Have your thoughts on SB42 changed?

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

A lot of silent suffering for the last four years here. I didn't think anyone would ever talk about it in this much detail. While I admit, I still haven't been able to watch the game in its entirety, I honestly I could probably do it now.

A few things have changed the way I feel about the game

Several interesting stories have emerged about that game, and it no longer feels like a huge, disgusting mystery any more

-Heath Evans described a tired team that was not very excited and basically felt the weight of history on its shoulders. In addition, he said the team was very tight and had a horrible experience the night before the game at the hotel.

-Troy Brown said on the radio that the practices leading up to that game were "the worst practices I've seen from a professional sports team at any level." Those are some harsh words. It seems like the team was clearly not focused- and it seems to mesh with the declining play for the entire second half of the season.

-I honestly am glad that the Patriots will get a chance to avenge this nightmare. If they lose to the Giants on Sunday, so be it. Obviously, we'll just know that they are a terrible matchup and that game was not a fluke. If we win, I can honestly say that I root for these players more than I rooted for the players in '07. These guys are gritty underdogs.

-The most important thing in all this, which has helped me accept that loss, if the the genuine emotion we've heard from a lot of Patriots players. Brady can't watch replays of it. Belichick seems to implicitly acknowledge mistakes. Basically, we thought the '07 team was superhuman, but they were just a bunch of people- albeit highly skilled- subject to the same problems and emotions that we have. It kind of makes you appreciate what they did even more to get that far. Even had they won, I don't think it would have been fair to call them "immortal"- they would have achieved something that hadn't been done before, but life would have gone on as normal.

-The Giants have now talked and bragged about that game enough to make this a potential redemption game. Coming into this, I didn't think there could ever be a way to avenge that loss, but in 2007 I didn't want to beat the Giants as badly as I do now (wanted to win, but didn't care that it was the Giants.) I really feel like, with their actions, they have now linked these two SBs together, and I believe that if the Pats win, the Giants will always have the reputation as a "chippy" team that couldn't close the deal, and that you won't be able to bring up 42 without 46. They'll be known as the team that beat the 18-0 team and then got ****y and got their dish served cold. No one would ever look at that defensive line the same way. They would serve as an example of random "any given Sunday" rather than "will to win."

The Giants should respect the Patriots, as it was the 18-0 steak that gave so many Giants their legacies, not their SB win. They never could have gotten their "best upset ever" reputation had it not been for the greatness that was on the field against them. But their arrogance doesn't seem to reflect this.

 

[oldrover]

Have your thoughts on SB42 changed?

No. :deadhorse:

 

[Bella*chick]

Nope, not at all.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not really. I considered that team to be on a mission (Hence my calling it the GFY Tour). I figured the fun would be more in the look back than in the doing. I think the fans started looking at it that way, too, which is why I think it's such a bad memory for everyone. 18-1 is as good as any team's ever been in a 19 game season, but the timing of that 1 loss left the mission unfinished.

I just wish it could have been played all the way through with a healthy Tom Brady and a healthy Stephen Neal. Losing with those guys healthy would have been easier to take, because at least they would have lost at relatively full power.

 

[Fball]

Having seen the helmet catch about a dozen times in the past week, I now think that people are too quick to label that the game-sealing play.

I think about half the officials call Eli in the grasp on that play (certainly the guy who did the Niners/Giants last week, but many would not have blown the whistle - Eli was always moving, even though guys had his jersey at various points).

If Tyree drops the catch, the Giants have a convertible 4th and 5 on the next play. They still have timeouts, and they're in 4-down territory the whole way. Pretty decent odds they end up getting a TD regardless.

 

[Deus Irae]

Having seen the helmet catch about a dozen times in the past week, I now think that people are too quick to label that the game-sealing play.

I think about half the officials call Eli in the grasp on that play (certainly the guy who did the Niners/Giants last week, but many would not have blown the whistle - Eli was always moving, even though guys had his jersey at various points).

If Tyree drops the catch, the Giants have a convertible 4th and 5 on the next play. They still have timeouts, and they're in 4-down territory the whole way. Pretty decent odds they end up getting a TD regardless.

I see you don't understand how odds work.

 

[Giantsworld]

Nope, not at all.

ditto

Greatest game ever

 

[BelizePats]

Hell no. Almost as painful today as then.
What a missed opportunity for history and to shut those %$%$ up who ripped us over the muchado about nothing camera garbage . Still pissed!

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Silent suffering is good for the soul... Not a lot of it around here over the last 4 years. I was disappointed in 2008, who wouldn't be, but more so for them than myself and my peers. Same deal if things don't pan out this time around, maybe even moreso because of the difference between the two teams and seasons and all it entailed. To me 2007 has become something of a be careful what you wish for lesson. And in many ways it spoiled this fan base beyond reason. I personally find however that three rings and five trips worth of perspective have been helpful in coming to terms with and moving past periodic disappointment. Was a time I thought they'd never win it all, let alone always win it all.