I knew the Giants had a real shot to win when ...

So the New York Giants are world champions, and Eli Manning is the Super Bowl MVP (did I really just type that?).

They deserve it, though. They weathered through some bad losses - like 41-17 to Minnesota - played hard throughout games and, most importantly, got hot late in the season when it matters most.

I was at work on the desk at the R&L, but watched the game through the magic of TiVo today.

Here's the first point in my mind when I really thought the Giants had a very good chance to win. It's kind of out there, so bear with me.

On New England's first play of the game, Tom Brady faked a hand-off to Laurence Maroney, then faked an end around. He kept the ball with the intent of throwing a screen pass back to Maroney. He was hit hard, and the pass fluttered incomplete.

Seriously, that's the play New England drew up to start the game? That's either really, really arrogant or really, really stupid. Or both.

Let me explain.

For that play to work properly, there are a couple of things that needed to be in place. First, the Patriots needed to have already established a running game up the middle. Secondly, New England needed to show the ability to run a reverse or end around with its dangerously fast receivers. And the Giants would have needed to overpursue tackles throughout the game. All those things happen and it's the perfect play.

That's why it made no sense to call that on the first play of the game. New York was playing its gaps, and didn't bite on either play-action because nothing was established. It was an easy blitz to the quarterback, an easy incompletion.

New England's coaching staff and players were off the entire game, and that first call sort of set the tone for the rest of the night.