But I guess I first have to review the big game from Sunday. I thought it was a pretty boring first three quarters, with the only exciting play being the long interception return by the Steelers which looked like it was going to be the real difference in the game. But the Cardinals, who could never get any rhythm going throughout the entire game, finally made a game changing decision in the fourth quarter and went no-huddle. That move proved very effective. The Cards got a score to Fitzgerald to pull within six, and would eventually take a one point lead with a little more than two minutes left on a second Fitzgerald TD that was lightening quick. Both scores exemplified Fitz’s assets: size, strength, and speed. The Steelers, led by MVP Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger, then literally snatched the game away from the upstart Cards with a text book two minute drive in a dramatic fourth quarter.
A few bullets:
- This was not the best Super Bowl ever, even though Don Banks from SI.com and Mike Wilbon from ESPN’s PTI both said so. I can think of one, two, three, four games that were better without blinking. This game plodded along, with a host of penalties, for three quarters. One of the better fourth quarters, surely. Not the best game ever. Al Micheals probably said it best, in the heat of the moment, and I’m paraphrasing: “This might not be up there with last year’s game, but it is in the neighborhood.” Michaels stayed calm, cool, and collect while Banks went off the deep end.
- Holmes catch was the best ever play, per ESPN’s SportsCenter? Are you kidding me? It was an excellent play which will go down as one of the best clutch catches in SB history, but it can’t be considered the best. How quickly we forget. It just doesn’t top Manning to Tyree from last year. That play had two parts: the escape and then the catch. And the Tyree grab was just flat out a tougher reception, a one-hander against his helmet as he was being mugged by Rodney Harrison. To settle the debate, ask yourself this: how often to you see a catch like Holmes’? Then how often do you see a play like Tyree/Manning? In fact, ESPN had three plays from last night in the Top 10 of all time. They actually put Fitzgerald’s second TD catch in there. Really? A super play, but a Top 10? We’re talking all plays in SB history here. ESPN needs to calm down already.
- Mike Pereira, head of NFL officiating, probably can’t wait to officially transition his position to the new guy. I didn’t notice it during the game, but post game analysis showed Holmes clearly using the ball as a prop, which should have resulted in a 15 yard penalty on the kickoff which could have dramatically changed the way the game ended. Sure the Cards probably still lose, but they might get a few shots in the endzone to make it much more interesting. I heard Craig Carton on WFAN who basically said, “It’s the Super Bowl, let the guy celebrate the game winning score.” There are plenty of ways to celebrate: with your teammates, spiking the ball, or even jumping into the stands. Pereira has said on more than one occasion he wants the Super Bowl officiated the same way Week One is. Based on that, his crew missed this one.
- Why do posters on Giant message boards/blogs get so worked up on comparing Eli Manning to Big Ben (and Phillip Rivers for that matter). It’s like bragging rights for who is the best quarterback and justifying that Eli should have been the number one pick. Personally, I have no problem saying Roethlisberger is the better QB. He’s won the most games by any QB ever after five years and has two SB rings. They’re both Top 10 QB’s, but Ben is ahead of Eli. I certainly wasn’t rooting against Pittsburgh because of any imaginary competition between Roethlisberger and Manning.
