Monday morning QBs second guess Bradshaw TD

The Monday morning QBs got a head start on the second-guessing game regarding the Super Bowl as fans immediately questions New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw for unsuccessfully NOT trying to get into the end zone to secure the game-winning touchdown Sunday night.

Down by two points with the ball in prime scoring position on the 6-yard line, the Giants were poised to take the lead via touchdown or field goal with roughly a minute left on the clock.  New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick told his defense to stand down and allow the Giants to score on the following play.  The strategy and reasoning were sound considering the Patriots had only one timeout remaining.  

The Giants apparently did not prepare for the “stand down” scenario until the ball was hiked.  What happened next will go down in Super Bowl lore.

Ahmad Bradshaw raced through the gaping hold bound for Super Bowl glory only to hear Eli Manning yelling for him to down the ball.  Despite his best attempt to stop mid-sprint, Bradshaw toppled into the endzone and the second-guessers wasted not one second in criticizing the play.

Why would you give Tom Brady the ball back?

What was he thinking?

They should’ve went for the field goal!

Oh how quickly we forget.  Immediately millions of fans forgot in the Patriots previous game, they advanced to the Super Bowl because Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff missed a chip shot at the game’s end that would’ve sent the AFC Championship game into overtime.  They forgot about Scott Norwood’s wide-right kick in Super Bowl XXV.  They ignored the many fumbles, blunders and blocked kicks that happened on field goal attempts throughout the season.  But the most important thing the smart guys forgot is that Tom Brady and the Patriots would have still have time remaining on the clock, only needing a field goal to win.

Had the Giants downed the ball twice, forced New England to use it’s final timeout and kicked the field goal, the Patriots would’ve still had roughly t20 seconds remaining.  Is 20 seconds a lot of time? Absolutely not.  Could a great kick return, one deep completion or a pass interference penalty get them into field goal range? Easily.

Kick return aside, I’d must rather force Tom Brady (or any quarterback) to drive 80 yards for a TD with 57 seconds than 40 yards with 20 seconds to get in field goal range.

Many people are suggesting is the Giants should’ve played scared.  They should’ve been afraid of the great Tom Brady, cowered in fear of the surefire Hall-of-Fame QB.  Nonsense.  With arguably the strongest front four pass rushers in the league, the Giants defense was built to stop such drives.  Justin Tuck sacked Brady.  Defensive backs made plays.  The Giants prevailed.

The fact that many people would rather put their faith in a kicker than score a touchdown and rely on such a stout defense for less than a minute is baffling, especially considering the Ravens misfortunes just weeks prior.  But regardless, the Giants defense stood up to the challenge, allowing the team to stand out as champions.