It was about halfway through the third quarter of Super Bowl XLII. Gostkowski, in amazement at the enormity of his coach's error, stood not far from his kicking net watching the pivotal play unfold.
Everybody and their mother knew it was a bad call by Belichick to keep his Pro-Bowl kicker sidelined for a fourth and 13 from the Giant's 32 in a tightly contested 7-3 game deep into the third quarter.
I'm sure Brady knew it as he took the snap from Dan Koppen. I'm sure he knew it as he released the pass. I'm sure Moss knew it as he watched Brady's errant pass sail over his head and out of bounds.
I'm sure Gostkowski knew as he watched from his perch on the sideline, just as I knew it as soon as I saw the offensive unit remain on the field. Everybody knew. Everybody except Belichick.
Then again, maybe he knew. Maybe in his own strange, distorted mind he knew he was giving away three points to the Giants. Maybe his arrogance disabled him from believing his team could lose.
Maybe he, along with the 60 percent of America, including myself, that picked New England to win, had already written off the upstart Giants. Maybe he considered the title his after his team's 21-12 victory over a beat-up San Diego team two weeks prior.
Maybe he viewed the NFC as a junior varsity league filled with teams that wouldn't recognize the Lombardi trophy if it hit them in the facemask.
If that is the case, I really can't blame him. These were my views prior to that last minute drive by Manning, which still doesn't sound right, where the Giants capped the game with a TD pass to Burress.
A wise man once said, "That's why they play the games!".
But as Brady scrambled frantically around the backfield searching for a receiver, still shocked by the impossibility of his situation, I thought of one play.
As he fired the ball as far downfield as his cannon of an arm would allow, I thought of one play.
As his desperation Hail Mary fell short, I thought of one play.
As the ball rolled harmlessly on the muddied turf, I thought of one play.
As the teams prematurely strolled onto the field for the postgame ceremonies, I thought of one play.
As the officials restored order for the final one second kneel down by Manning, I thought of one play.
As the score officially showed the Giants being the champions of Super Bowl XLII by three points over the previously unbeaten Patriots, I only thought of one play.
It was about halfway through the third quarter of Super Bowl XLII.
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8 months ago
Now on to baseball season
BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS! BOSTON SUCKS!
IT'S NEW YORK'S TURN BOSTON SIT BACK AND WATCH THE SHOW. THE SOX AREN'T GONNA DO IT THIS YEAR ITS THE YANKS! AND THE CELTICS AREN'T GONNA DO IT EITHER BUT THEN AGAIN THE KNICKS ARE HORRIBLE SO AS LONG AS THE CELTICS DON'T WIN I'LL BE HAPPY.
from 8 months ago
Look, the first thing you should know about being a good fan...never downgrade your opponents. There is no greater way to take away from your team's victory than to degrade the team they beat. The Giants played a great game, and should be complemented on their achievements. If you really like them, stop badmouthging the Patriots and give the Giants some love.
from 8 months ago
Look, the first thing you should know about being a good fan...never downgrade your opponents. There is no greater way to take away from your team's victory than to degrade the team they beat. The Giants played a great game, and should be complemented on their achievements. If you really like them, stop badmouthging the Patriots and give the Giants some love.
8 months ago
I'm not surprised at all Belichick went for it. Personally, I thought he was going to punt.
Perhaps he was hoping to draw a penalty on the defense, which would have either moved them closer for a FG or maybe even a first down.
Remember, if the kicker misses, and chances are he would have - that would have given the Giants great field position, not to mention momentum...which is what they ended up getting anyway
from 8 months ago
Even if getting the ball on your own 32 is good field position, the Giants had only a field goal at that point and couldn't move the ball to save their life. Also Stephen Gostkowski is money from under 50 yards. The only risky play was exactly what happened....going for it.
8 months ago
John, that's a pretty foolish response. If you are trying for offsides on Defense, you call a timeout when it doesn't happen after trying to draw the D offside. Also, you do this if its 4th and 5 or less, not 4th and 15. If you're worried about field position, the Giants get the ball in the same spot regardless of whether they kicked and missed, or threw incomplete on 4th down.
I agree with the contributor, it was a dumb call by the coach.
from 8 months ago
Glad to have your approval.
from 8 months ago
I find it hard to believe that BB just went for it on a whim. Has he answered any questions regarding why he did it? I'd like to know
from 8 months ago
BB's quote when asked asked why he went for it on 4th and long...."it would have been a 50-yarder."
That tells me he had no faith in his kicker. In a close game like this, you have to take the points.
from 8 months ago
Stephen Gostkowski made 88% of his field goals this year. The Patriots went for it on 4th down 15 times this season and were successful about 71% of the time. Granted, Gostkowski's percentage goes down to 60% from beyond 40 yards, but most of those conversions were sneaks by Brady on 4th and 1. Any way you look at it this was a bad call, and while the Giants outplayed the Patriots and deserved to win, that bad call went a long way towards deciding the outcome.
8 months ago
Jeremy,
A good fan? I don't know where your from but i'm from jersey and I've heard nothing but shit talking from every Boston loving person before the Superbowl on how the Pats were gonna run the Giants. I was actually at a party for the superbowl with about 40-45 giants fans and about 10 people who drove from Boston to come and watch this game. They were talking trash non stop, taking shots together saying, "this one's to 19-0" they even started celebrating after the moss TD saying Eli sucks the games over. So i'll talk all the shit I want about Boston and the Pats and the Sox. It's a heated rivalry but at the end of the day I think both cities fans have a respect for one another. Downgrading my opponents? You know damn well PAts fans and the whole world downgraded the Giants before the superbowl so your comment really makes no sense to me. You gotta be a Pats fan.
from 8 months ago
I am a Pats fan, but that's not the point. I was just saying that what the Giants did was incredible, and making fun of the Patriots takes away from what they did.
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