Some final thoughts on the Super Bowl

Justin Tuck should have been the MVP. I assume they let the fans vote, which is stupid. Why don't they let people who actually watch the game vote, instead of letting people who are sitting around eating nachos and drinking beer vote for the glamor position. Justin Tuck: two sacks, one forced fumble, part of the Giants' four-man defensive line that put a ton of pressure on Tom Brady. Eli Manning? Please. One great play, and one excellent read of the defense on the game-winning touchdown. That's not an MVP.

Bill Belichick is kind of a tool, isn't he? The refs tried to tell him that they needed to run one more play, but he pushed them out of the way and ran off the field, leaving his team behind. I always knew he was kind of a sore loser, but he really proved it yesterday. Jerk.

Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants' defensive coordinator, learned how to coach defense from Jim Johnson, the Eagles' defensive coordinator. I just needed to point that out, to take some solace from Philadelphia's sorrows.

On that early long pass to Amani Toomer, why wasn't offensive pass interference called? Toomer clearly shoved the defender in the face mask to get separation, and two officials were watching the play. What the crap? Usually the Cheaters get all the calls, but that one went totally the Giants' way.

Why was Belichick allowed to challenge the fact that the refs didn't call the penalty when the Giants had 12 men on the field on that punt? No call was made, so you're allowed to challenge that? Does that mean if you believe a penalty has been committed, you can throw the challenge flag and they can call one? Earlier in the playoffs, David Garrard picked up a fourth-and-one against the Steelers when an offensive lineman clearly held. Could Mike Tomlin have thrown a flag on that, and the refs could have retroactively called a penalty? How is Belichick's challenge flag allowed?

David Tyree's catch has to be one of the top three or four in Super Bowl history. Lynn Swann's catch is probably still #1, but this was a great one.

I mentioned this in the comments to the previous post, but I have no idea why the roof was closed. It was a decent day here on Sunday, and I don't think rain was in the forecast. It's been chilly here all week, but it's still not that cold, and apparently, the humidity that wore the Giants out toward the end is a common problem at the UPS. The field completely rolls out of the stadium (it's pretty cool, actually), and water does get in there and stay there, causing the humidity when the temperature goes up. It's dumb to close the roof, because what's the point of having an outdoor Super Bowl anymore? The teams should play in some elements, after all, even it's just a bit of chill.

When does the regular season start?

Frankly, I'm shocked

I've decided I'm happier that the Cheaters lost than angrier that Eli Manning is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and an undeserving MVP and that an NFC East team won the championship before the Eagles did. But I'm still shocked. I'm still not entirely sure how it happened (and, to be honest, I didn't watch the whole game). Surprisingly enough, if you rush the passer effectively, you can shut down a good offense. Who knew?

So in the end, the Cheaters get theirs. And as I saw Randy Moss and Junior Seau looking like they were going to cry, I thought, "Yeah, fuck you guys." I don't want to hate the Cheaters, because I admire a lot of what they do, but as many long-time winners get, they started to get a bit full of themselves, so it's nice to see them taken down a peg. Is this the beginning of the end of the New England dynasty?

I'm also not worried about New Jersey dominating the league, because I'm still not all that impressed with them. They could easily miss the playoffs next year. We'll see.

Of course, now Mercury Morris will be even more insufferable. Please, national media, stop calling him up to get quotes from him. Man, what asshole. Maybe next year no team will be undefeated late in the year, so nobody talks to Morris and his geriatric cronies.

Anyway, good job, New Jersey. I'm stunned.

Why the Giants will not beat the Buccaneers

Everyone seems to think that the Giants' game against the New England Cheaters last weekend will give them momentum going into their playoff game in Tampa. The Giants played very well and, the pundits say, this bodes well for their game. But does it?

Here is the teams who played the Cheaters this year:
1. New Jersey Jets (L, 14-38)
2. San Diego Chargers (L, 14-38)
3. Buffalo Bills (L, 7-38)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (L, 13-34)
5. Cleveland Browns (L, 17-34)
6. Dallas Cowboys (L, 27-48)
7. Miami Dolphins (L, 28-49)
8. Washington (L, 7-52)
9. Indianapolis Colts (L, 20-24)
10. Bye
11. Buffalo Bills (L, 10-56)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (L, 28-31)
13. Baltimore Ravens (L, 24-27)
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (L, 13-34)
15. New Jersey Jets (L, 10-20)
16. Miami Dolphins (L, 7-28)
17. New Jersey Giants (L, 35-38)

Here are their games following the week they played New England:
Game 2: New Jersey Jets vs. Baltimore: L, 13-20
Game 3: San Diego Chargers vs. Green Bay: L, 24-31
Game 4: Buffalo Bills vs. New Jersey Jets: W, 17-14
Game 5: Cincinnati Bengals: bye.
Game 6: Cleveland Browns vs. Miami: W, 41-31
Game 7: Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota: W, 24-14
Game 8: Miami Dolphins vs. New Jersey Giants: L, 10-13
Game 9: Washington vs. New Jersey Jets: W, 23-20
Game 10: Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego: L, 21-23
Game 11: Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville: L, 14-36
Game 12: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle: L, 24-28
Game 13: Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis: L, 20-44
Game 14: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville: L, 22-29
Game 15: New Jersey Jets vs. Tennessee: L, 6-10
Game 16: Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati: L, 25-38

After playing the Cheaters, the teams were a combined 4-10 the week after. Buffalo and Washington beat the Jets, which wasn't that impressive, considering their record. Cleveland got to play the Dolphins and beat them. Only Dallas played a marginally good team and won. Everyone else lost. It's as if the teams gave so much in playing the Cheaters that they had nothing left for the next week. The Giants lost a few players to injury, too. So the odds are stacked against them.

Yet, a lot of experts are picking the Giants based on the fact that they almost beat New England. But the numbers are against them, people! Look to the statistics!

[Edit: Okay, maybe that stat didn't work. If Tampa hadn't given the game away, they might have had a chance. Oh well!]