As impressive as Eli Manning and the Giants were in their second Super Bowl win in four years, the bigger story from this game is what we should make of the Patriots going forward.
There was a time when New England was the best and possibly most feared team in the league, year in, year out. Tom Brady was lethal and unstoppable. Bill Belichick was crafty and ruthless.
When the Patriots won three championships in four years ('01, '03, '04), it seemed as if they could do no wrong, especially in the playoffs. More specifically, in Super Bowls.
In Super Bowl 36, Brady and the Pats were tied at 17 with St. Louis. They got the ball back with 1:30 left and Brady went to work. With no timeouts left, he took his team right down the field. Brady completed his first three passes of the drive before misfiring. He followed that up with a 23-yard pass to Troy Brown and then a 6-yarder to Jeramaine Wiggins before spiking it at the Rams 30 with seven seconds left, which set up the game-winning field goal.
Two years later in Super Bowl 38, Brady once again needed a last minute miracle. This time, against the Carolina Panthers. Standing at his own 40 with 1:08 to play, Brady once again delivered. He calmly guided the Patriots right down the field in an orderly, methodical fashion. He came through with two huge, clutch passes to Deon Branch on his way to setting up Adam Vinatieri for another clincher.
The following year, they didn't need a last minute drive to beat the Eagles. However, Brady still played an integral role in winning his third Super Bowl in four years, completing 23 of 33 for 236 yards and 2 TD's. Belichick's defense supplied the dagger in the end, intercepting Donovan McNabb with nine seconds remaining.
New England was at a point where they couldn't do anything wrong. They made every big play and won every big game. In 2007, they finished the regular season a perfect 16-0 and rewrote the NFL's offensive record books in the process before falling to none other than the Giants in Super Bowl 42.
Before that game, Brady and Belichick had won 14 of their first 16 playoff games, including a perfect three-for-three in Super Bowls. However, the Patriots are just 3-3 since, including 0-2 in Super Bowls. In 2009, they were embarrassed by the Ravens, 33-14 in front of their home crowd. A year later, they were once again ousted at home in their first playoff game. This time, by the Jets, 28-21.
Sunday's Super Bowl showed us that Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots may not be what they used to. Instead of finding a way to win, they squandered opportunities and made crucial mistakes, two things they didn't used to do.
On the very first play of the game, Tom Brady launched a pass under heavy pressure intended for nobody in particular. Standing in the end zone and inside the tackle box upon release, the referee rightfully called him for intentional grounding, giving the Giants two points and the ball back. A mental lapse like that had never before been seen from Brady in a title game.
With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, which is historically when Brady plays his best, he again made a very poor decision. With about 14 minutes left, he threw a jump ball for Rob Gronkowski near the end zone. Under normal circumstances, that's probably not the worst of ideas, especially considering "Gronk" caught 17 touchdowns in the regular season. However, with a badly sprained ankle, his leaping ability was non-existent and the pass was picked off. Brady needs to know that he shouldn't be throwing 50/50 balls to someone who can't jump.
Brady wasn't the only Patriot who made mental mistakes. Wes Welker, his favorite target and one of the most sure-handed players in the league, dropped a long pass with four minutes to play that would have put New England in prime position. Deon Branch, a receiver Brady connected with several times in past Super Bowls when he had to have a big completion to move the chains, dropped a pass on the last drive. Aaron Hernandez would do the same.
Even Bill Belichick, a so-called "defensive genius," had his share of problems. His once vaunted defense was ranked second to last in the NFL in 2011 and lacked even the smallest hint of a pass rush.
Long story short, these are not the Patriots from years past. The swagger and charisma from defenders like Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, Mike Vrabel, and Lawyer Milloy are no longer present. The cold-blooded, clutch performances from the aging Brady and Branch aren't as frequent.
When Tom Brady takes the field next season, he'll be 35 years old. Assuming Matt Hasselbeck and Peyton Manning find homes next year, Brady will be the second oldest starting QB in the NFL by a year.
It's completely fair to ask if this is it for one of the NFL's finest dynasties.
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