18-1: Man, Am I Glad It's Finally Over

(See? I am a mass of contradictions. I complained yesterday about watching the Super Bowl, and now I am writing about watching the Super Bowl.)

There is a problem with pursuing perfection: it's a vain and futile pursuit. And nearly any psychologist will inform you that perfectionism is a neurosis. Plus, it is a heavy burden to bear.

Good news. I can finally relax now that my hope for perfection has been smashed to the ground by a dominant defense, a composed quarterback, a miracle escape from a sack that had not quite closed, and a miracle one-handed-then-to-helmet-then-to-two-hands catch. Sweet relief! The New York Giants were the better team tonight.

Losing, in all honesty, has never felt so good.

As any football fan knows, a few losses in a season are no big deal. Many teams make it into the playoffs with 10-6 records (others have made it with worse records). But maintaining an undefeated season is wearying, or so it was for this fan. Going undefeated is not something the average fan, or player, or any coach expects or demands. And it becomes not merely an expectation but a annoying distraction. Weeks ago -- and I mean this -- I was ready for the Patriots to just lose, and maybe even lose again. Watching the games became more pain than pleasure. Rather than just expecting one's team to do well, there was this irresistible expectation that they must never lose. And then when the play-offs began, losing felt like it cost too much.

Obviously, they did lose, and they lost at the 'wrong' time.

As an armchair coach, I can only say that the Patriots' decision-making and play tonight seemed rather stunted. Brady needed to roll out of the pocket and not permit himself to play smash-mouth with a pretty sick pass rush. (The last two plays, Brady did roll right, finding time and passing lanes.) The Pats needed to develop their screen game (which had been one of the best in the NFL); they needed to remember that Donté Stallworth is on their team. They needed to finish the sack; they needed to bring down the interception or recover the fumble. They should have punched the Giants with a two-back set more often. And they probably needed to trust the leg of their field goal kicker one particular time, though it would have been a long-shot (which is what big games are about).

The numbers won't matter to the pundits, but the Patriots were not radically outplayed by a better team. They just lost, looking mediocre; worn out, perhaps, from the pressure of being perfect. Who wants to carry that mantle around anyway, other than Mercury Morris? The pass rush of the Giants was the best the Patriots have seen all year, I think; they were certainly outplayed on the line of scrimmage on many downs.

My hat is off to the Giants. I am a former fan of that legendary NY franchise. I think the Manning brothers are class acts; Eli's a great kid. The Giants played with fire in their bellies. I appreciate that.

But I predictably console myself with the simple observation that this year's Super Bowl champs had fewer wins and more losses than the Super Bowl losers. 18-1 is shockingly good, as are the many NFL records (Wes Welker's record-setting performance in tonight's game just one more great feat) the Patriots set. They remain the standard bearer; the NFL has been transformed in many ways by that curmudgeonly coach in the sideline hoodie.

One more thing: tonight's loss puts the end -- I mean THE END -- to the whole Spy-gate absurdity. So glad that sideshow is over.

Overall, trying to be objective, I think the Super Bowl was just OK -- at best. The last few minutes were interesting. But as I said last night, the NFL season is more interesting than its climax. It's perhaps the one case -- what REAL man dare say this?! -- where the courtship is more interesting and fun than the consummation.

EXTRAS

BEST COMMERCIALS: Coke's two ads, the parade balloons battling it out for a bottle of Coca-Cola (quite beautiful, really, so gentle and lyrical -- Go Charlie Brown!), and the bipartisan gem featuring James Carville and Bill Frist. Perfect. (Also, I liked the Toyota commercial with the Big Wheel races, though not for the SUV advertised, but for the fact that I want to race Big Wheels downhill. And the Hyundai Genesis is a sweet looking ride.)

The Budweiser Clydesdales are always a big hit with me; I am a sucker for those animals. Loved the dalmatian-as-trainer saving the career of one out-of-shape horse.

WORST COMMERCIAL: Can't say I liked the Jiminy Cricket-like creature (Pinocchio riff?) getting eaten by the spider; and I liked the baby on-line investor but the regurgitation was one step too far (the clown follow-up was cute, though.) And the corpulent dude clamping jumper cables to his nipples was initially funny, but was just plain crude by the end. (I know, I am a killjoy.)

BEST PROMO: The NFL's promotional about dreaming big dreams. I did not catch the names, but the piece about the two Houston Texans teammates -- one of whom is an oboe player -- was brilliant and sweet.

HALFTIME SHOW: Tom Petty and the HEARTbreakers. Not the best name for a band if you're a Patriots fan. But the little medley was decent enough. I am no Petty fan, so I must say that it is clear he's STILL running down a dream, and I am a bit weary of it. My guess is he hasn't played to such a large audience in a long, long time. I'll give the entertainment a 7.5.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Wow. Stunning, I thought.

END OF GAME HANDSHAKE: Stay on the field, Bill. If only for one more second. (Dear NFL: Give him a 10-yard penalty to be assessed in the first game of next season). Uncool, sir.

PREDICTION: Patriots are in 2 of the next 5 Super Bowls, winning at least one. New York Giants struggle again to get into the play-offs next year; they might not even make the play-offs. They won't make it past the first round if they do.

(Gosh, I really AM an idiot.)

Peace, and good night.

©Bill Gnade 2008/Contratimes. All Rights Reserved.