Super Bowl XLII Open Thread

by Brian Galliford on Feb 3, 2008 8:12 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

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Justice. Is. Served.

We'll take a day's break from our Buffalo Bills coverage to commemorate the last big day of the 2007-08 NFL season: Super Bowl XLII. I can't remember being this hyped up for a Super Bowl in quite some time (I certainly wasn't the past two years, when beatings by the Steelers and Colts were expected). But this year, we've got a game where we know a blowout isn't likely - Week 17's 38-35 Pats victory proves that. That game was easily the best non-Bills-victory regular season game of 2007, in my humble opinion.

Y'all know the story lines: Spygates I & II; Plaxico Burress' guarantee; the birth of another Brady vs. Manning; we won't get into all of that here, because it's covered everywhere else. But the story lines this week have been edgier and much more controversial than in recent years - and it's built up the excitement even more. How will the Giants back up Burress' guarantee? How will the Patriots respond, again, to cheating allegations? The resulting clash could be an instant classic.

There is a surprising amount of connection between the two teams to the Bills. Patriots RB Sammy Morris, who is on IR and won't participate in this game, started his career with the Bills. The Giants are much more connected. Wideout Domenik Hixon, the Giants' kick returner, has an obvious connection with Bills TE Kevin Everett. DT Manny Wright spent a glorious 17 seconds on Buffalo's roster before being waived, then picked up by the Giants. Two Giants coaches - head coach Tom Coughlin and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride - have Bills connections. Bills head coach Dick Jauron worked directly under Coughlin as defensive coordinator when the two were in Jacksonville, while Gilbride was Buffalo's offensive coordinator under previous head coach Gregg Williams. The Giants' Director of College Scouting, Marc Ross, is in his first year in that position after leaving Buffalo's scouting department for that job last off-season.

Prediction Time
I've waffled on this prediction several times. Clearly, logic, history and "you'd be an idiot not to" arguments say pick the Patriots. They're undefeated, have the best offense in football, have three championships under their belt, and a chip on their shoulder. But I can't shake the feeling that the Giants are about to shock the world. They've won 10 (ten)... yes, ten... straight road games, including a playoff-clinching victory in Buffalo, a huge win over division rival Dallas, and a championship victory at Lambeau Field. This team is on a roll, and they're one of only a handful of NFL teams that actually match up well with the Patriots. Don't discount this team - if any team has the makings of pulling an upset as monumental as this, it's the New York Giants.

So why not pick the Giants? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong; just another bitter, jealous Bills fan tasting vomit as the Patriots hoist the trophy, insides boiling at Bill Belichick's arrogant grin, Junior Seau's insipid gyrations and Tom Brady's glittering teeth. But if I'm right, I can proudly say that I picked the greatest upset in Super Bowl history - I believed it could happen. So that's what I'm doing, right now. Believing. I encourage you to believe with me, and post your predictions in the comments. And if you're looking for Bills fans to chat with during the game, this is the spot.

Final Prediction: Giants 34, Patriots 31.

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Comments

Please oh please

anything to get Tom Brady's mug off of every web site, newspaper, and t.v. screen. I think every time I see his face I start to hate him more and more. (I guess I'm just jealous, I would love to have two bastard children, born from a super model, and hot actress.)

It will even be worth living with my gloating wife for months, just to see a dejected look on Brady's face.

Who would have thought I'd miss Pete Metzelaars?

by sireric on Feb 3, 2008 12:14 PM EST reply actions

you guys can verbally spit on me if you want

but i live in nfc east territory. washington dc.

in fact, i moved here on january 27 1991, my birthday, and the day scott norwood ruined my life.

i was here, at 11, when the redskins thumped us.

and the cowboys, and the cowboys again.

and for the years after that i had to hear how much better the nfc was than the afc. over... and over again.

for the past few years, i've been able to sit in quiet confidence as afc team after afc team beats the nfc opponent. building an era of dominance for the afc.

so i won't be rooting for the patriots. lets just say i'll be hopefully anticipating another afc victory. i hoped to god it wouldn't have to be the patriots. but i'd much rather see tom brady's ugly mug than hear my eagles, cowboy, and redskin fan-friends try to distort an nfc fluke victory into some sort of statement that the nfc has now taken the mantle as the league's best conference.

sorry. i'm rooting afc here. not patriots. just afc.

pats: 45-28

by sri on Feb 3, 2008 12:41 PM EST reply actions

We're only a day off

In 1-26. So given that I wont spit.

Who would have thought I'd miss Pete Metzelaars?

by sireric on Feb 3, 2008 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

well,

maybe not "quiet" confidence.

by sri on Feb 3, 2008 12:45 PM EST reply actions

Im predicting a win over the Pats in O.T.

Brian you should have done a poll.

Do you BILLieve?

by NYTXFAN on Feb 3, 2008 1:26 PM EST reply actions

I did :)

Took it down a couple of days ago to put up the WR/TE poll. The Super Bowl poll is back up - and right now, votes are 48 to 6 in favor of the Giants. :)

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Feb 3, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

Im not sure I care

The Pats and Giants are two of my least favorite teams in the league. I think I'm just going to drink heavily and cheer for Tom Petty. I am going to bet an insignificant amount of money ($25?) on a random player prop like Brandon Jacobs' rushing yards or something so that I can have some kind of rooting interest. I'm having trouble getting excited for this game at all.

But a prediction: Pats 34, Giants 20

by kaisertown on Feb 3, 2008 1:41 PM EST reply actions

can't stand it

After all the spygate stuff, the arrogance of Belichick and Brady and the tight lip of the organization and the players to give stone pre-formed answers, I hope someone on the Giants sticks out an elbow on brady just like that "bush-leauge" Wilfork did to Losman.

Needless to say I despise the patriots. They have no class. I've said all season that karma will get to them. Blowing out teams, having no mercy, running up the score, playing cheap, allegations of cheating, having illegitimate children, wearing cut-off sweatshirts, having restraining orders agaist Moss, all that crap I hope leads to them falling short like they did against the Colts last year.

Lets just hope justice is finally served.

Go Giants. Rush the passer, tackle well, and stay in the moment. Run the ball, play with confidence, and hit Tom Brady!

Lets get it on!

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Feb 3, 2008 4:13 PM EST reply actions

That was

the BEST Super Bowl ever. Ever. Congrats, G-Men - you've not only won yourselves a world championship, but preserved football karma and served up a little justice as well.

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Feb 3, 2008 10:12 PM EST reply actions

Play Of The Game

Undoubtedly Eli's Houdini-esque escape during The Drive and Tyree's spectacular catch absolutely owning Dirty Man Harrison.

by Kumario! on Feb 3, 2008 10:28 PM EST reply actions

Soo..

Anybody else think a big time pass rusher isn't needed? The Giants pressured Brady all day and he folded. We aren't beating the Pats until we can do that.

That was an excellent game. Such a satisfying finish.

by Kurupt on Feb 3, 2008 10:52 PM EST reply actions

During the game

I was having thought along those same lines.

I think this game helps to illustrate the points that you and I have been making.

Who would have thought I'd miss Pete Metzelaars?

by sireric on Feb 4, 2008 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

big time

bandwagon bragging at this point, but i meant to post my 27-23 giants prediction earlier today. didnt catch up with a computer until now, yet still great times. my pick didnt matter as it was obviously biased against a potential NE victory. ill settle for a win on the under and spread. well worth the watch, lots of turnovers and a solid pass rush from the g-men dominated.

hopefully jauron won't be so intimidated next year.

by jmorris0823 on Feb 4, 2008 12:25 AM EST reply actions

Beli-choke!!!

My hatred for the Patriots has literally frightened friends and family of mine throughout the course of this season. I'm not proud of how many things I broke in the process, rather I just admit that I hate the Patriots almost as much as I love the Bills. I can't even describe what a relief it is for me to see those dirtbags fall short of their perfect season. While my NFL goal is to one day see a Super Bowl championship parade in Buffalo, seeing the most vile team ever assembled get knocked off in front of a world wide audience by the media's favorite whipping boy, Eli Manning almost feels like winning a championship to me. Maybe Dick Jauron will finally coach a Pats game with an attempt to win next year instead of coaching scared and praying not to get blown out. Just remember, New York was a crummy 8-8 and lost their playoff game to Philly last year to finish 8-9 and now they're world champs. If Jauron needs any inspiration to start believing in something better than 7-9 he needn't look any further. The 2007 Bills aren't all that much different than than the 2006 Giants. If Jauron can admit to his shortcomings and make some adjustments, maybe it will be us next year taking the giant leap from mediocrity to world champions...Go cry in your HGH vials, Boston!

Nick (Bensalem, PA)

by Nick BensalemPA on Feb 4, 2008 1:11 AM EST reply actions

that felt surprisingly

good.

by sri on Feb 4, 2008 8:51 AM EST reply actions

I agree

I am surprised by how good I feel. I mean, I was rooting for the Giants the whole way, but I don't much care for them either, so I didn't think I would really be that affected either way. But the Pats losing, especially in the fashion in which they did, was just really awesome. Couldn't have happened to a bunch of nicer guys...

by fletcherjd on Feb 4, 2008 11:29 PM EST reply actions

As much as I wanted the Patriots to lose...

...did it have to be to the Giants? For an upstater, deciding who to root for between the Pats and the Giants is like trying to decide which you'd like better: syphilis or the clap. No matter who wins, we all lose and it will be ugly, painful and ooze disgustingly.

So, now with the Patriots vanquished, we are seeing once again the type of arrogant metro-supremacism that the NYC area is well known for. For yet another year we get to hear how they're the frelling center of the universe and we should kiss their hairy asses to even be permitted to live in the same state with such personifications of manliness. Of course, that presumes that they even realize that any part of the state north of Westchester county even exists in the first place, a situation which is rare indeed.

Brian, you may have been up for this game. For me, this is the first Super Bowl that I have ever given serious consideration to not even watching because no matter who won it was going to leave a bitter, disgusting taste in my mouth. Yeah, seeing the cheaters lose was a good thing. Giants fans have two previous Super Bowl victories to their credit. They should act like they've been there before.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Feb 5, 2008 5:34 PM EST reply actions