With the playoffs going on and the Giants most certainly not a part of it, I've taken full advantage of my NFL Gamepass subscription, which lets you watch a "condensed" version of every game since 2012 and every Super Bowl.
It's basically play after play after play, with no replays or huddles. Only penalties.
I found it interesting to re-watch the games in that context because it really gives you more insight to the flow of a game. Some plays and themes jumped out at me for both games...(and for the 1st time ever, I did come away with the sense that the Giants were the better team in SB46. Before that, I'd always felt like we played the perfect game and got all of the breaks.)
- Osi made a HUGE play on a 3rd and 1 in the 1st half of SB42. Totally blew up the play and allowed the 3 or 4 Giants defenders to tackle Maroney behind the LOS.
- Sam Madison had a few key open field tackles to prevent a much bigger gain.
- Diehl and Richard Seymour looked like they were really going at each other. It's funny that I never noticed it before.
- Kevin Dockery made a great play on the ball covering Welker to force a Pats punt in the 2nd half.
- The Pats did not have an answer for Steve Smith on 3rd down (4 conversions) including the obvious HUGE 3rd and 11 on the final drive. I still can't believe sometimes how big of a play that was.
- In SB46 the Giants O-Line dominated the LOS. They moved the ball the entire game. A horrible holding call on 3rd and 1 on Kevin Boothe killed one drive. A false start on a 3rd and 5 killed another. A pocket collapse deep in Pats territory on back-to-back plays killed another. And finally a blatant missed PI (Chung got to Manningham about two steps before the ball) that stopped a drive at midfield.
- Something that always bothered me...JPP got blatantly held on the last play of the game (the hail mary)
- I still can't believe Brady converted a 4th and 16 on the final drive. Would have been nice to take a knee there, haha.
- Nicks was an excellent WR in his prime. He made so many big catches in that game. I feel like he was never the same after the Tampa Bay game early in 2012.
- The Giants put the ball on the ground 5 times combined in these two games and never lost the ball. Bradshaw somehow going into the pile and getting it back. Eli fumbling, the Giants illegally batting the ball forward and recovering it. Cruz fumbling in the red zone but the Pats have 12-men, Nicks putting one on the ground that Hynoski immediately pounced on. Bradshaw fumbling DEEP in Pats territory, two of their guys miss it and Snee jumps on it.
If you guys have the time, I suggest you watch again. Still makes me nervous each time because I'm a Giants fan, but well worth it.
me too. I thought the were ready to put that game away. They were imposing their will.
If I recall, the NFL Game Rewind had the on field mic on the player that got "held" and it heard the referee ask him "Did you really get held?" and the Pats player flat admits "No, that was a bad call"
I doubt we rout the Patriots anyway, though. That almost never happens. Might have been an easier win, but not a rout.
Quote:
It would have been a lot different game
If I recall, the NFL Game Rewind had the on field mic on the player that got "held" and it heard the referee ask him "Did you really get held?" and the Pats player flat admits "No, that was a bad call"
I think the Pats player was Wilfork.
They almost always get favorable calls in key situations. That's why they,especially the GOAT, cries to refs when it doesn't go smoothly. Team Teflon.
Holy shit, what great games, and great emotional highs!
Thanks for the reminder ... as if I should need one, but YES! We won both of those games! WOOOO!!! lol
I believe that was near or around the Giants 20 yard line too which obviously would have put them in easy FG range and with plenty of opportunity to put it in the end zone.
It sure was. I fully agree about that call changing the course of that game. I thought it would have been a blow out in favor of the Giants had that cal not been made.
Nicks was at the next level during our Super Bowl playoff run .. he had amazing YAC plays in GB and Atlanta
I also thought he was going to become elite WR in 2012 - He got injured and then he was hurt a few times more coming back from injury that ruined his career. it seems like our S & C and Medical staff really screwed up his rehab .
Nicks is 29 OLD NOW he should still be playing football.