Last week I insisted that it would be a horrible decision if Coughlin played his starters more than a quarter to 2. But that was before I realized they actually had a chance to win the game. After watching the Giants play the Patriots (and holding my breath for a good portion of the game) I realzed the Giants actually had a chance to win.
Not only did they have a chance to win, but this could have been one of the greatest football games ever played. I think you would be hard pressed to find a non- playoff game that was played better and was more entertaining than this one. In fact, most playoff games aren't this good.
That makes me want to make a list some of the best games of the past 20 years:
1993 AFC Wild Card: The Buffalo Bills come back against the Houston Oilers. Need I say more?
2004 Divisional Playoff: Jets vs Pittsburgh. Doug Brien misses 2 field goals that would win game and Pittsburgh wins in OT.
Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams barely hold on to beat the Titans in SB. Another one for the archives.
2002 AFC Divisional Playoff: The "Tuck Game". Gotta love football in the snow.
Super Bowl XXV: Giants vs Buffalo Bills. Scott Norwood hits it wide right. This is the Grand Daddy of them all. The best football game ever.
The point to be made here is that the Giants/Patriots game was one for the ages and it wasn't a playoff game. In fact, other than the Patriots making a run at an undefeated season, it had no bearing other than the historial elements. Usually games need to have to be on a playoff stage to generate enough of a sense to be considered a classic but this game was different. Essentially, it had nothing on the line for either team because if the Patriots lose in the playoffs, they will not make it through the season undefeated and everything they did in the regular season will become a mere footnote in football history. And we all know the Giants had nothing to play for other than bragging rights if they were to be the only team to beat the almighty Patriots.
As much as I swore that Coughlin would be an idiot if he played his starters a lot in this game, I have to admit in getting caught up in the excitement. And how could you not? Having a 12 point lead on the Patriots in the 3rd quarter would get anyone going.
Despite the lose, if the Giants play this good against the Bucs, they will win easily. Maybe Coughlin was looking to gain some momentum and confidence going into the playoffs. If that's the case, he picked a bad team to try to do that against considering how good the Patriots are. But hey, it worked out and maybe, just maybe they will meet again this season. If this lose accomplishes one thing, it would be that Giants fans see that the Super Bowl might not be the pipe dream we thought it once was.
FIRE ISIAH!!!
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