Blitzylvania

So I wanted to add someone else to my favorites list, but couldn't.  Had to delete some old ones first.  Had like 20 people that used to be banned.  I know some of them made new accounts, but what is amazing is how many that weren't banned...great posters, that just don't come around anymore.  It doesn't surprise me.  These boards used to be a great place.  The trolls are all over CBS now.  And I ponder why I keep coming back.  Sheer hope that the quality of this site might return to it's former glory.  Sure, they're more accounts than ever.  Bet you 50% of accounts nowadays are just repeat accounts.  50% of the other half are just trolls.  And the other quarter left of the total population?  I bet you 80% of them, are just idiots, most of which like to shout one liners.  Almost like a troll, but not quite.  They're just stupid.


Schwo
papaphilly
McPhillyPhan
Pgh_Oldhead
Cardiff Giant
PhillyGuy294
i bleed green
MVKrum
Scionels
eagleman13
PHILLYFREAK78
VAPhillyPhan
steelpride
PA4Life




this is just a short list of just Pennsylvania posters.  I used to know so many more posters.  Who remembers Silver Dragon?  Expert with football picks. 

It's amazing how something so good, could turn out to be such a former shell of itself in a few short years.  I'm almost ready to bid my adieu too.  However, there are still some good posters around.  Thankfully, they keep some of the sanity around here.

Last year, I wrote on my blog what it meant to a city to have a championship.  It was a generality for all cities, all sports fans.  This year, not the case.  This one is for Philadelphia.  
A repeat championship.  Winning a single championship is a difficult feat.  Repeating though, is almost impossible.  Your team has to carry their formula of success from one season to the next, without letting the glimmer and distraction from the celebration of one get in the way.  For the team, it's a chance to prove that they weren't a fluke.  That last year wasn't a miracle.  They want to cement their legacy in the annals of baseball history as a GREAT team, and not just one that won a single championship.  What would it mean to that particular city?  All the things that last year brought, the unity and presence that the fellow fans bring to each other is enormous.  Let me give some insight and examples to show this, to those whom haven't experienced what this city has in the past year.

Last year, over 2 million people showed up for the championship parade, and thousands more didn't make it because the public transportion into the city was used to literally, it's maximum capacity.  I was there at it.  It was incredible.  Cheering with strangers I've never met, having in depth conversations.  What brought us there?  The championship.  What did we talk about?  Everything, including the championship.  I hugged people I've never met, and have never seen again.  I high-fived all people I could see in Red and White.  The championship didn't really improve anything that day.  Our economy is still in recession.  There is still crime (here and around the world).  The war didn't end.  What it did though, for that one day, was bring EVERYONE together in one joyous moment that we could all share.  What I didn't expect, what happened afterwards.  The feeling of togetherness and unity did not end when that parade ended.  It continued.  It continued into the next season, and still continues to this day.
For Philadelphia, the Phillies have all brought us together.  They are truely something special, and they deserve to show the history books that they were special in these years.  We want them soooo badly to repeat.  It's not being greedy, it's just we after so many years of championship drought, finally got to enjoy it.  Now, we're out to show, with the team, to the rest of the world, that this team truely was special.  And they are headed straight towards it again.  After the season begun, after the Phillies weren't even given consideration to win the NL East, the Phillies Phaithful defended them tooth and nail while haters bashed them.  Called them flukes.  Criticized their homerun hitting style and their "lack of pitching".  Well, the Phillies made moves to continue their success.  Raul Ibanez in the offseason, Cliff Lee before the trade deadline.  They have their sights set upon repeating.  They have the pieces to become a dynasty.  The Phillies franchise aren't concerned about the future, they are focused on NOW.  For once, it seems, the franchise listened to their fanbase.  Now it's time for the rest of the baseball world to listen too.  The Phillies right now, are a great team.  And we hope that they show it again.
This season, we lost one of our greatest fans.  Harry Kalas.  A friend to all, and a true fan of baseball.  So many great memories from those who knew him, whom met him, and have listened to him.  Personally, he was the second man I learned baseball from.  The first was my father.  The second was Harry Kalas.  And it's actually something we share.  My father was in his teens when Harry came to town, and he followed the Phillies with him.  It was a true bonding experience between my father and me, to be such a fan of Harry Kalas.  it literally brings tears to my eyes just thinking of how much I enjoyed listening to the Phillies with his voice, and everything he could say and make me feel like he was right there in the room with me.  He was like that uncle that knows everything about baseball and teaches it to their nephews.  For the fanbase, we all lost a great friend.  To the team, just the same.  At the end of every victory, at the stadium, we all sing "High Hopes."  It's a great feeling.  Harry never left us, he's just sitting in another booth that has a much better view of the stadium now when the game is on.  The Phillies put the HK patch on their uniforms, just above their hearts.  Because that's where Harry is.  He's right there, in all of our hearts.
So in short, Phillies, do it for you.  Last year was for Philadelphia and the fans.  This year, it is about you.  We'll take what we get from it usually, but we want it for you more then anything else.  It's your chance in history to show how great you are.  Just prove it.  You already proved it to us.  You already proved it to Harry.  You already proved it to yourselves.  Prove it to the rest of the world, they're the only pins left to knock down.  We'll be with you every step of the way, every stumble, every victory, and every defeat.  if you don't (knock on wood), you don't.  You're still great.  We know that.  You already convinced us.  Do it for yourselves and show everyone else.  And if you could, maybe...do it for Harry.  

We have, High Hopes.
Lets Go Phillies!

-Blitzylvania

First off, let me explain why I'm writing this.  Philadelphia is close to a championship, again.  We've been there before, the hype is incredible, the excitement and electricity is in the air...everybody is waiting, almost painfully waiting, for that first pitch...for that first hit.  Time wears on, every second seemingly slower and slower.  Why does it matter so much to us Philadelphia Phaithful?  Well, it's a big sports town.  All of Pennsylvania is that way.  Passionate.  Knowledgable.  Loyal.  And...on some levels, a bit crazy.  It is what it is. 

A good question was asked of me yesterday.  "What type of sports town is Philadelphia?"  Well, the answer to that is a bit tricky.  Go back 30-40 years, the answer was a lot simplier.  It's a baseball town.  Today though, not so much.  Through the late 70's, 80's, 90's and this decade, the town has really attached itself to it's football team.  Not saying there wasn't loyalty or a rabid fanbase there already, it was.  But baseball was more prominent.  Today, the quick and easy answer is..."Whoever is playing".  And really, it's the truth.  If you're an all Philadelphia fan, whatever sport is on you'll follow.  Baseball, football, basketball, hockey...doesn't matter.  You love it.  Each of the teams here has a lot of history, a lot of great players have passed through here, and a lot of great memories have passed through the walls of our stadiums and complexes.  It doesn't stop there though.  Soccer and lacrosse have established strong roots here, and in 2010, Philadelphia will gain yet another professional sports team in the MLS.  Myself, I'm an all-around fan.  I love sports, I played them throughout my childhood, and in such gained a lot of friends and experiences that I would not trade for anything in the world.  (also, if you wanna find more out about that, I have another entry about how I'm a Pennsylvania fan, not just Philly, and why). 

So why is gaining a championship for this city so important?  Will it really improve anybody's life besides the players, coaches, staff and owners of the team that gets it?  Will it earn you more money in your paycheck?  Will it make your food taste sweeter?  Will you suddenly drop that 20 lbs you been wanting to but never seem to be able to do (or in my case, I'm trying to put on 15 lbs since I left college)?  Will she finally be able to say yes to the big question?  Will your boss give you that promotion?  Will crime drop in the city?  Will your house look better?  To all the things that really really really matter in life...will any of those really improve?  Will all of a sudden the city as a whole be better off and shown in a better light because one of our big 4 teams finally win a championship?  The answer is no.  So again, why is it so important?  For me, I'll tell you why....

Because we're diehard fans.  We like winners in this city.  Hard to believe since we've had so few of them.  Maybe there is a bit of a syndrome, when you're one of the great cities in the united states, yet the championships...compared to New York, compared to Boston, compared to Pittsburgh or Chicago or St. Loius.......seem so miniscule.  Doesn't make those cities better, it just feels that way.  This city and it's surrounding area provide so much to the country, offer so much in terms of culture, economy, agriculture, politics, history....everything really needed to sustain a country, Philadelphia and the surrounding area provide it's share.  So in essence, we also want our teams to represent that.  Of course, they haven't and in reality, they wouldn't anyways because teams aren't the base of our economy or culture or politics or any of that.  They just exist to play here.  But we still love them.  Because we embrace them as one of our own, as part of that culture, that history.  And in that sense, that's why we want them to win.

So it won't change our lives, it won't improve them in a true sense.  But it will make us happy.  For at least a day, it will make it impossible for us to not smile, exchange happiness and good will.  Is it wrong it means that much to us?  No.  It's a great thing that at some level, all the population in this area can have something in common and be prideful in.  For at least a little while, we can rejoice in something like this happening.  And we can do it together, as a city and a culture.

 

Go Phillies.

My record this week is 9-6 (Baltimore and Houston game postponed)...

Out of the 6 losses this week (Saints, Vikings, Bears, Chiefs, Eagles, and Jaguars)...5 of them lost to 4th quarter comebacks, and I would say 4 of those teams had no business losing that game (Vikings, Saints, Jaguars, and Bears).  The games went exactly as I predicted they would in terms of why teams would do good or bad because of this or that, but the 4th quarter comebacks killed me.

All I can say is...

&%(@&%#*(&%*)#&*%&#*!!!!!!!

Oh well, get'em next week.

Week 1 is over and now everyone has a slightly better feel as to what each team brings to the table.  After the first week, my personal record is 12-4, not too bad in my opinion.  Here is my picks for week 2 and why.

Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars

I'll take Jacksonville here.  The Bills looked good and the Jaguars not-so-good.  But one thing about Jacksonville that I always liked is that when they lose, they don't seem out of control.  They are still a very good defense with an efficient offense. David Garrard is going to have be the leader of this team, and I believe he will do so.  Plus against the Bills D, the Jags have one of the best true duo's at RB. 

 Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers

Both teams had convincing wins against 2 of the 2007 division winners in the AFC.  Delhomme led an impressive 4th quarter drive without the help of his #1 WR, Steve Smith.  He didn't have one of his more accurate days, but having a td pass in the play of the game is huge.  The Bears D on the other hand looked mighty nice against the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning.  The Colts might be starting to get older on that elite offense of theirs, but it is still one of the best in the league.  Nonetheless, the Bears held 'em in check led by Brian Urlacher while their run offense took advantage of the Colts leaky rushing D, and Kyle Orton had an efficient day and spreading the ball around to several receivers...none with more then 2 catchs.  I'll take Chicago in this matchup though, looking for their D to have another controlling game while their offense pounds out another win.

Tennesee Titans @ Cinncinati Bengals

Titans look to be improved from last year, putting on a defensive onslaught against the Jaguars.  Their offense looks solid, yet Vince Young still has his accuracy problems.  Nonetheless, LenDale White and Chris Johnson seem to form a potential good duo for the Titans offense, which should easily take care of the Bengals horrid D.  This game though will come down to ball control and grinding that clock, and good defense.  Also, i just don't think the Bengals are going to be even a mediocre team...probably going to be bad for them.  Tennesee one away from home.

New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins

Redskins are not going to have a good season, and will lose against good teams.  That's the easiest way to say it.  Saints still have a very prolific offense, and they have added a couple good additions to their D.  Their passing attacks will keep the Redskins guessing on defense, and the Redskins offensive problems with the QB learning a new system will continue.  New Orleans is my pick.

Green Bay Packers @ Detriot Lions

Aaron Rodgers definately looked like a good QB on Monday night.  Not bad for someone making their first start in the NFL and also doing it on National Television.  The Lions imo have a good passing offense, but it won't be enough considering their D and how well the Packers did all-around against a better team in the Minnesota Vikings (better then the Lions, not the Packers).  Green Bay should be able to get an easy victory, look for Aaron Rodgers to have an even bigger day then his NFL debut on MNF.

New York Giants @ St. Louis Rams

After seeing what the Eagles did to the Rams and their offense on Sunday, it's hard to believe that the Giants won't be able to take care of business.  Still, if the Giants don't get any pressure on Bulger, their D could cost them the game.  However, the Rams D does not stop the run well, and even though has a playmaker or two in the secondary, don't defend the pass that well either because of the lack of a decent passrush.  New York controls the game very convincingly here (not as good as the Eagles though).

Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs

I really don't know what is a tougher choice...the one between two good teams, and the one between two bad teams.  I think the Chiefs take this one simply because of the poor run defense of Oakland matched up against Larry Johnson and his power running game.  Nothing else really excites me to see this matchup.  I can hear that soundtrack of the football blooper reels playing now as Kansas City pulls out the victory in a sloppy game by both teams.

Indianapolis Colts @ Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota is my upset pick of the week.  Not because I don't think the Colts are a bad team, they're a good team.  Not because I think the Vikings are a good team, they're slightly above average.  This one comes down to the matchups, and I don't think the Colts matchup well against the Vikings.  Vikings have a really good defense.  Good lineman, good secondary.  They will be in Manning's face all day, and Addai is going to have hard time getting past the line.  Both parts of the offense will suffer and the Vikings O will control the ball with Adrian Peterson.  Tavaris Jackson needs to do better as well, but he'll have a slightly easier time with the Colts then he did the Packers.

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

Seattle just keeps losing players.  This year I think it is in the Cards to not make the playoffs for the Seahawks (pun intended...a very bad one), and in fact, they might even place 3rd or 4th in their division the way things keep going.  Really a shame to see Mike Holmgren's final year going the way it is.  He's had quite an impressive coaching career, take 2 teams to 3 SB's and getting a ring with one of them.  Part of that Bill Walsh coaching tree legacy.  The 49ers got some good players to take advantage of the Seahawks when their down and this week they'll do just that.  It won't be easy and it won't be pretty, but San Fransisco wins.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another tough game for these division rivals.  I enjoyed what the Falcons did last week, but they won't have the luxury of a weak defense for their inexperienced offense to take advantage of.  Also their defense is susceptable to the run, something the Buccaneers do fairly decently at.  The Buccaneers are a tough and gritty team and should take care of things at home.  Tampa Bay led by their defense pulls this one out.

Miami Dolphins @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are the team to beat in the NFC West this year.  They've gotten more experienced from last year, and should improve.  They still got two top-notch WR's, they still have Edgerin James who's always a solid runner, and Kurt Warner is still doing his thing behind center.  The Dolphins on the other hand are in a complete rebuilding stage, and I don't expect them to win games against division or potential division winners for a couple more years.  Arizona notchs another one.

New England Patriots @ New York Jets

Now if you would have asked me before Sunday what this was gonna be, I would answered the Patriots before you finished the sentance.  Tom Brady out of the picture makes it a totally new piece of art.  Here's the thing about Matt Cassel.  Before this season, whenever I watched him play, I was always fairly impressed with his abilities to mimic what Brady does.  He's no Tom Brady, but he does a good enough job usually to get the job done.  Let's not forget who he has to help him out.  Randy Moss.  Wes Welker.  The Patriots rotating starters at RB in Lawrence Maroney and Sammy Morris.  And their O-line is still a very good O-line, don't care what other people say.  As for Farve and the Jets, well....Farve will be Farve, and against a team as seasoned as the Patriots, that isn't good.  I think Farve choose to wear the #4 still because thats how many games he expects to win a Jet.  New England wins simply because they are still New England and the Jets are still the Jets.

Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans

Baltimore wins another one here.  Texans are not quite there yet.  They are close to getting a competitive team together, but they still have another year to go.  Baltimore on the other hand still has that great defense, and an offense that has some promise.  The Texans do have some pieces to build upon, just need one more year to really get it all together and make themselves playoff contenders.

San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos

I don't need any more convincing that Jay Cutley is going to be a really good QB in the NFL.  He looked absolutely brilliant against the Raiders, and the Broncos rushing attack is still one of the best in the league.  Consistant and a model for offensive lines.  Eddie Royal looked like a prime WR against the Raiders, he'll be tested against the Chargers.  Still, I think the consistancy of Jay Cutley combined with a good running game and a solid D will stop Ladianian Tomlinson and the Chargers.  Denver wins another one.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Before the season began, I had predicted these guys will split.  I take that back.  Pittsburgh is not a better team from last year.  They are a much better team from last year.  Ben Roethlisberger has showcased why he's a Top 10, if not Top 5, QB in the NFL.  Also, Willie Parker and that offensive line showed what Pittsburgh football is all about.  Running the ball down your throats, while the QB makes the consistant and accurate passes to move the chains.  Hines Ward was an absolute beast when blocking for Parker, he is so much fun to watch...and call it silly if you want, but the fact that he's smiling while he lays a huge block on you to me just makes me laugh with him.  Let's not forget about their defense.  Harrison is a monster.  Steelers really found a gem to replace Joey Porter in this guy.  Love watching him too, absolutely sickening what he can in all situations.  His all-out high motor approach makes him even better of a player.  Pittsburgh celebrates another victory and show who is still king in the AFC North.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

Potential Game Of The Year.  The Eagles are back as a top team in the NFL.  A healthy QB, a rookie WR who shows no fear and is as tough as a coffin nail, an elite NFL RB, a defense that is younger strong and faster from last year.  What's there not to like about this team besides the fact that you might hate him just because they play for Philadelphia.  Still, they have quite a challenge on national television against the Dallas Cowboys.  The battle for the NFC East is going to be a brutal one this year, and it truely starts here.  Not the Giants versus the Redskins last week.  That was just warmups, this is where the action is going to lay.  Between these two teams, there might not be any other real chance of any other team making the Superbowl from the NFC.  Saints are right there imo, but both these teams have something the Saints do not, and that's a smothering defense capable of shutting down a prolific offense.  2 Top 5 NFL QB's, 2 excellent offensive lines, 1 team has one of the best receiving cores in the game, the other has one of the best RB's in the game.  On defense, both show up with a scary Front 7.  Both have very good secondaries, Eagles boasting arguebly the best in the NFL.  For everything you can say one team does well, the opposing team has more then enough potential, capability, and personel to counter them.  So many things could happen during this game.  It could be an offensive shootout, could be a defensive massacre...could be a game filled with gamebreaking plays from both sides of the ball.  Could be sloppy as all hell due to the sheer fact that both teams are well stocked with talent.  So let's break down the advantages a bit more closely.

QB - as I said, both teams sport a Top 5 QB.  This category is null.

RB - advantage Eagles.  Brian Westbrook is the most versatile RB in the game, capable of creating mismatches whereever he lines up.

WR - advantage Cowboys.  Terrell Owens is what he always has been, a HOF career in the making filled with spectacular plays and a great physical style after the catch.  The depth behind him is pretty decent too.

TE - advantage Cowboys.  Cowboys got a Top 5 TE in Jason Witten.  He's a beast in blocking or catching.  An absolute in the redzone and between the 20's.  If there is one player the Eagles really have to watch out for, it's this guy.  They can stop Terrell Owens, they've done it very well 3 out of the last 4 meetings...Witten on the other hand is hard to contain.  Hopefully Omar Gaither on the outside and Stewart Bradley in the middle provide enough speed for coverage.

Offensive Line - advantage Eagles.  They might be older then the Cowboys line, but when it comes to offensive lines, experience goes a looooong way.  Runyan and Thomas are still one of the best OT duo's in the league.  Shawn Andrews is arguebly the most dominant guard in the NFL.  Todd Herremans can play both tackle and guard, very versatile player.  And the mix of Jamaal Jones (starter) and Nick Cole at center provide a very solid middle.  They are one of the best groups in the NFL.

Defensive Line - advantage Eagles.  Trent Cole is a Top 5 DE.  He stops the run inside and outside, can drop back in coverage, clogs up holes and occupies lineman....oh, and he's one hell of a pass rusher too.  Patterson and Bunkley are Pro-Bowl calibur DT's.  They do an excellent job at all aspects except for dropping back into coverage...really, when does a DT do that though?  On the other side, a good mix of Juqua Thomas and Darren Howard, whom also moves into the DT spot during certain situations, provide enough so far to make the D-Line one of the best at collapsing that pocket.

Linebackers - advantage Cowboys.  They are just downright nasty, and their backups are good too.  At least one of those backups could be a starter on most teams that run a 3-4.  They cover their blitzs with near perfection, and are extremely fast.  Eagles have younger more inexperienced linebackers, but their strength and quickness makes them a dangerous group.  The Cowboys though, have the experience there and that's what makes them better.

Defensive backs - null.  The Eagles have the better depth at CB, able to stop really any WR the Eagles choose to run their way.  Two Pro-Bowlers in Asante Samuel and Lito Sheppard who are great at jumping routes and picking off the ball.  Sheldon Brown adds a more physical element to the secondary, as he can lay some huge hits.  The safeties, future HOF Brian Dawkins and Quintin Mikell provide good support past the CB's.  Though I wish I saw more out of Mikell, but he does his job solidly enough.  So why is it null then?  Imo, the Cowboys have very solid talent at CB, not as much as the Eagles, but pretty close.  Though their safeties, as a group, I think are better.  Ken Hamlin is one of the most underrated free safety's in the game and Roy Williams can hit like a train.  He can get burned in coverage, so he's a liability there.  Doesn't mean he can't keep up with WR's either, but he needs to get the perfect though.

Special teams - advantage Eagles.  DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps.  Explosive rookies.  Nuff said.  Also they have David Akers and Sav Rocca.  Two of the best at their position in the NFL.

So who wins?  Well, the biased fan in me wants to pick the Eagles.  The unbiased fan in me says that the Cowboys will be able to pull it off in a close game.

Hell with it, I'm picking Philadelphia.

 

First off, sending out congratulations to the New York Football Giants.  They played as a team and won as a team, beating the team who is best known for playing the best team football in the league.  It was truely a Super Win.

So Eli Manning has finally come out of his brother's shadow, and what a time to do it.  He isn't Peyton Manning, that is definately for sure.  He is his own entity, plays with a different style.  Is he better then Peyton Manning?  In terms of reading defenses and taking control of games from start to finish, I don't think Eli will ever be that.  But he is a great game manager, and in the clutch, does have a tendency to really come through.  It's Joe Montana-like.  He isn't Joe Montana by a long shot, but it's same ability to throw winning TD's is what Eli Manning has really made a name for himself with his 4th quarter comebacks and 2 minute-drill drives.  What Eli did yesterday not even Tom Brady has done in the Superbowl, and that's throw a WINNING TD.  That's a lot harder to do then driving down the field for your kicker to make a 40-50 yard kick.  You have to give Eli props there, as he has proven that in clutch situations, he can pull it off more then most QB's.  I used to doubt to guy, not anymore.  I used to think he got lucky, not anymore.  Does he benefit from a great team?  Sure.  What QB who wins a Superbowl doesn't?  If you can name one, let me know (and don't say Tom Brady...he had a great defense, 1 year had a great runningback, and has had one of the best offensive lines of all time for practically all his career).  Anyways, let's look at what Eli did.

He drove down the field with less then 2 minutes to go and throws a winning TD.  He showed great poise and determination by escaping the rush when it seemed he would be sacked in probably THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAY on that drive, probably the entire SB.  Oh, he also accounted for 14 of the 17 points the team had, in the 4th quarter.  Also, in the beginning of the game, the Giants converted a SB record 4 3rd downs on the first possesion...3 of which were passes from Eli, at least two of them from 6 or more yards to convert.  Eli also passed for 13 of the 17 first downs the Giants had.  The Giants rushing attack was pretty ineffective, as was the Pats, and in what seemed to be a game favored for Tom Brady because it essentially became the only way to win was to pass, Eli did better except for completion percentage.  He led that team to all of it's points, and he deserves every bit of recognition he got with the MVP award.  There is no doubt in my mind that he deserves the MVP, I would even go as far to say that he deserved it more then Peyton Manning's MVP in SB41.  The offensinve line also did a really excellent job, but giving up 3 sacks does not look too good.  Thanks to the Giants D and the rest of the offense, it didn't matter too much, as they only lost 8 total yards.  Eli might have had 1 inteception, but there is a definate asterisk next to it, because it was more the fault of the receiver botching the catch, because Eli threw a really nice pass and the receiver just let it bounce off his hands into the defenders'.

Let's look at the Giants defense.  They sacked Tom Brady 5 times, and hit him probably 3 times as much.  They had him rattled all day long, made him miss throws when receivers ran good routes.  And when Tom Brady finally got off a good pass, the receivers were knocked off their routes, messing the timing of the play, and forcing incompletions.  Also, when the Giants D forced a fumble, they recovered it.  The Pats D did not do that.  You could make an arguement that a defensive player should have had the MVP, as this was a defensive game.  But the key to the Giants D, is that they played team football.  Lots of gang tackling and Jim Johnson's protege, Steve Spagnola, blitz packages galore...this is the model of the Jim Johnson defense, and Spagnola learned from it and applied it.  He did an AMAZING job in New York, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's offered a head coaching job somewhere.  On a side note, this goes to show yet another example of the class and quality of coaches who come from Andy Reid's coaching tree, which comes from Mike Holmgren, which comes from Bill Walsh.  A long line of very detail oriented coaches who are among the best at what they do.  Anyways, back to the point in hand.  As well as the defense played, there were no true standouts.  Justin Tuck had 2 sacks and a FF, but only 4 tackles, 1 assist (5 total).  He was a playmaker, but he certainly wasn't a standout.  He did an excellent job though.  In my opinion, he was the second best player on the field that day.  Props to Butler for making a bunch of tackles for his team, which probably saved the Giants from the Pats scoring more points then they did.  In a game like this, against a team like the Pats, you need your DB's to make the tackles.  Also Pierce, who came in second with 8 tackles, was huge in stopping the Patriots rushing attack.  All-in-all though, great team defense. 

Defense wins championships, and this year...it truely did.  But when considering individual performances, which is what the Superbowl MVP is all about (actually is what all MVP awards are about), Eli truely did shine and it was his day in the spotlight.  Pete Prisco was right, Manning was going to the be difference maker in this game, and he was.

Now, let's look at the Patriots.  Tom Brady had a decent day, though he only threw 1 td pass.  He wasn't able to escape the pressure of the D, and the 5 sacks show for it.  Also, their rushing attack was completely nullified...Lawrence Maroney, supposed to be this really really good back, didn't even manage a 3 ypa average.  He had 14 carries for 36 yards, and his longest was 9.  He had the other Patriots td, but it came on a goalline run, and it took 2 attempts from a yard or less to get it.  And he only got this shot because of a pass interference call in the endzone.  He was truely ineffective, and I bet the Patriots and their fans are *really* missing Corey Dillion now, because if you remember the last time the Pats were in the SB vs. the Eagles, he completely rolled over that D.  Randy Moss was pretty quiet all day, the Giants D covered him nicely, especially when Brady tried one long shot in the final seconds of the game.  Who really stood out on the Patriots offense was probably the biggest "Out-Of-Nowhere" WR story of the year, Wes Welker.  11 catches for 103 yards...if he would have had a td catch and the Pats won, he would have been the MVP.  It just goes to show how important it is nowadays to have a quick and strong slot receiver who can also play the outside like Welker can.  He came up huge today, unfortunately Tom Brady could not do enough to get him the ball a couple more times to make a td.  Welker caught a bunch of short passes and a few of them go for more then 10 yards.  His agility and speed is something that is rare in a slot receiver, and very valueble to ANY team. 

Now, how about that Patriots defense.  The secondary, which was the sole reason for 2 of their 3 SB's wins (vs. the Rams and Eagles), completely did something wrong this game.  Especially on the Giants final offensive play, Burress completely fooled the Patriots defender and Eli and Plaxico Burress hooked up on what they've been doing for a couple years now, and have become imo the best in the league...fade passes to the corner of the endzone for a jumpball.  Take the best of two players abilties to create points.  They flopped though, Rodney Harrison had to run all over the place to make tackles...but when it came time to play smart football, the Giants did the right thing and avoided him.  He laid some huge hits and played very nicely.  Imo, he played the best out of the entire defense.  The linebackers played decent, but vs. the quick outside runs of Bradshaw...they were taken advantage of.  Also, their coverage skills dropped and Eli's passes over the middle showed that.  The defensive line played really good though, not allowing Brandon Jacobs to pound the ball effectively, and getting 3 sacks on Eli.  Though not enough team defense was played to stop Eli Manning and the Giants. 

You can say what you want about this causing this and that and why things happened, but that's how the game is.  You play team football and someone usually has a better performance then the rest.  The Giants played better team football during the Superbowl, and Eli had the best performance out of all of them.  That's how games are won and lost.  Say what want about the defense giving up plays for Eli, but Eli still had to make them.  Say what you want about the Patriots not running the ball effectively, the Giants still had to stop them.  Team football is what it is always about, and will always be about.  Someone usually is a bit better then the rest, that's how football is.

Again, Congratulations to the New York Football Giants.  Great win.

Giants Offensive MVP - Eli Manning

Giants Defensive MVP - Justin Tuck

Patriots Offensive MVP - Wes Welker

Patriots Defensive MVP - Rodney Harrison

Superbowl MVP - Eli Manning