MMBSD: Ok I Get It, Its Cold

So there it was overtime when the Giants kicker trotted out on the field aware that he'd already missed two. Not only was he aware but the entire city of New York was aware of the situation. Hit the field goal and his misses would be forgotten. Miss it and is family, his families friends, his dog, his dog's friends lives were forfeit. With all the pressure Tynes calmly stepped up and booted a 47 yard field goal that sailed through sending the NY football Giants into the Super Bowl and forcing MJ to crap his pants. The Giants in the Super Bowl. Eli Manning in the Super Bowl. How the fuck did this happen?

1. Brett Favre Aged 35 years over the Course of the GameLook I've taken some shots at Favre over the years but the one thing I've always secretly enjoyed and respected about Favre is that he still looked young. Over the course of the game I swear Favre morphed into some version of YA Title or Bart Starr. He looked old. He played old. He couldn't handle the cold. His hands were some odd purple color by the end. The result was costly turnovers, missed receivers and a second half performance that frankly was sad.

2. Tom Coughlin threatened his team with leprosy
Why did Fox keep showing Coughlin? I'm not sure if he had a fifth degree chemical burn or leprosy but he very quickly morphed into Freddie Kruger. Whether the fear of having to look at Coughlin or he threatened them with his ebola but the Giants turned things around in the second half. The defense played more physical. Receivers besides Plaxico managed to hold onto the ball. Bradshaw added a little spark. Whatever it was the Giants outplayed the Packers in the second half (and frankly short a fluke fumble would have won it in regulation).

3. Keeping Your Cool
I'll say this about the Giants, they didn't lose their cool over some borderline calls (ahem KGB offsides). They just kept trucking along. At the center of this cool in the cold was Eli Manning. I haven't jumped on the never ending Manning is turning the corner that seems to get published every two weeks for the past 3 years. HOWEVER Manning has played well the past three playoff wins. He didn't get flustered by the blitz. He didn't get flustered by dropped passes. He didn't seem to freak out by the cold or the fact that during halftime he had three toes amputated. He played smart. He didn't make costly mistakes. He threw the ball away when it was needed. He put the ball where either his receiver would make the play or it would be an incomplete. This is not to say Eli is Payton. Or Eli will now be a Pro Bowl QB. But he's played well on the playoffs and credit goes to where credit is deserved.

Random Thoughts
Did anyone understand Norv Turner's decision to punt down 9 in the fourth quarter? Outside of fear choking all rational decision out of Norval's brain there's no other explanation. What had the Chargers shown in the second half that would lead anyone to conclude that the Chargers could stop the Pats twice let alone force quick three and outs? Not to say the Chargers weren't hamstrung especially in the Red Zone by no Tomlinson, a Gates at half strength and referee crew that obviously compromised of Bill Simmon's family members? And just to emphasize a trend I saw Umm is their any team in the league dirtier than the Patriots? Nice leg whip Vrabel.

Al Harris you and your secondary was Pwned by Plaxico Burress. Plaxico was trying which meant the Packers were roasted.

Any doubts that huge sucking sound is the sound of ESPN preparing its coronation of the Patriots?


Onto the Super Bowl