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What a team! The New England Patriots became the seventh NFL franchise to win back to back Superbowl championships and only the second to win three Superbowls in a four year span (the Dallas Cowboys accomplished the same feat in the early 1990s). This championship was a greater accomplishment than the previous two for a couple of reasons:
For me, this year's Superbowl title meant more than last year's victory but not as much as the first
one. Nothing could match the elation of seeing the Patriots finally win the Superbowl after 20-plus
as a Patriots fan. Yesterday's win meant a little more than #2 because it placed the Patriots in the
same category as the best five or six teams of the past 50 years. It also means that the media can no
longer marginalize the Patriots accomplishments.
My mindset has also evolved over the past four seasons. When the clock was winding down in
Superbowl XXXVI, I fully expected the Patriots to find a way to lose to the Rams. Last year when the
Pats and Panthers were heading down to the wire, I was confident but not comfortable. Yesterday, I
never doubted that the Patriots would win the game. Nothing builds confidence better than going 32-2.
Have there been any big games over the past two years where neither McGinest nor Bruschi has
made a huge game-changing or game-clinching play?
Speaking of big plays, I don't think any play typifies what the Patriots are all about more than
the 19-yard third down strike from Brady to Branch early in the fourth quarter. Brady threaded the
needle through tight coverage and Branch won the struggle with the defender and came down with the
ball. Those are the type of throws that separate the champions from the rest.
One of the only disappointing moments in yesterday's game was Freddie Mitchell's one reception.
It took him 57 minutes to catch that pass and his final line was 1 reception, 11 yards, 0 TDs.
Rodney Harrison's line: 7 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack. So much for Freddie's mouth. I know it's only
February but Mitchell is already the frontrunner to win the Chump of the Year Award that
Alex Rodriguez won in 2004.
Next year's big game, Superbowl XL, will be held at Detroit's Ford Field on February 5th.
Apparently, XL is Roman for "lousy Superbowl destination."
Perhaps the most amazing moment of yesterday's game was Philadelphia's clock management late in the
fourth quarter. Down by 10 points with under four minutes left in the game, Philadelphia was
lollygagging back to line of scrimmage and even going into a huddle. It was astounding. I don't
think I have ever seen that in a regular season college game much less the Superbowl. Had the Eagles
displayed even a tiny bit of urgency, they could have scored prior to the two minute warning
enabling them to kick the ball deep rather than going for the onside kick (they probably should
have kicked deep anyway but that's another story). The Eagles prevented the Patriots from getting a
first down but began their final drive inside their own five yard line with about a minute left.
With decent clock management, they may have started near midfield with more than 1:30 left on the clock.
Was Andy Reid playing to cover the seven? Eagle fans are understandably livid.
Prior to the Patriots, seven teams (six franchises) had won back to back Superbowls. Of those
seven, three failed to make the playoffs the next season and none returned to the Superbowl the
following year. Here's how the previous seven fared the year after their second consecutive
Superbowl championship:
Deion Branch, Tom Brady and Rodney Harrison received most of the publicity yesterday but New England's
ability to win the battle at the line of scrimmage was a huge key to victory. Kevin Faulk and Corey Dillon
combined for 113 yards on 26 carries (4.3 yards per carry). Brian Westbrook and Dorsey Levens,
meanwhile, rushed for just 45 yards on 16 carries. If you take away Westbrook's 22 yard run on the last
play of the first half (one the Patriots gave up willingly), Philly's duo of backs rushed for a scant
23 yards on 15 carries (1.3 yards per rush). Donovan McNabb carried once for no gain.
My favorite Superbowl commercials:
The worst non-McDonald's commerical out there is the one for Nike Pro Apparel. What is the deal with
these athletes in the creepy masks? It's hard to tell if they are appearing in a Nike ad or a preview
for Eyes Wide Shut 2.
Superbowl Halftime CLASS-O-METER:
In other NFL news, the Raiders and Ravens are among the teams reportedly interested in trading for Randy Moss.
This is of course no surprise because the Raiders never pass on a name player that no one else wants and
the Ravens are on their way to having more defendants than defenders. The Ravens are one player away
from being able to move to Portland and change their nickname to the Trail Blazers.
How much would you pay to see Bill Belichick wearing this hat on the sideline?
I'll start the bidding at $100.
I think I know what the CBS execs were thinking while watching the Superbowl. That's right,
CSI: Jacksonville.
