Upon Reviewing Our Predictions

Readers can find nearly all the coverage that they might want of the Giants thrilling victory over the Patriots. Since the best sports writers in the world are covering the game, I don’t need to write the same story. What I will do is go over the pre-game predictions that Sherm and I came out with, and see how we did.

 The Pats O-Line- I quoted Olshansky from the Chargers, who believed the Giants could exploit the offensive line of the Pats. During the game, Tom Brady was on his seat as much as his feet, and the Giants hit, hurried, and bothered the hell out of him.

Verdict- Very Accurate

Stephen Gostkowski- I thought that the Pats would face a test with an unproven kicker. Gostkowski did shank a kickoff out of bounds (though it didn’t result in points) and Belichick chose to go for it on fourth down with the Pats in position for a 49 yard field goal. Any doubts that Adam V would have trotted out and nailed the kick?

Verdict- Accurate

Steve Smith- I wish i would have had the prescience to predict David Tyree as a game-changer and participant in what may now stand next to the “Immaculate Reception” and “The Catch” as one of the greatest plays in playoff history.  What I did precdict was that Steve Smith would be an important player in this game, keeping drives alive with key third down catches. Early on, a balled bounced off Smith’s hands and was picked off, making me look dead wrong. However, Smith did conver many third downs for Manning, including a HUGE 12 yard catch and out of bounds on a 3rd and 11 with the clock runnning. His awareness on the sideline kept the game-winning drive alive.

Verdict- accurate when it mattered most 

 What about Sherm?

 Hit Brady- They sure did. Sherm worried that they wouldn’t hit him enough to make a difference. They did and then some

Verdict- Accurate, though Sherm didn’t believe 100%

Hit Moss- With the exception of the TD, Moss was largely ineffective. I don’t recall the coverage, but I know that Moss was again a shadow of the monster he was in the regular season.

Verdict- Accurate

Hold them to field goals- Didn’t happen, but it didn’t matter. “They’re gonna move the ball on us- can’t stop that”… sure you can! Pats scored a TD both times in the Red Zone, put they were also held out of the Red Zone  on every other posession.

Verdict- almost n/a

Get Bradshaw involved in the passing game- Didn’t happen. Bradshaw was the game’s leading rusher, but that wasn’t saying much in this game as he only gained 45 yards (albeit with a great 5 YPC average). He caught only 1 pass for three yards.  Passing was the order of the day, but it involved little used guys and not the RB.

Verdict- Not accurate

Short Field- The Giant’s did well with field position, with the exception of the two biggest and most important drives of the game. Hixon got stopped cold on the last kickoff and the Giants had to march all the way down. “It’s hard to go 80 yards and score without big plays“- very true. Thank goodness we got HUGE plays from, of all people, Kevin Boss, Steve Smith, and above all David Tyree.

Verdict- n/a

 Overall, I think we got to some good keys to the game.  I went with some safer picks, and they did come out right (except the pick on the throw to Smith). Sherm tried to cover all angles, and keyed on the biggest thing of all, stopping Brady.

 I don’t think either of us could have predicted that the Giants would put on that kind of defensive show, but we will take it 10 times out of 10.

 The NY Giants are the world champs.