Thoughts on Superbowl XLII (42)

This game reminded me very much of the XXXVI (36) game with the Patriots and Rams. The Rams were huge favorites, but the Patriots outplayed them and won, much to my surprise. It basically served as the Patriots debut as a dynasty, and no one ever heard much from the Rams again. Could the Giants be beginning a dynasty as the Patriots crumble?

Well, it's difficult to say, but I don't really think so. Just because history happened once doesn't mean it will repeat itself, though it might. Eli Manning played the best football of his young career during these playoffs. He seems to have earned the respect of his teammates and perhaps his regular season numbers will begin to rise next year. It appears that they'll be pretty good for the next few years at least, but winning the Superbowl requires beating a lot of great teams.

It's hard to see the Patriots losing too much though. The Rams were decimated by injuries in seasons after their last Superbowl, and their defense fell apart. I suppose it's possible here, but the Patriots, assuming they keep their key players, could find themselves at 18-0 next year too. I doubt it will happen in such pretty fashion, but I think they'll be pretty good.

2/5/08 Update: I suppose that one other issue I meant to touch on was that of the Patriot's demeanor. As Randy Moss said, "I think their intensity, from the beginning snap of the game until the end, was really higher than ours." If you can't get excited about being in the Superbowl, that's a bad sign (obviously very insightful). As Bill Simmons pointed out, in Superbowl XXXVI, Tom Brady started head-butting Drew Bledsoe in the tunnel before the game because he was so psyched to be there. After they won the game, he had this look of "I can't believe this." This year, it would have been weird for the Patriots to be so elated and surprised about winning; after all, it was expected since the beginning of the season. Certainly can't imagine Tom Brady screaming and jumping for joy had he won this one. Fighting for those moments of pure joy is what keeps people going when the going gets tough. If you aren't going to experience that elation or vindication, you might not work as hard to get there.

clipped from bp1.blogger.com

Wonder if we'll see this "I can't believe it" face again