Well, at least until the fourth quarter. And to be honest, I guess that the title isn’t quite true since if I have to identify with either offense or defense… I’ve always had more of a defensive mindset and actually, I really did think that both defenses played a ‘Super Bowl’ caliber type game.

As for the offenses? Seemed to me more like neither team wanted to lose the game so they never really went out trying to win the game. Personally, I think that Eli Manning was good… good enough to win and played a good game; but calling Eli Manning an MVP is a farce. I suppose maybe he is the MVP in the absence of any other suitable players, but he had fewer yards and a worse completion percentage than his opponent, fumbled twice and thankfully had a teammate fall on the ball, not to mention Manning’s interception with 11:53 left to go in the 2nd quarter could have easily cost his team the game. Basically, the key play of the game was one where although Manning evaded the pass rush and got out of two players with a hold on him, David Tyree made the better play of the two, and bailed out Manning’s desperation heave by making a one-handed catch using his helmet to brace the ball surrounded by about 3 Pats defenders who might make the interception if Tyree doesn’t make the play of the game. So no, I have a hard time awarding Eli the MVP award when “his” best play was more attributable to Tyree than anyone else.  Note, that if Tyree doesn’t catch that ball, or deflects it, there are 2 or 3 Pats defenders in the area to make the pic.

I really wish the league had the cajones to step up and give the MVP award to who really deserved it most: the Giants’ defensive line. What about James Butler who was 5th on the team in the regular season in tackles, but led the team in the playoffs and Super Bowl? How about Justin Tuck? His forced fumble with 0:10 left to go in the first half may have saved the Giants 3 points. I know that Gostkowski’s career long is 52, so with the Pats on the Giant’s 44, that’s a 61 yard field goal. If they make a quick first down on that play - instead of a sack and fumble - maybe that’s the 3 points New England needed to at least take the game into overtime?  We’ll never know because of Tuck’s play.
To me, it’s just sad that on a night where the defense shined for New York, that the league was unable to recognize defensive accomplishment and instead awarded a quarterback whose QB rating was the second-worst of his postseason and threw his only interception of the postseason… so not even his best game and he is the “most valuable” player?

So, congrats to Manning, and the Giants for their accomplishments, but shame on the NFL for once again marginalizing defensive performances in lieu of awarding the MVP to a more marketable and recognizable player.

P.S. - This is the second time that a team from Boston has gone on to lose a championship after their win was announced/ presumed prematurely.  The other of course being the 1986 Red Sox team who ended up losing game 6 after the scoreboard had announced “CONGRATULATIONS BOSTON RED SOX” with one out still remaining in the bottom of the 10th.  That has no relevance to my post, but I found it amusing.