Bleacher Report - Articles by Dean Mikelis

Bucs & Panthers to Unlock NFC South Deadlock on MNF

Dean Mikelis — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:26:28 -0500

Finally, a Monday Night Football game with serious meaning and implications as these two division rivals square off tied for first in the NFC South.

The Panthers look to avenge their 27-3 loss to the Bucs at Tampa earlier this season (10/12/2008).

The Buccaneers head into Charlotte riding a 4-game winning streak as both the Buccaneers and Panthers are 4-1 over their last 5 games. In addition to their identical 9-3 records, the Buccaneers and Panthers are both undefeated at home (6-0), 3-3 on the road and now lead the Falcons (8-5) by a one-and-half games in the NFC South.

The Bucs currently have the better NFC South division record at 3-1; the Panthers are 2-2. Tampa Bay sports a better conference record (8-2) compared to Carolina's 6-3 NFC conference record.

PREDICTION: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 Carolina Panthers 21

The Panthers are simply not as good as their record indicates. Yes, the Carolina Panthers are undefeated at home (6-0), but they have not been dominate at home. Credit good fortune more than good play for the Carolina Panthers in their last two home games:

NFL 2008 Week 11 (November 16) the Panthers were fortunate to defeat the Lions 31-22.
NFL 2008 Week 8 (October 26), the Panther barely defeated the Cardinals 27 to 23.

Accordingly, the Buccaneers are highly competitive away from home. With comeback road victories in Week 9 at Kansas City (30-27 OT) and Week 12 at Detroit (38-20) the Buccaneers now carry a 3-3 record on the road. The Bucs have lost those three games by a combined 11 points.

Carolina's 35-31 victory against the Packers exposed some weaknesses in the Panthers Defense and required alot of energy and effort from their offense. In the end, last week's game will exact a hangover effect on the Panthers and with that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will sneak away with a 24-21 victory.

Complete Bucs - Panthers Game Preview & Analysis:

NFL 2008 Week 14: Bucs & Panthers Look to Unlock NFC South Deadlock on MNF

NFL 2008 Week 14: Redskins Short Trip North to Face Ravens in Beltway Bowl IV

Dean Mikelis — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:54:33 -0500

After playing six of their last eight games on the road, the Baltimore Ravens host the Washington Redskins. This is the first ever regular season match-up between the Redskins and Ravens in Baltimore. The Redskins head north to Baltimore to recover from their 23-7 loss to the Giants, while the Ravens seek their third straight win and seventh in eight games.

The game should be a matchup of strengths.

The Redskins and Ravens boast two of the NFLs top-ranked defenses and rely heavily on superior rushing attacks. On offense, Washington ranks fifth in rush offense averaging 139.4 yards per game, while Baltimore is third at 143.8 yards per game.

On defense, the Ravens are second in overall defense, including third against the rush, while the Redskins are sixth in the league in overall defense, including seventh against the run. The two teams rank first and second in the NFL in forcing opposing offenses into three-and-out situations.

Should be a close game?

Below average football simply will not cut it against an above average Ravens team. And the Redskins have been playing below average football over their past 5 games (2-3).

The two wins came against the win-less Lions (Week 8: 25-17) and the dismal Seahawks (Week 12: 20 - 17). The Redskins wound up losing three home games to the Steelers (Week 9: 23-6), Cowboys (Week 11: 14-10) and Giants (Week 13: 23-7). Meanwhile, the Ravens have mounted impressive wins in 6 of 7 games, losing only to the Giants.

Although, both teams need the win for their playoff drive, the Redskins find themselves in an almost-must-win situation.

The key to this game will be ball control

That said, the Redskins won't be able to muster much on offense. Expect the Ravens to hold Clinton Portis and the Redskins in check. As a result, the Redskins defense will tire early in the second half as Flacco and the Ravens start pulling away towards a 31-10 victory over the Redskins.

FULL ARTICLE SOURCE & GAME NOTES:
Redskins Short Trip North to Face Ravens in Beltway Bowl IV

NFL 2008 Week 14: Eagles Not Likely to Catch Giants Off-Guard This Week

Dean Mikelis — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:34:03 -0500

The Eagles travel 90 miles up the New Jersey Turnpike to take on the NFC leading Giants in the midst of the Plaxico Burress saga.

This is the second meeting between the Eagles and Giants this season. The Eagles come off of a convincing 48-20 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Cardinals, while the Giants defeated the Redskins in Washington, 23 - 7 last Sunday.

With just 4 games remaining in the regular season the Eagles playoff hopes are still alive.

The Eagles chances are dim at this point, but not impossible especially if they can finish strong as they trail the Panthers (9-3), Falcons (8-4), Cowboys (8-4), Redskins (7-5) for the two NFC Wild card spots.

There is hope as the Eagles have an exemplary track record finishing out seasons.

In November and December games, the Eagles are 2nd in the NFL in overall winning (.688) and road winning percentage (.724) since 2000. Furthermore, since 1999, the Eagles are 22-11 against NFC East division rivals in November and December.

Meanwhile, the Giants are on the verge of clinching the NFC East and are on track to finish with home-field advantage.

On the field the Giants have been nothing less than dominate as they look to win their 8th straight game, the NFC East title, and earn a first round playoff bye all in one shot against the Eagles this Sunday.

However off the field, the Plaxico Burress saga hit its high point as the Giants receiver has been suspended for the remainder of the season (placed on the reserve / non- football injury list) & has been charged with 2 illegal weapon possession felony counts after accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at the LQ Nightclub in New York.

Can the Eagles Catch the Giants Off-Guard this Week?

The answer is No.

This is definitely a contrarian pick & goes against the grain as the last thing to expect is such a solid Giants victory. The Eagles won't catch the Giants off guard. This week's Plaxico Burress Saga will not interfere with the Giants when it comes to getting down to business.

McNabb has had an up-and-down season.

Taking two games to respond after the 13 - 13 tie fiasco against the Bengals (NFL 2008 Week 11) and the drubbing 36 -7 in Baltimore is not the mark of an NFL playoff team. The victory over the Cardinals (3-4 road record) last week in the end will not be a rallying point for the Eagles this season.

The Eagles above average defense won't be able to contain the Giants offense (leads NFL in points scored & rushing offense) nor will they contain the Giants passing attack.

For you Star Trek fans, the Giants appear to have a Borg-like quality to them this season.

On the surface, the Giants appear indifferent to off-the-field distractions, shrug off injuries as reserves from their "Collective" come up big when thrust into the spotlight & adapt to whatever their opposition throws their way.

In the end, expect the Giants to assimilate the Eagles by a final score of 38 to 14.

FULL ARTICLE SOURCE & GAME NOTES:
Eagles Visit NFC East Division Leading Rival Giants in Midst of Burress Saga

Matt Ryan Aims to Have Atlanta Falcons Flying High

Dean Mikelis — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:06:52 -0400

We're not starting a new chapter here," said Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. "We're starting a new book."

That was in the days leading up to the 2008 NFL Draft, which, the team hopes, produced one successful page-turner.

The new Falcons book opened with a first-year general manager in Thomas Dimitroff, a rookie head coach in Mike Smith…and the No. 3 overall pick in the draft—Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.

"We had options picking at No. 3," says Dimitroff. "But looking at the skill-set that Matt Ryan possessed, along with his intelligence and leadership ability, we were excited about going in that direction."

"This guy is a prototypical quarterback," continues Dimitroff. "He can stand tall in the pocket. He's very intelligent. A big-time leader. He has accuracy at all levels. He's a game-winner. In the end, he'll take a shot in the face and get up. He's a persevering, hard-nosed quarterback."

Ryan, who was nicknamed "Matty Ice" throughout high school and college, because he played as if he had ice water in his veins, impressed the Falcons during his pre-draft workout and interview.

"In our meeting, Matt had an opportunity to sit down with offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and quarterback coach Bill Musgrave," recalls Smith. "They let him get up on the board and see what he could do. It's real easy to evaluate a guy on the field and see how he throws the ball. So when they sat him down in a meeting situation, they really tried to stump him. They really gave him some difficult stuff in terms of trying to find out what he knows and what he doesn't know. He was outstanding on the board. He's very cerebral."

The 2007 ACC Player of the Year, Ryan set numerous Boston College single-season passing records, including yards (4,507) and touchdowns (31). He led the Eagles to a 25-7 record (.781) as a starter in his career. Included were three bowl victories. He hopes to bring that success to Atlanta.

"I was really excited when I got the call from the Falcons," says Ryan. "I wanted to be in Atlanta."

He knows a lot will be expected from him. He’s looking forward to the challenge.

"There are certainly a lot of adjustments you need to make when making the transition from college to the NFL," says Ryan. "But for me, I think decision-making is the most important part of being a quarterback. You've got to make your decisions and know where to go with the football. So I'm going to work as hard as I can and learn the playbook, and learn the offense and work on making good decisions."

In his first Falcons minicamp, the quarterback impressed many, including the man who drafted him.

"In his first practice, there was an element of focus and presence," says Dimitroff. "You look at him and you see his savvy and his ability. In that session, he was tapping himself on the helmet when he made a mistake, saying it was his fault."

The head coach was also pleased with Ryan’s first outing as a Falcon, and was enthusiastic about his dedication for the game and his ability to stay calm under pressure.

"Matt is a very passionate football player," says Smith. "You can see his passion and how he brought his team back to victory time and time again in college. That's the kind of player we want on our football team."

And the type of player the Falcons want to star in their new book.

Full Article Source: Matt Ryan Aims to Have Atlanta Falcons Flying High

Brett Favre: Best QB Ever? The Answer Is Yes!

Dean Mikelis — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:32:07 -0500

This week, Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre formally announced his retirement. And with that started the Great Debate: Who is the NFL's best quarterback of all time?

In New York (Hint: I'm not a Cheese Head) it captured the spotlight on both major New York sports radio talk shows. From there it rippled into the newspapers and by now every sports blogger in America has written a convincing article as to why or why not Favre is the greatest of all time.

Granted it's a great debate—Brady, Manning, Montana, Elway, Marino, Bradshaw, Tarkenton, Unitas, Graham, Baugh, Starr, Title. I'm sure I missed one. Who do you pick as number two?

For me it's not only statistics and wins, but a combination of things. Statistically? Marino and Peyton Manning. In terms of winning? Elway, Montana and Unitas. Longevity? Tarkenton. However, put these three factors together and Favre's name starts to bubble to the top. Finally, I started thinking of all the talent that played along side these great quarterbacks. Granted, some very good players complemented Brett Favre, but no real superstars come to mind.

Statistically

Brett Favre is NFL's all-time leader in every significant career passing category —touchdowns (442), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758) and yards (61,555). Granted, over 17 seasons, you're going to compile big numbers. However, what impresses me is the efficiency with which Favre accomplished this and the Packer's offensive system.

He is also the NFL's only three-time MVP.

Winning

He's the all-time leader finishing his career with 160 wins. Since taking over as the Packers' starter in the fourth week of the 1992 season, he led Green Bay to a 160-93 regular-season record. That's the best in the NFL over that period.

Favre has led the Packers to 11 NFL playoff appearances, including seven division crowns, four NFC Championship Games, two Super Bowls (winning Super Bowl XXXI).

Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson:

"[Brett Favre] has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League. He is able to walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that. The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever."

Longevity

17 seasons. But not end of story. Consider, 253 consecutive starts; 275 if you include the playoffs. This kind of durability borders on the mathematically impossible.

Since September 27, 1992, When Favre started his streak, a total of 212 other quarterbacks have started an NFL game.

Players Around Him

Any great offensive players that complemented Brett for more 2 seasons? Some very good players, but no one great. An above average offensive line over the 17 years at best.

NFL 2007: Maybe Brett Favre's Best Season

At age 38, Brett Favre compiled arguably his best year statistically and advanced the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship. His interception in OT against the Giants ends his career on a sour note. Yet, still alot to admire:

Leads the Packers to NFC division title, NFC's number. 2 seed and NFC Championship.

Brett Favre named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
Only the fourth NFL player

Week 2 versus the NY Giants:
Brett Favre records his 149th career win and surpasses John Elway as the winningest quarterback in NFL history. Favre retires with 160 career wins.

Week 4 versus the Minnesota Vikings:
Brett Favre surpasses Dan Marino as the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes with 421. He ends his career with 442.

Week 15 versus the Saint Louis Rams:
Favre surpasses Marino as the all-time leader in passing yards. He ends his career with 61,655 total passing yards.

Favre starts all 16 games at QB for the Packers
253 consecutive regular-season starts. His streak ranks second in NFL history.

Brett Favre - Summing it All Up

The statistics, wins, longevity, durability and lack of superstars around him in combination is what makes Brett Favre the best quarterback of all time. What makes you feel good about it is best summed up by Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson:

"The uniqueness of Brett Favre - his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history. ... His legacy is cemented as one of the most beloved players of his generation. Favre's hard-working approach and down-to-earth attitude appealed to football fans across the nation"

Brett Favre's Career Statistics - Click Here to Continue ...

Brett Favre: Best QB Ever? The Answer Is Yes! Article Source: iHaveNet.com

NFL 2008: Player Scouting Combine and NFL Draft

Dean Mikelis — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:02:42 -0500

In all, NFL Network will televise 26 hours of live, high-definition combine coverage.

With Xs & Os breakdowns from this past NCAA College football season, Mayock selected Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall over Arkansas’ Darren McFadden as his top running back. In addition, USC’s Sedrick Ellis gets the edge over LSU’s Glenn Dorsey at defensive tackle.

Mayock on Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall vs. Arkansas’ Darren McFadden

"Mendenhall translates better to the NFL game. He’s 225 pounds and has great feet and tremendous burst and acceleration for a player of his size. My biggest concern with McFadden is that although he also has great burst and acceleration, I don’t think he has the lower body strength that you’re looking for in a first-round NFL back."

Mayock on USC’s Sedrick Ellis vs. LSU’s Glenn Dorsey

"They are both great football players and it’s a very difficult evaluation between the two as to who is better because they are both top-10 picks. What I like about Ellis is that he played nose tackle in a 3-4 defense at USC and that will appeal to 3-4 NFL teams. In addition, he will also appeal to the 4-3 teams because he has the quickness to play the 'three technique.' Dorsey is a great football player and I give him credit for playing through injuries the past few years. However his durability is a concern."

MIKE MAYOCK’S TOP 20 PROSPECTS (as of February 12, 2008)

Matt Ryan - QB, Boston College
Sedrick Ellis – DT, USC
Chris Long - DE, Virginia
Glenn Dorsey – DT, LSU
Vernon Gholston – DE, Ohio State
Jake Long – OL, Michigan
Ryan Clady – OL, Boise State
Keith Rivers – LB, USC
Phillip Merling – DE, Clemson
Leodis McKelvin – CB, Troy
Brandon Flowers – CB, Virginia Tech
Rashard Mendenhall – RB, Illinois
Jeff Otah – OL, Pittsburgh
Derrick Harvey – DE, Florida
Kentwan Balmer – DT, North Carolina
Aqib Talib – CB, Kansas
Chris Williams – OL, Vanderbilt
Mario Manningham – WR, Michigan
Limas Sweed – WR, Texas
Branden Albert – OL, Virginia

MIKE MAYOCK’S TOP 5 RANKINGS BY POSITION (as of February 12, 2008)

Quarterback

Matt Ryan - Boston College
Chad Henne - Michigan
Brian Brohm - Louisville
Joe Flacco - Delaware
Andre Woodson - Kentucky

Running Back

Rashard Mendenhall - Illinois
Darren McFadden - Arkansas
Jonathan Stewart - Oregon
Felix Jones - Arkansas
Chris Johnson - East Carolina

Fullback

Jacob Hester - LSU
Peyton Hillis - Arkansas
Owen Schmitt - West Virginia

Wide Receiver

Mario Manningham - Michigan
Limas Sweed - Texas
DeSean Jackson - California
Malcolm Kelly - Oklahoma
Early Doucet - LSU

Tight End

Fred Davis - USC
John Carlson - Notre Dame
Dustin Keller - Purdue
Jermichael Finley - Texas
Brad Cottam - Tennessee

Offensive Tackle

Jake Long - Michigan
Ryan Clady - Boise State
Jeff Otah - Pittsburgh
Chris Williams - Vanderbilt
Gosder Cherilus - Boston College

Interior Offensive Line

Branden Albert - Virginia
Chilo Rachal - USC
Roy Schuening - Oregon St.
Mike Pollak - Arizona State
Mackenzy Bernadeau - Bentley College

Defensive End

Chris Long - Virginia
Vernon Gholston - Ohio State
Phillip Merling - Clemson
Derrick Harvey - Florida
Lawrence Jackson - USC

Defensive Tackle

Sedrick Ellis - USC
Glenn Dorsey - LSU
Kentwan Balmer - North Carolina
Trevor Laws - Notre Dame
Letroy Guion - Florida State

Inside Linebacker

Dan Connor - Penn State
Curtis Lofton - Oklahoma
Spencer Larsen - Arizona
Beau Bell - UNLV
Jo-Lonn Dunbar - Boston College

Outside Linebacker

Keith Rivers - USC
Erin Henderson - Maryland
Xavier Adibi - Virginia Tech
Tavares Gooden – Miami (FL)
Ali Highsmith - LSU

Cornerback

Leodis McKelvin - Troy
Brandon Flowers - Virginia Tech
Aqib Talib - Kansas
Mike Jenkins - South Florida
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Tennessee State

Safety

DaJuan Morgan - N.C. State
Kenny Phillips - Miami (FL)
Thomas DeCoud - California
D.J. Wolfe - Oklahoma
Tyrell Johnson - Arkansas State

Article Source: The Path to the Draft

Dean writes for iHaveNet.com. Check out iHaveNet.com for the latest NFL news and football information

Super Bowl XLII: It can only be called "THE PLAY"

Dean Mikelis — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:58:06 -0500

Article Source: NFL 2008: National Football League Player Scouting Combine and Draft

Two weeks past the most memorable Super Bowl Game in NFL History it is almost time to turn the page on the 2007 National Football League season and start examining the NFL's 2008 Player Scouting Combine and NFL Draft.

However, before moving on a few more chapters to add to this story book season.

The Play

New York area television and radio stations gave thousands of fans the opportunity to submit a name for THE PLAY.

And to be honest, quite a few good names were submitted for the best and most amazing play in Super Bowl history. The best I could come up with—Eli Mandini and the Tyreefic Trap. "Mandini" for Eli Manning's Houdini-like escape from the clutches of the New England Patriots defense; and, of course, David Tyree's amazing leap and then trapping the ball against his helmet for the catch.

The difficult part of naming the play is that there are four amazing parts to it—the escape, the throw, the leap and the catch. I've seen the video replays and the pictures.

Yet, the only way I can describe it as is THE PLAY. Not only because the Giants won Super Bowl XLII, but also this was THE PLAY that spoiled the New England Patriots place in NFL History.

Some Quotes to Close out the NFL 2007 Season and Super Bowl XLII

Only makes sense to quote Eli Manning and David Tyree...

Eli Manning on THE PLAY

"When I got home, I wanted to see it. I hadn’t seen David Tyree’s catch. I kind of saw a little bit on the field, but didn’t really get to appreciate what a great catch it was. People were asking me how I got out of that jam I was in, and I really don’t know. They were pulling me down. I felt them holding me, but I never felt anybody pull me to the ground. I stayed alive and I saw David in the middle of the field. I gave him a shot to make the catch, and (it was an) unbelievable catch. For him to catch that ball – kind of hold it against his helmet – I think he pulled back and guys (were) swiping at the ball. It’s just a great individual effort by him."

"We had a lot of big plays. Amani Toomer had a big third-down catch. We had a fourth-down conversion, a fourth-and-one conversion. Steve Smith on third-and-ten. You could see the end zone, we were getting close and we still had a lot of work. He had a great catch on the sideline to be able to get up the field and get the first down, and get out of bounds to stop the clock. The offensive line was doing their job protecting, and everybody had their part and their role. [New England] had been playing zone, keeping two safeties back and just playing a little conservative through that whole drive. Finally, I knew they’d come after us. They came out with a blitz and had one-on-one with Plaxico Burress. That’s a match-up we’re going to take every time. He ran a great route, got wide open and made a great catch."

NFL 2008: National Football League Player Scouting Combine and Draft

Dean writes for iHaveNet.com, your online source for breaking news, news headlines and articles

Super Bowl XLII: One of the Greatest Games of All Time

Dean Mikelis — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:07:19 -0500

He ought to know. He’s a player in the NFL who knows its history.

He’s another Manning, maybe you’ve heard of—Peyton—and that was his summary of Super Bowl XLII last Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona:

“One of the greatest games of all time.”

In the game, his brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, engineered one of the most memorable late-game-winning drives in Super Bowl history for a 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium. That drive included what many are calling the greatest play in Super Bowl history.

The game seemed to have it all—the stars everyone in America recognizes…the role players who became stars…surprising plays…game-swings…drama…and a boffo ending.

The memorable story lines abounded...

GIANTS STEPS

A team has never done what the Giants did. Although the Super Bowl is a neutral site, Sunday was New York’s 11th win in a row this season away from home. The Giants set the NFL season record with 10 consecutive road wins (including in London, England in October). The streak included playoff victories in Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay before landing in Arizona.

That kind of mettle served them well in the fourth quarter Sunday. Trailing 14-10 with 2:39 left and on their 17-yard line, Manning constructed a drive that convinced brother Peyton to categorize the game as “one of the greatest.”

At third-and-five at the Giants’ 44, Manning eluded a swarm of Patriots that had its hands all over him and fired a 32-yard pass to David Tyree, who somehow clutched the ball with both hands on top of his helmet as Rodney Harrison fought to take it away. First down on New England’s 24-yard line.

Two plays later, with 39 seconds left in the game, Manning lofted a 13-yard pass to Plaxico Burress fading to the left of the end zone for the winning score and the Giants’ first Super Bowl title since the 1990 season.

That was the third—and final—lead change of the quarter, the most in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl history. The Giants became only the second team (San Francisco, XXIII) to win a Super Bowl after trailing in the final minute of the game. And Eli Manning joined Joe Montana (SB XXIII) as the only quarterbacks in Super Bowl history to throw two fourth-quarter TD passes in a winning effort.

After giving up 80 points in their first two games, both losses, the Giants had become only the third team to win a Super Bowl after starting 0-2, and only the fifth wild card team to win the game.

Giants 12-year veteran Amani Toomer summed it up this way: “We are a tough team in a tough city,” he said after the game. “That’s what we represent.”

OH, BROTHER!

The Mannings made history. While becoming the 19th set of brothers to reach the Super Bowl, they became the first siblings to quarterback teams in consecutive Super Bowls, win the game, and be awarded its most valuable player trophy. Eli followed Peyton, who led Indianapolis to the Super Bowl XLI title and won the MVP.

“I never thought about them even playing college ball, much less pro football, much less winning Super Bowls or MVPs,” says their father, ARCHIE MANNING, who himself played 13 years in the NFL and is the New Orleans Saints’ career passing yardage leader. “It wasn’t in the plan. We tried to raise kids just like other parents raised their kids. I can’t explain it.”

60 TONS OF SALUTE

In New York City, it’s called the “Canyon of Heroes,” the section of lower Broadway and the Financial District that is the epicenter of the city’s ticker-tape parades that have saluted everyone from Charles Lindbergh to John Glenn. On Tuesday, it kicked off a New York-New Jersey Super Bowl salute to the Giants.

Approximately one million New Yorkers lined the route as a snowstorm of shredded paper estimated at 60 tons rained down from Manhattan’s skyscrapers onto the champs as they motored on red, white and blue floats up Broadway to City Hall to receive the keys to New York City from Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer also attended.

“I’ve been to Mardi Gras, New Year’s Eve in Times Square and Carnivale in Rio, and this beats them all,” said Giants fan Lori Pletenik.

Then it was on to a stage at the 50-yard line at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey where roughly 35,000 fans, including former New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey, saluted the Giants in their home stadium. Summarizing the salute to his team in Manhattan and the Meadowlands, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin described the day perfectly:

“This is the greatest pep rally I’ve ever attended.”

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Super Bowl XLII: Road Warrior New York Giants Bring It Home

Dean Mikelis — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:56:44 -0500

Undefeated Destiny Disrupted for the 18 -1 New England Patriots

With 2:49 left in Super Bowl XLII, it seemed to be yet another perfectly scripted comeback victory for the New England Patriots.

Tom Brady connected with Randy Moss for a seven-yard TD completion.

However, the Giants went off script as Eli Manning drove the Giants 83 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning ended the 12-play, 83-yard winning drive when he found Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds to play.

The catch of the drive and the game belonged to the Giants' David Tyree a few plays earlier. With 59 seconds left, Eli Manning amazingly escaped what appeared to be a definite sack and launched the ball down the field. Tyree lept into the air, catching the ball high above his head—thus winning the jump ball.

The Giants were at New England's 24-yard line and on the verge of doing what seemed impossible only a few minutes before.

Tyree's amazing leap was then followed by New York Giants rookie Steve Smith's catch. The rookie showed the experience of a veteran as he was smart enough to find the first down marker and to get out of bounds and stop the play clock at 39 seconds. On the following play came the TD pass. It was only Plaxico Burress' second catch of the game but probably the biggest catch of his NFL career.

The Plays Belonged to the Giants Offense.
But the Day and the Game Belonged to the Giants Defense

Right from the start it was the Giants defense that set the tone of the game. The Giants defense was in Brady's grill the entire night. The pressure defense of the Giants that bought home the Lombardi trophy and the Super Bowl Championship. New England QB Tom Brady was sacked four times, hit 16 times and pressured 23 times.

At the end, the Giants defense left Tom Brady and the New England Patriots with 10 seconds and a fourth down with 20 yards to go for the first down. Jay Alford's sack for a 10-yard loss with 19 seconds to play left the Patriots hoping for a miracle. And that miracle never came as Corey Webster broke up the long bomb to Randy Moss. The New England Patriots turned the ball over on downs to the New York Giants with one second left on the clock. With one snap and a knee the Giants were Super Bowl XLII Champions.

Super Bowl XLII: First Quarter

The Giants won the toin coss and elected to receive. Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants offense started the game on a crisp note putting together a time-consuming, 16-play drive. However, the Giants had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes. The drive had started on the Giants' own 23-yard Line. The drive netted 63 yards and four first downs. The time of possession was nine minutes and 59 seconds.

Giants 3, Patriots 0

With 5:01 left in the first quarter, New England Patriots running back Laurence Maroney returned the Giants' kickoff 43 yards to New England's 44-yard line. QB Tom Brady threw an incompletion on the first play of the drive. But Laurence Maroney came back with two rushes for nine and five yards. Brady's second pass was incomplete as well. The Brady strung two completions together (Stallworth seven yards / Welker eight yards) and the Patriots were on the Giants 35-yard line. The Patriots earned another first down as the drove the ball to the Giant's 17-yard line. Uncharacteristically, Tom Brady had thrown two incompletions in a row. With third and 10 on the 17, it looked like the Giants had dodged the bullet. However, Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was penalized for defensive pass interference in the end zone.

The ball was spotted at the one-yard line. Laurence Maroney was stopped for no gain on first down as the first quarter came to an end.

The two total possessions in the first quarter set a Super Bowl record for least possessions in a Super Bowl quarter.

Super Bowl XLII: Second Quarter

On the first play of the second quarter, Maroney went off the right guard and scored on a one-yard run. Gostkowski converted the PAT. New England's touchdown drive went 12 plays for 56 yards. Time of possession was five minutes and four seconds.

Patriots 7, Giants 3

Gostkowski ensuing kick-off went out of bounds and the Giants were awarded the ball on the 40-yard line. On third and seven, Manning passed deep left to Amani Toomer for 38 yards. Toomer's catch of Manning's lob was amazing as he managed to keep both feet inbounds. Brandon Jacob's ability to pick up the blitz and block was the key to the play. It seemed as if the Giants were ready for their second score.

However, on third and five, Eli Manning's short pass to the left was intercepted by Ellis Hobbs at the 10. The bullet pass was intended for Steve Smith. The ball was catchable but went through Smith's hands. Hobbs returned the ball 23 yards.

The first two plays of the drive were to Maroney (reception eight yards; rush one yard). With third and one on their own 42, it looked like the Patriots were ready to put some serious space between themselves and the Giants. But then Butler and Strahan combined to tackle Maroney for a two-yard loss. The Patriots were forced to punt. At this point it was only the third 3-downs-and-out for the Patriots in the entire playoffs.

The Giants did not do much on their next possession as they went three-and-out as well. The Giants defense came back on to the field and held the Patriots again on three downs. The Giants offense fared better on their next possession, but were forced to punt the ball back.

With 1:47 left in the half, the Patriots had the ball on their own 11-yard line. Tom Brady and the Patriots were putting together an impressive drive as they drove the ball to the Giants 44-yard line. However, with 22 seconds in the half and first and 10, pressure from Justin Tuck caused Brady to fumble the ball, which was recovered Osi Umenyiora.

Super Bowl XLII Halftime: Patriots 7, Giants 3

Super Bowl XLII: Third Quarter

The Patriots started with the ball at their own 21-yard line. It seemed like the Giants had the ball back after New England's punt. However, New England Patriot's Coach Bill Belichick challenged the play. Upon review, the Ginats were penalized five yards for too many players on the field. The Giants Chase Blackburn could not get off the field in time. The penalty gave the Patriots a first down at the Giants 39-yard line.

The Giants defense kept it together and forced the New England Patriots with a fourth and 13 on the Giants 31. Instead of attempting a field goal (or punting), Coach Belichick decided to go for it. On the play, Brady was pressured into an incompletion.

For the Giants, this defensive stand despite the penalty and the ensuing offensive drive seemed to be the turning moment of the game.

Super Bowl XLII: Fourth Quarter

The Giants started their drive at their own 20-yard line. On the first play of the drive Eli Manning connected Kevin Boss for a 45-yard gain to the New England 35. A couple of runs by Bradshaw and a 17-yard pass play to Steve Smith had the Giants with a first and 10 on the New England 12. Ahmad Bradshaw's strong run for seven yards gave the Giants a second and three on the Patriots five yard line.

On the ensuing play, Eli Manning connected with Tyree over the middle for a touchdown. Tyne's PAT gave the Giants a 10-7 lead, with 11 minutes and 10 seconds remaining in Super Bowl XLII. The Giants 80-yard touchdown drive took six plays while consuming three minutes and 47 seconds.

With 7:54 left, New England started with the ball at their own 20. This time the Patriots offense was in synch and the Giants defense could not stop Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker. The Patriots marched 80 yards down the field on 12 plays while taking a valuable five minutes and 12 seconds off the clock.

The drive was capped by a Tom Brady to Randy Moss connection for six yards to the right. It was one of the few times that the Giants secondary was in single coverage against Moss. On the drive Wes Welker set the Super Bowl record for most receptions in the Super Bowl (11 receptions in a single Super Bowl game).

With 2:42 remaining, it looked as if the Patriots 19-0 destiny was well in hand. But their destiny was disrupted.

Starting at their own 17, the Giants went into their no-huddle offense. The no-huddle had suited Giants QB Eli Manning well throughout the year. Amani Toomer's catch for 11 yards was good for a first down at the 28. On third and 10, Amani Toomer caught another pass for 9 yards falling short of a first down. It was fourth and one with 1:34 left to play and the Giants had no choice but to go for it.

Brandon Jacobs banged up the middle, stretched out his right arm and the ball for two yards and the first down.

Tyree's amazing leap was then followed by Smith's catch. The rookie showed the experience of a veteran as he was smart enough to find the first down marker and to get out of bounds and stop the play clock at 39 seconds. On the following play came the TD pass. It was only Plaxico Burress' second catch of the game but probably the biggest catch of his NFL career.

Final Team Stats

	New York Giants	New England Patriots
TOTAL FIRST DOWNS	17	22
By Rushing	4	3
By Passing	13	17
By Penalty	0	2
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY	8-16-50%	7-14-50%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY	1-1-100%	0-2-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS	338	274
Total Offensive Plays (inc. times thrown passing)	63	69
Average gain per offensive play	5.4	4.0
NET YARDS RUSHING	91	45
Total Rushing Plays	26	16
Average gain per rushing play	3.5	2.8
Tackles for a loss-number and yards	1-1	3-7
NET YARDS PASSING	247	229
Times thrown - yards lost attempting to pass	3-8	5-37
Gross yards passing	255	266
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED	34-19-1	48-29-0
Avg gain per pass play (inc.# thrown passing)	6.7	4.3
KICKOFFS Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks	4-0-0	3-1-0
PUNTS Number and Average	4-39.0	4-43.8
Had Blocked	0	0
FGs - PATs Had Blocked	0-0	0-0
Net Punting Average	35.3	32.5
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not Including Kickoffs)	25	38
No. and Yards Punt Returns	3-25	1-15
No. and Yards Kickoff Returns	2-39	4-94
No. and Yards Interception Returns	0-0	1-23
PENALTIES Number and Yards	4-36	5-35
FUMBLES Number and Lost	2-0	1-1
TOUCHDOWNS	2	2
Rushing	0	1
Passing	2	1
EXTRA POINTS Made-Attempts	2-2	2-2
Kicking Made-Attempts	2-2	2-2
FIELD GOALS Made-Attempts	1-1	0-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY	2-5-40%	2-2-100%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY	0-0-0%	2-2-100%
SAFETIES	0	0
FINAL SCORE	17	14
TIME OF POSSESSION	30:27	29:33

Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17 Patriots 14 Road Warrior Giants Bring It HomeArticle Source: http://www.ihavenet.com/nfl-superbowl-XLII-giants-patriots.html

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