Superbowl Thread: New England Patriots vs New York Giants

[Sylvanfan]

Face it Habernac you said no because...




YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!

[moon]

I think the Pats victory over the Rams a few years ago was a bigger upset, as well as the Namath upset as well. Although I think the Rams and Warner's injury did more to contribute to the loss than anything.

The Giants were a good team and had been playing really at the end of the season. If it were the Giants from the first half of the season than it would have been the biggest upset but the Giants of the last half were a very good team.

[troutman]

I wasn't surprised NY won. I thought after week 17 that they would win the NFC.

[OILFAN #81]

2nd biggest after Superbowl 3. Pats/Rams was up there as moon suggested as well. It was a great game and it came down to the end. I can't wait for next season to start!

[burn_baby_burn]

How do you determine how big the upset is? By point spread before kickoff? The Jets were 17 point underdogs in Super Bowl III. The Chiefs were 13 point underdogs in Super Bowl IV. The Patriots were 14 point underdogs in Super Bowl XXXVI. What was the spread yesterday? 11.5?

I think the two AFL teams were very underrated because they played in the AFL and didn't get any respect. Regardless the biggest shock was probably Super Bowl III. Nobody gave the Jets a prayer. Some media stories even joked that it was Joe Namath's first professional game. With Joe guaranteeing a win and then following through, it has to be considered the biggest Super Bowl upset of all time. Listening to the Colt's players today, one line backer (can't remember the name at the moment) said that he could beat the Jets 1000 times. It still wouldn't make up for the loss in Super Bowl III.

[Flames in 07]

I'd say 3rd biggest upset to the NYJ game and the NE vs Rams game, and the point spreads in each game would agree with that, but it may have been the best SB I've ever seen.

[Sylvanfan]

I'm surprised as many think the Pats over the Rams in 2002 was a bigger upset. The Patriots that year were the AFC's #2 seed and went into the playoffs on a 9 game winning streak. I think that the media over rated/over hyped the Rams and under rated New England. IMO the Rams that year weren't even close to how good this years Patriots team was. The Giants from this year are probably pretty close to what that Patriots team was. So I can't call that a bigger upset.

[Bobblehead]

I find it interesting that, after a season of AFC dominance, an NFC team took home the big prize.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I'm surprised as many think the Pats over the Rams in 2002 was a bigger upset. The Patriots that year were the AFC's #2 seed and went into the playoffs on a 9 game winning streak. I think that the media over rated/over hyped the Rams and under rated New England. IMO the Rams that year weren't even close to how good this years Patriots team was. The Giants from this year are probably pretty close to what that Patriots team was. So I can't call that a bigger upset.

The Rams hadn't scored less than 30 points against any team that year and it looked like nobody could stop them offensively. Their defense wasn't all-time great but still was pretty good. I still think that if Warner hadn't hurt his thumb that offense would have been way more explosive and the Rams would have whipped the Pats.

This years Pats may have been better all around but their offense was shut down in multiple games this year. I also think that the Giants this year were a better team than those Patriots as well.

I think this years Pats benefited, from a stats perspective, that from game one they wanted to go 19-0 (despite the BS they say now) and wanted to put up huge numbers against teams. I am not sure that the other great teams had that desire to run up the score or to do everything that it would take to go 19-0. For example the numbers may say different but with a healthy Kurt Warner that Rams offense is clearly better than the Pats version this year, but because Brady was still tossing TD to Moss with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter in games this year the Pats offense ranks as the tops all time.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I find it interesting that, after a season of AFC dominance, an NFC team took home the big prize.

Everyone, me included, thought that the AFC was a shoe in for the Super Bowl this season. I'm pleasantly surprised though. The NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl are two of the greatest games I have ever watched.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I'm surprised as many think the Pats over the Rams in 2002 was a bigger upset. The Patriots that year were the AFC's #2 seed and went into the playoffs on a 9 game winning streak. I think that the media over rated/over hyped the Rams and under rated New England. IMO the Rams that year weren't even close to how good this years Patriots team was. The Giants from this year are probably pretty close to what that Patriots team was. So I can't call that a bigger upset.

Well its close, but at that time the Rams offence looked unbelievably unstoppable.

NE had no deep threat, and didn't have a great defensive line the way NYG has. Further NE has won all their games but had looked quite pedestrian doing it vs Philly, the Baltimore coach haded NE a game, and they squeaked by an extremely injured SD in the playoffs.

[burn_baby_burn]

Interesting how three points can make such a differance in history. Before kickoff lots of talk about how the 2007 Patriots could be considered the best of all time. After the game they are an after thought.

[csnarpy]

Originally Posted by Dion

This is priceless!

http://www.rbk.com/us/perfectville/

I have this soooooo bookmarked!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Interesting how three points can make such a differance in history. Before kickoff lots of talk about how the 2007 Patriots could be considered the best of all time. After the game they are an after thought.

History turned on one play. If NE would have sacked Manning when they had him in the grasp . . .

Had they won, I wouldn't have called NE the best of all time. The 49ers and Steelers had greater teams.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by troutman

History turned on one play. If NE would have sacked Manning when they had him in the grasp . . .

Had they won, I wouldn't have called NE the best of all time. The 49ers and Steelers had greater teams.

1985 Chicago Bears should be considered as well. Same record as the 2007 Patriots but instead of only scoring 14 points and losing when it counted most. The Bears completely embarrassed the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

1985 Chicago Bears should be considered as well. Same record as the 2007 Patriots but instead of only scoring 14 points and losing when it counted most. The Bears completely embarrassed the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

'85 Bears were the best team the NFL ever saw.

They won their first two playoff games by shutting the other teams out.

Here is a list ESPN made (prior to this season about the best teams ever).

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/foot.../greatest.html

[troutman]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

'85 Bears were the best team the NFL ever saw.

They won their first two playoff games by shutting the other teams out.

Here is a list ESPN made (prior to this season about the best teams ever).

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/foot.../greatest.html

I don't know - they never went back to the Superbowl with that group. 49ers, Steelers, Cowboys, Broncos, Patriots, Dolphins, Packers had consistent excellence. If the Bears were really so great, why didn't they win again?

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by troutman

I don't know - they never went back to the Superbowl with that group. 49ers, Steelers, Cowboys, Broncos, Patriots, Dolphins, Packers had consistent excellence. If the Bears were really so great, why didn't they win again?

Buddy Ryan went to Philly.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Everyone, me included, thought that the AFC was a shoe in for the Super Bowl this season.

No question, but half way through the season, or even a bit later, people were saying the only team with a shot was Dallas and maybe, on a good day, Green Bay.

It just seems that the NFC was slow out of the gate, but played a ferocious game when it counted.

Early in the season the Pats O-line looked impenetrable. How many times was Brady touched the first month of the season?

And what do the Giants do about their TE situation? Shockey is a great player, no question, but they won the big prize without him and Boss had one of the huge plays of the day with his long reception; and Boss has contributed all through the playoffs - more than just a fill in, he looked good. Do you carry both because you can never have too much talent?

[burn_baby_burn]

Some feel Shockey is a distraction and that it was no accident that the Giants did well after he was injured. I wonder if it was his choice or the teams to be sitting up in a private suite.