No, the reality is we started the 4th quarter with a lead. The reality is the defense gave it away. The reality is the offense took it back, and the reality is the defense gave it back again.
No, see.... this is where you keep going off the tracks. What you call 'the reality' is only the fractional part of 'the reality' that you choose to acknowledge, as you prove with the next paragraph:
See, here is the difference. I can live with an offense that plays poorly in a big game, but plays well enough to be in the lead. (Please dont start the ignorant argument that we would have been behind if the defense allowed more points because we all know football is about SITUATIONAL football and you play differently when ahead of behind) Then when it falls behind it takes the lead back.
The SITUATIONAL football was that the defense held the Giants to only 3 points through 3 quarters despite the Giants starting with advantageous field position for much of the game.
SITUATIONAL football was the defense preventing the Giants from scoring on their second offensive possession after the kicker had put the ball out of bounds and given the Giants possession at the 40 yard line.
SITUATIONAL football was the offense not being able to give the defense a rest after it made the interception because it couldn't get 2 yards in 2 rushing attempts after an 8 yard completion on first down.
SITUATIONAL football was the Giants soon getting the ball at their 43 yard line because the offense surrendered back-to-back sacks and had a net loss of 14 yards during the 1 minute and 50 second drive, and the defense preventing the Giants from scoring.
SITUATIONAL football was the offense failing to convert a 1st and 10 from the Giants 28 yard line into points, in part because yet another sack of Brady which changed a 3rd and 7 into a 4th and 13.
SITUATIONAL football was Matt Light committing a false start on 2nd and 10 from the Giants 49 yard line and helping to kill yet another scoring drive (it had started on the New England 10).
SITUATIONAL football was the offense throwing on 1st and goal from the Giants 6 with 2:55 left in the game instead of taking time off the clock by running the ball.
SITUATIONAL football was the offense throwing on 2nd and goal from the Giants 6 with 2:49 left in the game instead of taking time off the clock by running the ball.
Where's all your mention of these SITUATIONAL football failures of the offense?
I cannot live with a defense that fails to protect a lead, twice in this case, and more than that in the 2006 season ender.
That's just silly, given the totality of the game's circumstances and the fluke that was the Tyree catch.
You need to stop living for statistics and what ifs, and look at reality.
How many times did the offense fail to score when behind?
How many times did the defense fail to protect a lead?
You must be kidding about this. I'm not the one living out a fantasy where the defense was the problem, you are.
Penalties:
Gostkowski kicking out of bounds
Watson, holding
Light, false start
Watson, false start
Light, false start
Hochstein, holding
So, every penalty was against the offense, negatively impacting its ability to score points and move the football. SITUATIONAL football.
Sacks allowed (this doesn't even include pressures or runs blown up): 5
Sometimes statistics are just statistics. In this game, statistics showed just how the offense pissed the game away.