Superbowl Pick

My fiancee is making delicious chili.  Football will be on television.  The evening will be spectacular.

NEW YORK (+3):

            The least discussed storyline, though perhaps among the most compelling in my mind is that despite the accomplishments, status, fame, and historical imagery associated with these two quarterbacks, both are, unmistakably, lucky to be in Indianapolis rather than on their couches.  Brady required a dropped touchdown pass and a hideously-missed field goal to receive his superbowl berth.  Manning required not one, but two muffed punts (both of which were fairly egregious) in order to win by three points in overtime.  Neither quarterback looked particularly formidable just two weeks ago, and now the punditry speaks of greatness, of legacy. 

            Last week, in backing the Ravens (and receiving a touchdown in so doing), I remarked that the Patriots were 2-2 in the regular and postseasons against teams that qualified for the playoffs…with the two wins against the polarizing, but hardly Canton-bound Tim Tebow.  Last week, once again, against legitimate competition, they were fortunate to win by three points in Foxborough.  I see no logical reason for which to bestow upon them a favored status on a neutral field.  Of course, the qualms are inevitable.  The Giants, having played well all season long when little was expected, came up small (@WSH week 1, SEA week 5, PHI week 11 starting Vince Young, WSH week 15) when the world expected a strong performance.  This evening, a team that was outscored in the regular season plays Tom Brady, on a ten-game winning streak, in a superbowl, fully believing they will win.  This seems like a recipe for disaster…or magic.

I have never before been as excited to watch a championship game without a clearly defined rooting interest.

NY Giants 27, New England 24