Super Bore Or Super Bowl?

I have probably watched some or all of most of the Super Bowls dating back to at least 1974 or 1975. I know I can remember the Minnesota Vikings (and Fran Tarkenton) losing to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl IX in 1975. That memory sticks with me because the Vikings were one of my favorite teams when I was growing up. I fondly remember running back Chuck Foreman, the “Purple People Eaters” defense, and quarterback Fran Tarkenton – a scrambling quarterback that preceded the likes of Michael Vick and Randall Cunningham.

Over all those years, the NFL Championship game – a “World Championship” as they call it – is, more often than not, a Super Bore. In recent years, the true entertainment has come from the commercials and the half-time shows – if that.

But Super Bowl XLVI was actually pretty entertaining. It even had a moment which may go down as one of the strangest, surreal moments in sport.

I can’t say that I am a Giants or Patriots fan, but I can certainly appreciate the athleticism of an Eli Manning or a Tom Brady. The game was an exciting one, with both quarterbacks putting together some solid passing statistics. Manning was 30 of 40 for 296 yards, while Brady was 27 of 41 for 276 yards. Total yards? 396 to 349.

The Giants were down 17 – 15 with 1:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was 2nd and 6 at the New England 6. At this point, do you score the touchdown knowing that you are giving Tom Brady plenty of time to make a comeback? Or do you run the clock down and then risk missing the field goal? It was an intriguing scenario.

Manning handed the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw, and then the moment became even more surreal. On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots softened, allowing Bradshaw to bust through the line virtually untouched. Bradshaw then attempted to stop – sorta-kinda – on the one yard line (presumably to kill more time) before unceremoniously falling into the end zone backwards.

No matter how you look at it, it was an intriguing moment as football players reversed course against their natural instincts. When the defense is on its own 6 yard line in the fourth quarter, there is a natural tendency to dig in and prevent the touchdown. When the offensive line blows open a huge hole for a running back and the end zone is within sight, there is a natural tendency to get into the end zone in any way possible.

It made good sense for the Patriots to let the Giants score and get the ball back to Brady with as much time as possible to work some 4th quarter magic. It made good sense for the Giants to try and use up as much of the clock as possible before scoring. But when you put both together, it made for a rather awkward and humorous moment in sports history.

Alas, even with 0:57 on the clock, there was to be no fourth quarter magic for Brady. The Giants went on to win 21 – 17.

Super Bore? Absolutely not. Super Bowl!

Photo credits: micsten