Giant Buzzkill

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts to being sacked by New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan (92) during the third quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Giants 20 17, Patriots 17 14. [edited afternoon; in my dreams, there were more field goals.]

Sad to say, I saw this one coming, as Sunday morning I woke up from a dream where the Patriots lost by 1 point. In the dream it wasn't the Super Bowl, and they weren't playing the Giants, but it felt ominous.

Top five reasons the Giants beat the Patriots, from the group I watched the game with last night.

(1) Boston mayor Tom Menino announcing the city's plans for a Patriots victory parade last week. Jinx.

(2) Belichek was not wearing his traditional homeless man grey sweatshirt. And the red sweatshirt looked like Giants garb! Don't mess with a streak, Bill. Didn't you ever watch Bull Durham? "A player on a streak has to respect the streak."

(3) The Patriots broke the John Madden rule -- Put the points on the board -- in the second quarter when they opted to go for it on 4th and 13 when they could have kicked a 49-yard field goal. And guess what? 3 was the margin of victory. Dumb move, Bill Belichek. Probably caused by the red sweatshirt.

(4) Tom Brady's ankle wasn't letting him plant and his throws were all over the place; plus his offensive line was getting run over by the faster, younger, less beat up Giants defense.

(5) The Giants were the better team yesterday. Better defense, better offense, better coach, better quarterback.

Most amusing TV announcer bullshit:

Tom Petty was announced as a rock & roll "legend." Hey, I know the guy is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but legend? Please. Reportedly, he wasn't even the first choice to play at the Super Bowl (The Eagles & Bruce Springsteen said to have turned down the big game).

Troy Aikman when the Patriots got the ball back, down 20-17 with 29 seconds left: "29 seconds is eternity to Tom Brady." No, you idiot, 29 seconds is 29 seconds and finite; and Tom Brady had been playing like crap all night. Too bad they wouldn't let Phil Simms call a Giants Super Bowl.