18-1.
The Giants did it with a determined pass rush that gave Patriot QB Tom Brady very little time and almost no room to maneuver.
The did it with an attitude of "nothing to lose" that was an absolutely accurate description of their situation.
They did it with a little lot of luck on their final drive. including two passes, or possibly three that could have (and probably should have) been intercepted but weren't, and a couple of sacks that should have happened but didn't.
They did it with a QB who was disparaged to the point of being the subject of one of the funniest sports posts ever only a little over a year ago.
And they did it with - am I the only one who spotted this? - what seemed to be an illegal pick on a key 3rd-and-11 play keeping that final drive alive. Rookie wideout Steve Smith lined up in the slot on a three wide right set, Patriots safety Brandon Merriweather drawing the assignment. But Merriweather got picked off by the 2nd wideout crossing with Smith as he headed to the flat. Smith was wide open in the right flat, and picked up the first down. A key first down. Instead of fourth and about 20 from the 36 it's first down at the 15. Next play? Touchdown Plaxico Burress.
So the Giants have the Super Bowl title, and the Patriots have the "what if's" to think about. The biggest "what if" is this: Bill Belichick, renowned for creating defenses that confuse and lock down an opponent, couldn't generate a pass rush consistently enough, even with a variety of blitzes, to make Eli Manning's knees wobble. His defense was, sad to say, passive, playing "bend but don't break" instead of forcing the action. Manning was able to run the Giant offense the way he wanted. And with the Giants defense playing lights out on the other side of the ball, he could afford to be conservative, to throw short slants and hooks, and to wait for his openings.
It's hats off to the Giants. And for the Patriots? An offseason of "what if's." Lots of "what if's."
