America crowded around their TVs to pay the yearly homage due to the NFL for putting on the greatest show on television for seven months of the year. It was finally Super Bowl Sunday. This game felt eerily familiar to Super Bowl XLII as it pitted the resurgent New York Giants against the once mighty Patriots of New England. Everyone expected the game to be close but no one could have predicted how close.

The scoring began in the first quarter with a wacky safety for the Giants as Tom Brady got called for intentional grounding in his own end zone. The Giants were also the first offense on the board following a Victor Cruz touchdown reception and a sub-par dance. This Eli fellow didn’t miss until a little more than a minute left in the second quarter. Fighting through adversity, Tom Brady led his Pats to a ten point second quarter with determination and chip on his shoulder. Thanks to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal and a masterful vintage Brady drive that tied the Super Bowl record for longest scoring drive. As Brady hit his mark for the tenth time out of ten for a Danny “the Smurf” Woodhead touchdown, the cool Pats looked in control. The first thirty minutes were in the book, and New England went up 10 to 9.

Let’s not even talk about halftime. (Thank you MIA, but not nearly as scandalous as Janet Jackson. Sorry.) The third quarter was the Patriot’s as Brady went on a 79-yard tear down the field to take the 17-9 lead. The Giants came surging back with two Lawrence Tynes field goals to bring the deficit to two. The fourth quarter set upon Indianapolis and momentum shifted to the Giants. Brady scrambled early in the fourth avoiding the tenacious defensive line of New York. Brady broke lose to heave what looked like a perfect pass down the field in the direction of injured tight end Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski but instead the ball fell into the hands of Giants’ linebacker Chase Blackburn. Later in the same quarter a rare drop from wide receiver Wes Welker capped a Patriot drive. Now it was the Giants turn to go on an unbelievable drive. Eli led his boys down deep inside New England territory, and it looked as if the Giants would seal the win with a last second field goal. Then in one of the gutsiest coaching moves I have ever seen, Bill Belichick told his defense let Ahmad Bradshaw right into the end zone to prevent a last second Giant’s win.  Bradshaw tried to go down on the one to save the clock, but stumbled in for the score for a touchdown he never wanted. Belichick had complete confidence in his quarterback to win this thing with 57 seconds left and put it in Brady’s hands. A sack and two straight drops by Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez began the Patriot possession, but on 4th and 16 Tom Brady connected with Branch for the first down. Followed by a few more completions and a twelve men on the field penalty for New York, the game would come down

to a Hail Mary with five seconds on the clock. This was Tom Terrific’s chance to silence the debate on whether or not he is the greatest.

One Mississippi- you can already see it as one of football’s greatest plays. Two Mississippi- best. Ever. Three Mississippi – it’s tipped up. Four Mississippi- Gronk has a chance! Five Mississippi- I hate New York. Now a new debate begins. One that involves Eli Manning. The next few months will be filled with discussion about the Giants’ greatness. It makes me sick. I can only hope we see our Eagles there next year. I can’t deal with another New York championship. Let’s go Sixers!