Had to sit down and watch the game again without a crowd where men were yelling for a beer and wives yelling for people to be quiet during commercials. They still lost, sorry to say. Some thoughts and observations are below…

1. Biggest Plays of the Game:

1. Wes Welker’s drop – I’m adjusting my blame from 60% on Tom Brady to 50% / 50%
2. Tom Brady missing Deion Branch over the middle on the last drive
3. Twelve men on the field (somewhere Don Cherry is throwing up in his mouth)
4. Rob Ninkovich jumping offsides on the 16 with 13:18 left in the quarter (on what would have been fourth down and Eli starting to short arm the ball). Giants didn’t give up possession until 9:31, adding 40 yards of field position and costing 3:47 of critical time.
5. Crazy catch by Manningham on the last drive Continue reading Connelly’s Top Ten: Wake Hours To Be Announced »

Everyday we do our best to fight the good fight. We go to work, survive bosses, tolerate traffic, make sincere efforts to parent to the best of our abilities, do our best to appease spouses, pay the bills, go to sleep and then wake up and do the same thing over again. To do more than just subsist, we must be able to attach ourselves to something that distinguishes us from others.

The Patriots and primarily Tom Brady and Bill Belichick up to this point, have given us the ability to feel special and unique. Their successes have allowed us, up to this point, to say that we, in some small way, we are part of something that is extraordinary. But, now we’re just fans of  another really good team. Somewhere, Joe Montana and Vince Lombardi can go to sleep Sunday night with their legacy secure while we replay what could have been and wonder why we’re not fans of the greatest football team ever. Like the groundhog not seeing his shadow – the Patriots losing means our winter will be longer and we’re no longer special! Continue reading Connelly’s Top Ten: Manning & Manningham Yes – Brady & Welker No! »

The New York Giants claimed their second Lombardi Trophy in five years, with Eli Manning leading them from behind in a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Ind.

Manning lead a nine-play, 88-yard drive that started with 3:46 remaining, capping it off with an Ahmad Bradshaw six-yard plunge with :57 seconds left to give New York the decisive touchdown. The drive was highlighted by a phenomenal 38-yard reception by Mario Manningham where he was able to maintain possession on a close sideline play. Continue reading Giants Top Patriots 21-17 to Win Super Bowl XLVI »

The New England Patriots have Announced their inactives for Super Bowl XLVI, with Kevin Faulk headling those out for the big game in Indianapolis, Ind.

Faulk is joined by QB Ryan Mallet, RB Shane Vereen, LB Gary Guyton, OL Donald Thomas, OL Nick McDonald, and DL Ron Brace.

Chad Ochocinco returns to action after missing the AFC Championship against Baltimore, while recently signed DL Alex Silvestro will be active. Continue reading Super Bowl Inactives: Kevin Faulk Out for Patriots, Herzlich Out for Giants »