Despite giving the New England Patriots perhaps their toughest test of the regular season during week 17, heading into Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants were given little-to-no chance to beat the mighty Pats, who entered the game sporting a perfect 18-0 record, which included two postseason wins. But the Giants used the confidence they gained in that earlier contest as a springboard to an unlikely run through the NFC playoffs, and capped it off with what may have been the biggest upset in Super Bowl history, beating the Patriots 17-14.
As a wild-card team and just the No. 5 seed in the NFC, New York produced the formula that each of the Patriots’ previous opponents had been searching for; consistent pressure on quarterback Tom Brady, a ball-control offense to keep the game close heading to the fourth quarter, and a big play here and there come crunch time. Read more...
This weekend the New England Patriots will attempt to cap off their quest to match the unbeaten mark set by the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who not only ran the table during the regular season, but also went on to win Super Bowl VII over the Washington Redskins. That particular season put the Dolphins on a pedestal, and thrust them squarely in the middle of the debate over the greatest teams in NFL history. However, as time has passed and athletes have grown bigger, faster, and stronger, it becomes more and more difficult each year to keep suggesting that they belong in the same category as some of the great teams of more recent years.
Regardless of how they stack up to today's teams, the historic significance of their accomplishment can't be denied. It's taken 35 years for a single team to make it into the post-season with an unblemished record, and there's certainly no guarantee the Patriots will complete the deal this time around.
If New England does, in fact, accomplish the ultimate goal and win Super Bowl XLII, however, it will be tough to not place them at the top of the NFL's all-time greatest teams. And not just because of the wins, but because of the way they thoroughly dominated so many opponents this year.
Even though their margin of victory was no more than 10 points in four of their last six games, they ended the season averaging nearly 20 points per game more than they surrendered. Only six times all year did they win by less than three touchdowns, and they outscored their opposition by a whopping 315 points.
The first injury report for Super Bowl XLII was released Wednesday, and although New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is on the list for an unspecified shoulder injury (as he has been every week in recent memory), curiously there is no mention of any ankle or foot injury despite being spotted just days ago wearing a protective boot and limping noticeably.
Brady did participate fully in practice Wednesday and no doubt will be ready to go on Sunday. Receiver Jabar Gaffney was limited in practice somewhat due to a shoulder problem of his own, but that's the extent of the Patriots' injuries according to the official report.
The New York Giants are relatively healthy going in as well. Receiver Plaxico Burress missed practice because of a torn ankle ligament that has hampered him most of the season, but considering he has looked better in recent weeks despite not practicing, there's probably not much reason for worry among Giants fans where he is concerned. Cornerback Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) and guard Rich Seubert (knee) were limited in practice as well, but not much will be known about their probability of playing until the final report is issued on Friday and the various tags are applied to each player.
There's an old adage in the NFL that states regardless of how good you are right now, if you aren't getting better, you're falling behind. And there has probably never been a time in league history when a team can go from good to bad, or vice versa, so quickly. So with that in mind, every team in the NFL, including the undefeated New England Patriots, will be looking for ways to improve.
For the Pats, the first order of business might be re-signing wide receiver Randy Moss, who will become a restricted free agent. The problem is, however, he is going to command a whopping salary and signing bonus on the open market with teams standing in line for the opportunity to secure his services. Cornerback Asante Samuel could also become a free-agent casualty, and age at linebacker is really beginning to be a big concern.
For their Super Bowl opponents, the upstart New York Giants, there are probably a few more concerns, starting at cornerback and perhaps their offensive line. David Diehl has played hard at offensive tackle, but he is overmatched at times by athletic defensive ends and is probably better suited as an interior lineman.
Over the past couple weeks, with the assistance of draft guru Andrew Wynne, we've put together an analysis of each team's needs heading into the offseason, so check out what your favorite team might be thinking as they head into free agency and the NFL Draft. Read more...
With Super Bowl XLII just days away, it's time to finalize plans for the Super Bowl party you are hosting or get some ideas for contributing to the one you are attending. The key, in my opinion, to a great Super Bowl party is the food. So, we here at About.com are going to assist you in that department whether you're throwing the party yourself or simply need ideas on what to take along with you to the event you are attending.
Home Cooking Guide Peggy Trowbridge says finger foods are a must, and I have to agree. A solid assortment of chips, dips, and salsas, along with other easy-to-serve snacks will give your guests plenty to munch on all day long. Busy Cooks Guide Linda Larson also has some great ideas for Super Bowl snacks, including mini-pizzas, Buffalo wings, potato skins, and much more.
If you're planning a low fat menu, or at least offering the option, Low Fat Cooking Guide Fiona Haynes has some terrific ideas to cut the calories. And IBS Guide Barbara Bradley Bolen offers her Super Bowl Playbook for a Healthy Gut for those of you who need something gentle on the digestive system. Southern U.S. Cuisine Guide Diana Rattray also provides an extensive assortment of snacks, sandwiches, deserts, and much more, while New England for Visitors Guide Kim Knox Beckius adds a handful of recipes, including her Boston baked beans and lobster nachos. And, of course, I have a few favorites of my own.
To round out your menu and to add a little ambiance to the occasion, Entertaining Guide Donna Pilato will teach you how to make a cake that looks like a football field, complete with goal posts and football.
In the beverages department, Cocktails & Beer Guide Colleen Graham has an A-to-Z list of cocktail and shooter recipes. And for those that are not the traditional beer drinkers, Wine Guide Stacey Slinkard explains which wines go with chips, dips, or even pepperoni pizza.
If your party is aimed more specifically at a younger crowd, Parenting of Adolescents Guide Denise Witmer will teach you how to throw a Super Bowl party for teens.
When looking at the two teams scheduled to participate in Super Bowl XLII, it’s obvious they took completely different routes in getting to the NFL championship. The New England Patriots, of course, ran the table through the regular season before knocking off both the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers in the playoffs for a combined 18-0 record. Things weren’t quite as easy for the New York Giants, who suffered through some inconsistencies early in the year before righting the ship late in the season to secure a wild-card playoff berth. Viewed going in as perhaps the playoff team most unlikely to ruin New England’s perfect season, the Giants ripped off three consecutive road victories to advance to the big game.
Despite the Giants’ lowly status as the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs and the fact that they were pretty much an afterthought as far as legitimate contenders heading into the post-season are concerned, they do have the components to pull off the ultimate upset. But for the unlikely to happen, they are going to have to play flawlessly Sunday. Read more...
In my last post, I discussed Urban Legends Guide David Emery's debunking of the Avocado myth listed below. And after poking around in some of his stuff, I found there are some interesting facts and really crazy legends attached to the Super Bowl.
One involves the collapsing of sewer systems in major cities because of all the simultaneous flushing done at halftime. And when you think about it, it seems like a legitimate concern. After all, there must be somewhat of an increase in the flow of waste during that time. But is it true?
Another claim is that there are more pizza deliveries made during Super Bowl Sunday than on any other day of the year. And that Disneyland becomes a veritable ghost town on the day of the Super Bowl because everyone is watching the game. Some of these legends are unfounded, some have some truth to them, while others are simply exaggerations.
And have you ever wondered what became of that guy who use to hold up the John 3:16 signs at televised football games? You won't believe it! Read more...
Some quick facts about the Super Bowl from the NFL:
Think we have our priorities in order? More people watched Super Bowl XL (141.4 million viewers) than voted in the 2004 Presidential election.
There are 7.5 million parties on Super Bowl Sunday (National Retail Federation), and, of course, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears will try to hit about half of them.
1.5 million TV sets will be sold the week leading up to the Super Bowl (National Retail Federation) and it's no surprise sales of big screen TVs generally show a fivefold increase during that time (National Electronic Dealers Association).
The Super Bowl is the top at-home party event of the year, ahead of New Year’s Eve (Hallmark Cards, Inc.) and the new Michael Vick-inspired Torture Your Dog with a Fork Day.
Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest day of food consumption behind Thanksgiving (American Institute of Food Distribution), which makes it not a surprise at all that antacid sales increase 20 percent the day after the Super Bowl (7-11 stores).
On Super Bowl Sunday, Americans consume 8 million pounds of guacamole (California
Avocado Commission). Rumor has it nearly two thirds of all the avocados sold in the United States are purchased during the three weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, but Urban Legends Guide David Emery says that statistic is exaggerated.
Super Bowl weekend is the slowest weekend for weddings (multiple sources) for one simple reason. What bride in her right mind would want to start off her marriage by making her husband miss such a big event? I mean, it is the Super Bowl after all.
With Super Bowl XLII approaching, invitations to Super Bowl parties will be handed out soon. Perhaps you're even planning one yourself. But how much fun can you have if you don't understand the game itself? After all, football's biggest annual event is the purpose of the party and will be a large focus of attention and conversation throughout the day. So, unless you prefer standing in the background twiddling your thumbs while everyone else is engrossed in the action, let us help you do something about it.
To a beginner, the game of football can seem very complicated, but it's really very simple once you learn the basics. That's why we've put together this three-step course designed to arm you with all the knowledge you need in plenty of time for this year's contest. In three easy-to-follow lessons, you'll learn all the basics, from the object of the game and the various ways to score, to the layout of the football field and the components of the team itself.
We've also created a glossary that defines hundreds of football terms you can bookmark for quick reference when needed as well as an entire section dedicated to improving your knowledge of the game.
As I sit here typing this in the middle of a Midwestern snowfall (I'm not actually out in the snow, mind you. I just have a good view out the window) a few of you lucky souls out there are getting ready to head out to the Phoenix area for Super Bowl XLII. Maybe you're going just for the game, or perhaps to enjoy some of the events leading up to the big day as well. Which means while I'm sitting here in several inches of snow (not actually in the snow itself, but at my desk) some of you will be basking in the mid-60-degree temperatures being predicted for most of next week in Glendale, AZ.
Anyway, if you are one of the lucky few who plan to make the trek to the general vicinity of Super Bowl XLII, we can make your stay much more enjoyable. Phoenix Guide Judy Hedding went above and beyond by putting together a wonderful library of resources that will save you time, help you plan ahead, and keep you from getting lost.
The Super Bowl itself will be played in Glendale, but many of you will be staying in nearby Scottsdale and, of course, looking for places to eat, party, shop, and just generally be entertained. Judy helps you get around town and tells you where to go. Well, she doesn't actually tell you where to go, but she does have a list of party locations and special events.
If you're going to be in town for a while, be sure to check out some of the attractions around Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale as well. Of course, if I were you (and your friends and family should be happy I'm not) I'd systematically work my way down this list of fantastic places to eat.
The above is just a sample of the resources available for visitors to Super Bowl XLII. Read more to check out the complete guide...
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