A team should never be defined by their record. It’s how they finish that should cement their status in history.
The 9-7 New York Giants paved their way into the record books on Sunday night.
The Giants won their second Super Bowl in five seasons, knocking off the New England Patriots, 21-17. Identical to their 2008 win, quarterback Eli Manning took home MVP honors, and possibly a Hall of Fame bust in the process.
This was a franchise-defining win for the Giants. They aren’t a dynasty, but they are certainly one of the top teams since the turn of the century. Coach Tom Coughlin and many of the same players who led the Giants in 2008 were key components during this campaign. That speaks volumes to the competitiveness and cohesiveness of this franchise.
The Giants were 7-7 after losing to the Washington Redskins in Week 15. They weren’t even guaranteed a playoff spot. But a win against the New York Jets began a path of destruction against some of the league’s top teams, including road wins in the postseason in Green Bay and San Francisco.
But just as they’ve come back so many times this season, they came back from a mediocre record to take home the biggest win of them all.
New York played a near perfect game. When the Patriots attacked Victor Cruz on the outside, quarterback Eli Manning went to Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham. When Jason Pierre-Paul was double-teamed, Justin Tuck came through with two sacks, including one on third down during the Patriots’ final drive. That showed that this team wasn’t about one individual. Maybe at times. But when opposing teams did their job at stopping that single player, others stepped into the limelight.
New York’s game winning drive was the perfect example of this. Manning hit Manningham from the Giants’ 12 for a 38-yard gain on a stellar grab. Manningham, who was criticized a series earlier by failing to keep his feet in bounds on a deep pass, made a difficult over-the-shoulder grab along the sideline. This wasn’t in the same category as David Tyree’s in 2008, but perhaps one tier below. Manning then went to Manningham the next three plays, totaling 56 yards to put the ball on the New England 32.
It was then Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks the rest of the way, with Bradshaw entering the end zone with 57 seconds remaining. I honestly believe Bradshaw wanted to score. Who wouldn’t? It’s the Super Bowl. But before he did, he tried to wait as long as possible before falling past the goal line. Here’s the thing: If Bradshaw fails to get in on 2nd-and-6, there’s the chance that he fumbles again or Manning throws an interception. There’s also the chance that Lawrence Tynes, who already booted two field goals, doesn’t make the short kick. Any of those situations occur and the Patriots win.
As I was watching this unfold, however, I began to think that there are only three teams I don’t trust with the ball in their hand and the clock under a minute: New Orleans, Green Bay and, of course, New England.
Just as the Giants offense had been reliable much of the season, their defense was too. While the situation itself was stressful, knowing that defense was on the field helped add a sense of ease. Nine plays later, with Brady completing only two of seven passes and taking the Tuck sack, the Giants were Super Bowl champions.
There are no negatives to take away from Sunday’s win. The Giants, however, have nearly two dozen free agents, including Nicks, about to hit the market. Hopefully the optimism of creating a dynasty will convince many to stay. New York isn’t known for shelling out big bucks – look at how they handled the Steve Smith situation. They’d rather find younger, suitable replacements. This time around, the organization might want to consider opening their wallet to continue something special. It would be a disappointment if New York misses the playoffs as they did after their last Super Bowl win.
This can be up to debate as the offseason drags on. For now, New York is celebrating being the NFL champions. They showed this season that not always the best team that finishes on top. It’s the one that finishes the best.
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