Report from a Pats Fan in New York

[aluminum seats]

I’ve noticed there’s a surprising number of folks here who seem a little worried about the Pats game on Saturday. I guess it’s to be expected to some degree, because they’ll be going for something never accomplished in NFL history. Big stuff.

Let me reassure you! I’m a Pats fan living in New York, and let me tell you, the overwhelming vibe here is one writing off the game. Disregard the end-of-week proclamation by Coughlin that they’ll “play to win.” It rings hollow, and the players really can’t say anything other than they want to win. People you talk to around town, sports radio hosts and (especially) fans calling in, etc. etc.—pretty much across the board they want the Giants to rest players, they’re not putting much stock in being the team to knock the Patriots off. You hear about the Giants’ fans selling their tickets, and openly hoping that, bottom line, nobody gets hurt. They’re much more interested in the Giants winning a playoff game than winning Saturday.

And you know what? Who can blame them? Winning a playoff game gives you the fun & excitement of the win, plus a whole week of anticipation (in January, when we all take any distractions we can) of looking forward to playing the Cowboys or the Packers. There’s no question what I would root for as a fan.

Anyway, that’s the mood here. By the way, the weather will be mild (about 40) and dry tomorrow. The Pats want 16-0, we all know it. And they’ll get it.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I’ve noticed there’s a surprising number of folks here who seem a little worried about the Pats game on Saturday. I guess it’s to be expected to some degree, because they’ll be going for something never accomplished in NFL history. Big stuff.

Let me reassure you! I’m a Pats fan living in New York, and let me tell you, the overwhelming vibe here is one writing off the game. Disregard the end-of-week proclamation by Coughlin that they’ll “play to win.” It rings hollow, and the players really can’t say anything other than they want to win. People you talk to around town, sports radio hosts and (especially) fans calling in, etc. etc.—pretty much across the board they want the Giants to rest players, they’re not putting much stock in being the team to knock the Patriots off. You hear about the Giants’ fans selling their tickets, and openly hoping that, bottom line, nobody gets hurt. They’re much more interested in the Giants winning a playoff game than winning Saturday.

And you know what? Who can blame them? Winning a playoff game gives you the fun & excitement of the win, plus a whole week of anticipation (in January, when we all take any distractions we can) of looking forward to playing the Cowboys or the Packers. There’s no question what I would root for as a fan.

Anyway, that’s the mood here. By the way, the weather will be mild (about 40) and dry tomorrow. The Pats want 16-0, we all know it. And they’ll get it.

i think you've read the mood of the New York fans and broadcast media 100% correctly. However, the print idiots, especially at the Daily News, are feeding the flames of "play to win."

 

[Two Eight]

The Giants need to play a much bigger game next week and the fact is we have knocked several QB's out of action for extended periods...

 

[EasyMac]

The media does a great job of misrepresenting the facts or the mood! Anything for hype, drama ... ratings... money...

 

[fnordcircle]

However, the print idiots, especially at the Daily News, are feeding the flames of "play to win."

How does that make them idiots? Their jobs aren't to make good football sense their jobs are to write things that sell papers and the Giants resting their starters for the most hyped regular season game in like...forever, does not an interesting football column make.

If some of you people could get your head around the fact that sports media exists to generate discussion in order to sell their product you'd spend a lot less time kvetching about what was written.

In other words, sports journalists write articles to get you talking, for better or for worse, and to keep you reading. Being right isn't the priority.

 

[patological]

i think you've read the mood of the New York fans and broadcast media 100% correctly. However, the print idiots, especially at the Daily News, are feeding the flames of "play to win."

If Coughlin "plays to win" and then goes one and out in the playoffs, he might as well head right to Newark and get on the first flight out..and, of course, the Daily News will be leading the lynch mob. He's was already on shakey ground and making the playoffs was a reprieve.

 

[Drewwho]

I think they will play to win! It will be no blow out.

The Giants do not want to get embarrassed in front of record numbers of fans watching this game. This IS essentially the Giants Superbowl. It will not be an easy game.

 

[Drewwho]

I think they (Giants) will play to win! It will be no blow out by the Pats. It will be close.

The Giants do not want to get embarrassed in front of record numbers of fans watching this game. This IS essentially the Giants Superbowl. It will not be an easy game.

 

[aluminum seats]

I think they (Giants) will play to win! It will be no blow out by the Pats. It will be close.

The Giants do not want to get embarrassed in front of record numbers of fans watching this game. This IS essentially the Giants Superbowl. It will not be an easy game.

No, it really doesn't feel like it's their "SuperBowl." Seriously. The playoffs are a much bigger deal for them.

And not for nothing, with Dallas & GD suddenly looking a little vulnerable, it wouldn't be shocking if the Giants Superbowl was the Superbowl. Well, that's not true, their QB is Eli. It would be pretty shocking.

 

[mrrhodeisland]

IMO, this just gives them an out when they lose.

"We weren't playing to full capacity"....or some similar BS.

 

[onegameatatime]

The more all-out they play, the less it means they think of their chances of a SB themselves. This IS their bye week; the Pats' is next week.

However, it will be a feather in the cap to say they were the team that won -- everyone remembers the 85 Dolphins.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

How does that make them idiots? Their jobs aren't to make good football sense their jobs are to write things that sell papers and the Giants resting their starters for the most hyped regular season game in like...forever, does not an interesting football column make.

If some of you people could get your head around the fact that sports media exists to generate discussion in order to sell their product you'd spend a lot less time kvetching about what was written.

In other words, sports journalists write articles to get you talking, for better or for worse, and to keep you reading. Being right isn't the priority.

According to Webster, an idiot is defined as "an uneducated, ignorant, ill-informed person". While the writers who are egging the Giants on for tomorrow's game are probably educated enough, they are willfully ignorant and ill-informed when it comes to what they are presenting as the best interests of the Giants in tomorrow's game. Which kind of makes your point: they are putting aside what most other observers (including New York broadcast media) know to be best for the Giants to "generate discussion in order to sell their product," but they are still "idiots."

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

obviously the media will try to hype up the 'giants are playing to win' angle. they want people to tune in saturday night expecting a game and not an exhibition. and then u have the pats haters like marshall faulk who r probably trying to convince the giants to play their starters.

i really doubt the giants will play their starters the full game but in all honesty u never know

 

[PatsFanSince74]

obviously the media will try to hype up the 'giants are playing to win' angle. they want people to tune in saturday night expecting a game and not an exhibition. and then u have the pats haters like marshall faulk who r probably trying to convince the giants to play their starters.

i really doubt the giants will play their starters the full game but in all honesty u never know

Agreed. I can't believe that Coughlin would let himself get snookered by a few NY writers. I think the playing to win talk is all for the media and the fans and to build the audience. If Strahan, Osi, Eli, Jacobs and Plaxico are in the game past the first quarter I'll be amazed. I can't believe that he'd waste any time game planning for the Pats when Tampa Bay started game planning against him last week. He cannot wear this team out against the Patriots, win or lose, and then have it lose a VERY winnable game in Tampa next week. And, if any of the guys named above suffers a season-ending injury in the game, you can bet that the same media and fans who are screaming for a win now will be riding him out of town on a rail in ten days.

 

[FootballFan85]

Question though.

Wouldn't you guys prefer to play the Giants full starting roster? The Pats have already come this far, why would you want to set the record against 2nd stringers?
The team easily has the capability to beat the Giants first string. Wouldnt you all prefer to play the best every team has to offer and beat them all?