A Perfect Ending!

Pardon me while I crow!

All the so-called experts said it couldn’t be done. All the so-called experts said the New England Patriots were a team of destiny that had too many weapons. Everybody predicted a blowout on their way to a perfect season. Well guess what.

We here in New York knew the Giants could win this game. The Patriots are good, no doubt about, but no team is invincible. The odds were simply not in their favor. Nineteen wins without a defeat is a difficult feat to pull off, and as I said in my pre-game prediction, the Giants were getting their second chance at them after nearly winning the first time.

The Giants defense punched the Patriots in the face. They gave Tom Brady pressure like he hasn’t seen all season, never letting the high scoring Pats offense to get on track. They blitzed, pressured, hurried, sacked and knocked Brady off his feet 18 times.

On the other side, Eli Manning made his bones tonight. That winning drive with just over 2 minutes remaining was a thing of beauty. While even I get tired of the “Manning Mystique” hoopla, you have to hand it to him. He silenced all critics.

Plaxico Burress, David Tyree, Steve Smith, Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs and Kevin Boss, were all standouts on offense, making game saving and game winning catches, controlling the clock and picking up key Patriot blitzes.

Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Fred Robbins, Kawika Mitchell, Antonio Pierce, Corey Webster, Sam Madison and Gibril Wilson, were among the defensive stars who stymied and frustrated Brady and his receivers and negated their running game all evening.

Veterans Michael Strahan and Amani Toomer, who wondered if they’d ever get another shot at a Super Bowl after experiencing loss in 2000, now have their rings.

While I know not everyone was rooting for the Giants, I think there were a lot of football fans who were rooting against the Patriots. After spygate, the aloof and at times arrogant attitude of Bill Belichick, and just the perception that they were expected to win, I think many fans tired of their act. They 18-1 and go home with no trophy.

The New York Football Giants are the Champions of Super Bowl XLII, and I’m 8-3 in my post season picks.

The parade down the Canyon of Heroes is scheduled for Tuesday morning. I hope to be there.