Columns

Gimme 5

By JOHN ROMANO, Times Columnist
Published February 4, 2008

Giants receiver David Tyree catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning on third down during the 83-yard drive in the final two minutes to take the lead. Manning's scramble and Tyree's catch will become Super Bowl lore.
	[Getty Images]

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Giants defenders Osi Umenyiora (72) and Justin Tuck force Tom Brady into a critical fumble at the end of the second quarter.

Talk of the town

Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio.

1. THE BEST: The standard for come-from-behind drives has always been Joe Montana taking San Francisco 92 yards in the final three minutes of Super Bowl XXIII to beat the Bengals. Today, Montana moves over. Eli Manning's 83-yard drive in the final two minutes may have been more impressive. He beat a better team and did it with a lesser surrounding cast, and his third-down Houdini escape act on a pass to David Tyree will become the stuff of lore.

2. TAKE A BOW: Manning was the hero at the end, but the New York defensive line is the reason the Patriots are crying in their chowder. Tom Brady was sacked five times and hurried on nine passes. And New England running backs were held to 45 yards.

3. CELEBRATION IN MIAMI: Contrary to popular myth, the 1972 Dolphins will not celebrate with a champagne toast. They will, however, have a little brandy in their Metamucil.

4. KARMA IS KIND: No matter how you felt about New England's role in Spygate, it will be a historical footnote instead of raging debate of whether perfection was tainted.

5. JOE MONTANA, PART II: Manning was not just clutch on the winning drive, the kid was brilliant on third down all day, going 10-of-14 for 151 yards.

A list of five

Five questions Bill Belichick refused to answer.

5. Did you leave early to catch that parade in Boston?

4. Have you ever been fined for spying on Gisele?

3. Fourth and 13: Um, are you an idiot?

2. How much did Don Shula pay you?

1. Who dresses you?

Five postseason chokes

1. 1934 Bears: Led by Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski, the Bears were the first unbeaten and untied team in NFL history at 13-0. They were promptly blown out 30-13 by the Giants, who were 8-5.

2. 1942 Bears: Again, the Bears had a shot at perfection. They were 11-0 and had outscored teams by an average of 34-7. Their 14-6 loss to the Redskins in the NFL Championship was the only thing that kept them from being the only team with four consecutive titles.

3. 1968 Colts: Don Shula's club went 13-1 with the league's best defense and No. 2 offense. Then they embarrassed the NFL by losing to the supposedly inferior AFL champion Jets in Super Bowl III.

4. 1998 Vikings: The first team to go 15-1 and fail to win the Super Bowl. The highest-scoring team in history at that time, they lost 30-27 to Atlanta in the NFC Championship.

5. 2007 Patriots: The new standard for falling short.

Five super blunders

1. He had no interceptions, but Brady had a critical fumble at the end of the second quarter. Result: Patriots missed a chance at a potential field goal and a 10-3 lead.

2. A national anthem flyover in a domed stadium. Result: Uncontrollable giggles.

3. Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn failing to get off the field in time on a punt, giving the Patriots a first down. Result: For 30 minutes, a swamp in Jersey had his name on it.

4. Giving Ryan Seacrest a microphone. Result: Spontaneous migraines across the nation.

5. Skipping a 48-yard field goal attempt to go for it on fourth and 13. Result: Lost by three.

Final five words

Payback for the 2004 ALCS.

[Last modified February 4, 2008, 00:08:17]