role Brady truly played. Widen the scope on those teams. Next time you want to say Brady is better than Manning look closer at the talent around each of them. Compare the mentality of the teams. Anyway, that is a discussion for a later time. It appears now that Brady and Belichick have lost the magic.

Over all, this Super Bowl was good for the Giants’ legacy, yet a blemish on New England’s long term picture. It will go down as a great Super Bowl, though not as epic as the first match-up. After all, you only get a chance to make a team go 18-1 once.