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Happy Monday everyone! Happy day after the day the of the Big Game.

I hope you had fun wherever you chose to watch the big game yesterday. Personally, it was the 41st Super Bowl of my life to actually watch and enjoy. I also took it to a whole higher level...

Beginning with the NFL Network, kudos is in order as they managed to keep my attention for close to six hours as the tie seemed to fly by leading up to Super Bowl 46. Some great pieces about the direction in which the Patriots and Giants got to this final destination. A wonderful story about Robert and Myra Kraft and the Patriots were purchased in 1994. 

Lots of posturing, pontificating, and promoting. All of it okay. My attention was kept for the whole duration as I did not stray from the television. It was then that I switched over to NBC's coverage of the event. Equally well handled with Bob Costas and Dan Patrick alongside Tony Dungy and the Pro Patriot.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well Aaron Rodgers handled himself on the stage talking X's and O's with Bob Costas. He has a definite future after his quarter backing days in Green Bay. And then it was onto the game itself.

What we witnessed was truly a chess match of momentum swings. The first 20 plays favored the Giants by a 19-1 count-Tom Brady with a grounding call in the end zone and a safety call-before Tom Brady was able to utilize the abilities of Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker. A 9-0 Giants lead became a 10-9 halftime lead for the Patriots. Deja Vu: New York trailed at the half with the Broncos 10-9 in 1987. The Giants trailed Buffalo in 1990 12-10. Apparently the Giants love to play from behind in the Big Game.

I loved watching both Coughlin and Belichick play power football. Keeping it on the ground, and convert on 3rd down. Two long drives of 96 and 79 yards gave the Pats a 17-9 lead. Then the Giants took over.

Chase Blackburn with a key pick in the 4th period denied New England a chance to pad their lead. Of course Patriots fans will bemoan a catch that wasn't made. With about 4 minutes left a pass by Tom Brady to Wes Welker was a little behind him. Catchable but dropped by Wes. That completion ices the game for New England as the Giants were down to 1 timeout. This gave the Giants life.

A 39 yard toss from Eli Manning to Mario Manningham put New York back in business at midfield as the clock wound down. Another comeback in the making for the G-Men? Of course! On the heels of the biggest play of the game.

Another completion from Manning to Manningham places New York in field goal range.  Passes by Eli to Manningham and Nicks took the ball to the 12 yard line. I began to wonder if the Giants would know enough to sit at the 1 yard line a la Michael Westbrook in 2007 at Texas Stadium?

Ahmad Bradshaw was thinking the same thing...until his tushy fell into the end zone. A missed 2 point conversion by New York. Giants with a 21-17 lead with 57 seconds left. Tom Brady had one last chance.

A converted 4th and 16 helped the Patriots move the ball up to the 30. Two passes took New England to midfield with time for one more play. A Hail Mary...as Brady heaved I flashed back to the game between the Colts and Steelers 1/14/96 in Pittsburgh. A Jim Harbaugh bomb would also go incomplete. The same happened in Super Bowl 46 as Tom Brady's last pass fell incomplete. The Giants prevailed by a 21-17 score.

I felt the Giants would win 24-23. I felt New York was the more complete team. I can't believe how many drops the Patriots receivers had in this game. Gisele told the truth post-game.

Eli Manning was your MVP and rightly so. Incredibly a 7-1 record on the road. A team that defied the football world after a 7-7 record in December with 2 games to play against the Cowboys and cross town rivals the Jets. 

This ball club reminded so many of the 2007 Giants. A road win in Green Bay. A road win in New England-TWICE! A very memorable Super Bowl. An end to a memorable football season. Here's to 2012. 2011 was a very good year.

Happy Birthday Babe Ruth and Ronald Reagan...A new day and a new podcast for your enjoyment.

Make it a great day!

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will