Super Bowl Result

RESULT: Giants 17-14

As I stated in my Super Bowl pick for the Patriots, as a Giants fan I would hope I was wrong. The Patriots came in the better team heavily favored to win, but the Giants played their best defensive game of the year, to hold the Pats to a season low 14 points. The Giants D-Line constantly bothered and hit Brady, causing him to lose his normal coolness. Brady was seen yelling at his teammates and struggling to hit open receivers. The Giants offense wasn't spectacular but a solid opening drive and a heart stopping final drive were the difference. As Randy Moss scored with under 3 minutes remaining, to take the lead late like they had done in the Week 17 matchup, it was up to Eli Manning to show what he had. After nearly throwing 2 INTs, Manning escaped a near sack to throw an almost hailmary pass to little used David Tyree for an amazing catch. The play saw Tyree use one hand, and his helmet to hold the ball while Rodney Harrison was bending him backwards. Manning then avoided an all out blitz to throw a fade to Burress for the winning TD. This was one of the biggest upsets in Superbowl history, but a sweet win for Giants fans. Yes, I picked wrong putting me at 8-3 for the playoffs but I'll take it. The only bad thing about the Pats losing, is that we still have to listen to that nut job Mercury Morris.

Friday Night Lights "Leave No One Behind"

On this episode of FNL, Saracen is feeling the pressure of having to take care of his grandmother, school, work, being QB1, losing Carlotta and just being a teenager. Saracen's car breaks down as he is hearing the news about Smash's 3 game suspension. Coach Taylor is discussing the driver's license test with Julie. The team is mad at Smash for the suspension, but Smash still feels he did the right thing by defending his sister. Saracen starts acting out in class, skipping practice and drinking with Riggans. Jean tells Tyra that she is interested in Landry and wants to know where Tyra stands, Tyra assures Jean they are just friends. Coach Taylor tells Smash he doesn't want him at practice. Julie is becoming jealous of the time Tami is spending with Tyra, talking about volleyball. Riggans gets jealous when he sees Lyla and Chris eating lunch together. Saracen shows up drunk at practice after a day of drinking with Riggans, coach Taylor is not too pleased with him. Tami takes Julie to practice her driving and asks her if she wants to be on the volleyball team and she says no. The volleyball team wins a big game and Tami has the girls over to celebrate, Julie comes home crying because she had been waiting at the DMV for Tami, so she could take her drivers license test. Tami drives her back to the DMV and convinces the man to let Julie take her road test. Saracen and Riggans go to a strip club and Saracen gets a call that his grandmother is at the hospital. One of the nice strippers drives him to the hospital. Smash tells coach that TMU pulled his scholarship, because he has questionable character. After Landry and Jean go to the movies, Tyra asks if she can talk to Landry and she tells him that she has feelings for Landry and she wants to give things a shot. Landry is a little shocked and he is on a date, and he knows where Jean stands with him. Jean then plants a big kiss on Landry. Coach Taylor meets Saracen and Grandma at the hospital, to drive them home. Taylor tells Saracen he smells like a drunk, and then he throws him in the shower and tells him he needs to straighten out because a lot of people are counting on him. Saracen tells him "you don't care, you left me for a better job (TMU), your daughter left me for a better guy ("the Swede," Anton) Carlotta left me for Guatamala and my Dad left me for a damn war, everybody leaves me, whats wrong with me?" Landry breaks up with Jean, because he knows his heart is with Tyra, and sometimes you have to follow your heart. Landry shows up at Tyra's and kisses her before heading off to the game. The team is doubting their chances without Smash, the team wants him to play even though they would have to forefeit the game, but Smash gives a speech in the locker room to pump them up before they head out on the field and tells them to win so he can get back on the field for playoffs, and then as they leave he is left alone in the locker room.

Next week:
Tami's old boyfriend is in town, and instigates Coach Taylor. Smash trys to fix his college situation, Riggans still pursues Lyla and Street gets some life changing news.

Super Bowl Pick

Sorry for the wait, Tony's home office has experienced some technical difficulties the past week. I have gone 8-2 during the playoffs this season.

First of all, I hate the 2 weeks off between the conference championships and the Super Bowl.

Here we go, the "Perfect Team" (I don't think the Pats trademarked that one yet?) vs. the "Road Warriors" (10 consecutive road wins.) Everyone knows the Patriots are heavily favored (12 pts) and have a chance to become the first team in history to go 19-0 (Impressive to everyone except 72 Dolphin, Mercury Morris) in fact the Patriots are so confidant, they applied for trademarks for "19-0" and "Perfect Season" before the Chargers game, which is surprising, the NFL hadn't already done so. Also, this week we saw the return of "spygate" a former, possibly disgruntled Patriots employee came forward, asking why he hadn't been contacted by the NFL to discuss his role in taping for the Patriots in the past, Senator Specter questioned Commisioner Goodell as to why the evidence siezed by the league was destroyed? (Does Congress really have nothing better to do then to worry about some of a Belichick's home videos?) Then we heard that the Patriots illegally recorded the Rams walk through before limiting the Rams in the first half of their Super Bowl matchup. Does anybody remember what happened after the last round of "spygate" allegations? I know some Redskins fans do, the Patriots started blowing people out/running up the score according to some. This is the 12th time the Super Bowl has been a rematch from the regular season, the regular season winner has gone 5-6 in these matchups. The last such matchup was the Patriots beating the Rams after losing in the regular season.

I think the gameplan for the Patriots is pretty simple, if they can come out and spread the offense they can take advantage of the Giants secondary. There has been a lot of talk about how improved the G-men secondary has been despite all their injuries, but take a look at the playoffs, they beat a weak Bucs recieving unit, that saw Joey Galloway injured early, they played ok against the Cowboys who dropped a number of passes and had an injured and limited T.O., then in the Green Bay, the passing game was limited due to the extreme cold. The Giants have no anwer for Moss and Welker, which was evident in the Week 17 matchup. If the Patriots mix in some draw plays they can neutralize the Giants pass rush. If the Patriots do this and jump out to a early 17-21 point lead, this will force the Giants out of their game plan (running the ball) and force Eli Manning to lead this team from behind, which I'm not sure he can do, Yes, he hasn't turned over the ball in the playoffs, but he hasn't been asked to throw the ball downfield, more than 10 yards, the TD pass to Toomer in the Dallas game was a 10 yard pass, in which he ran the other 61. On the flipside for the Giants to win this game, they need to play 4 nearly perfect quarters unlike the 3 they played in week 17. The Giants will need to keep the game close, so they can run the ball with Jacobs and Bradshaw, running on the Patriots this season has not been hard but scoring TDs has, and that will be the difference. Another argument I heard this weak was that the Patriots were able to shut down the Jaguars powerful rushing game, yes but instead of playing to their strength Jacksonville came out looking to pass in that game and abandoned the run. Also, the Giants will need a big play; INT for a TD, kick return for a TD or a trick play (I can see either Bradshaw or Steve Smith throwing a pass) So, I have established the Patriots are the far superior team, if they hadn't played in the regular season I don't think many would expect this game to be close, but the Giants have some confidence that they can hang with the Pats. I had said awhile back, after watching the Patriots go for TDs on two 4th down plays instead of kicking FGs with large leads would bring them bad karma. I'm not even sure that karma can stop Belichick with 2 weeks to prepare for a team. I have a feeling the Patriots win in blowout. As a Giants fan, I hope I'm wrong.

PICK: Patriots

Friday Night Lights "Humble Pie"

The episode starts with Street finding out he needs 4 or 5 grand worth of work on the car he bought from Herc. This leads Street to accepting a job at Buddy Garrity's car dealership. Riggans runs into Guy and some of his friends who give him a good butt kicking for taking his money. The police show up at Smash's house with a warrant for his arrest for the assualt at the movie theater, the police cuff him and put him in the police car as his Momma and neighbors look on. Smash, his Momma and Coach Taylor meet with a lawyer and they decide to plea his assault to a misdemeanor and make this situation go away quicker. Smash makes a public apology. Landry has a new study buddy, Jean and Tyra seems a little jealous. Riggans goes to Lyla's church and during a mass asks her to come to his house the next night, she reluctantly accepts, so he will leave. Tami starts coaching the Dillon girls volleyball team, they are winless and Tami recruits Tyra to play and turns her into Gabby Reese overnight. Street sells his first car only to have one of the other sales reps steal it from him. Lyla lies to Chris so she can go see Riggans, when Lyla gets there, Riggans has set up a romantic dinner and tells Lyla that he loves her. Lyla tells him its never going to happen between them and she doesn't feel the way he does. Street is finding the car selling business tougher than he thought, he gets stuck dealing with a customer, Gerald, who comes in twice a week and never buys a car, and later Street will get him to finally purchase the car he wants. Lyla confesses her past to Chris and he accepts her and her past. Smash's sister gets a harrassing phone call, and blames herself. Reporters confront Smash at the local Applebees and Smash tells his side of the story and gets himself in deeper trouble earning himself a 3 game suspension (will his scholarship to TMU be next?) Lyla gives Riggans the money he needs to pay back Guy. Tami and Tyra lead the girls volleyball team to their first win of the season.

Next week:

The aftermath of Smash's supsension, Saracen has a drinking problem.