A long suffering fan has a chance to bask in Big Blue glory
As a long suffering Mets fan, I always wondered what it would be like to be a Yankees fan. Does winning championships ever get old? Is it possible to actually take it for granted? When you lose, do you say, “it’s okay, we’ll get them next year.”
My teams have never experienced that type of sports dominance. I went through my entire childhood as a Giants fan without ever smelling the playoffs.
Then from the jubilation of Scott Norwood’s “wide right,” until the “18-1” Patriots championship, were sixteen years of frustration. Can you imagine how Jets’ fans feel? Therefore, every opportunity I get to take advantage of a playoff run, I treat it like it will be my last one.
This five week stretch has been nothing short of incredible. However, on Sunday evening, reality will set in. If we don’t beat the Patriots, this season, in spite of all the highlights, will quickly be forgotten.
The 2001 loss to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV is a stark reminder of how a great playoff run can disappear over the course of a sixty minute debacle. Therefore, it has fallen on me to make sure that doesn’t happen. It’s up to me to lay out for the Giants how to make sure they take full advantage of this precious opportunity.
The Giants must accept the fact that even if they bring their best defensive effort, the Patriots will score points. The Patriots offense has arguably the best quarterback in the league, who will use all weapons at his disposal to beat us.
Tom Brady certainly earned my eternal respect with that gutsy 4th down, 1 yard dive to score that huge touchdown against the Ravens. I still can’t believe he walked away after Ray Lewis’ flying helmet to his back. It is the task of the Giants defense to stop Brady a few times. Shutting him down is impossible.
Entering their last two victorious Super Bowls, the Giants were a prohibitive underdog, working with an offense that relied on a strong running attack, but facing teams that were offensive juggernauts. Naturally, the game plan for those two games was to dominate time of possession, thus keeping the powerful offenses off the field. Bill Belichek would be thrilled if the Giants came in with that game plan.
I implore the Giants not to fall into that trap. At this year’s Super Bowl, we are the better team! Play like it. In order to win this game, the Giants must come out aggressively, as often as possible, and throw the ball down the field. The Patriots are weak in the secondary, have a weak pass rush, and are about five steps slower than the dominant 49er defense we just faced. If we have the ball five times in the first half, we need to score four touchdowns.
The matchup that favors the Giants most is when the Giants go with their three wide receivers, Nicks, Cruz, and Manningham, their tight end, Ballard or Beckham, and halfback, Bradshaw or Ware. The Patriots cannot stop that offense. If we don’t beat ourselves with fumbles, interceptions, or conservative play calling, we will win this game.
The Patriots will try to run the ball to slow the Giant pass rush. Brady will continue in the no huddle, but certainly will be in no hurry to give the ball back to the powerful Giant offense.
Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. New York Giants 35 New England Patriots 28. See you at the parade!!
GO BIG BLUE!!!
In honor of the Giants Super Bowl Run, Seasons of Lawrence is offering some amazing game day specials. Check out our website at SeasonsNY.com, and call Shiv, 516 295 3300 to place your orders!
Send any Big Blue questions or comments to bbsupersol@aol.com.
Benjy Schreier, manager of Seasons of Lawrence, lives in Woodmere, with his wife, Penina, who is a co-founder of Gan Ami, a popular nursery program in Cedarhurst. Their children, Menashe, 21, Batya, 16, Dalia 15, and Hillel, 14 have kept up the Big Blue tradition. His video, “The Giants 2007 Playoff Run— The Plays that No One Talks About” is in many Giant fans’ video libraries. He was a semi-finalist in the WFAN “Fantasy Phenom” contest this past year.
