Dave2112
Level of Cherry Feather
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2001
- Messages
- 10,294
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My house was like a tomb last night.
Our team, our hopes, our Cinderella story was done. New Yorkers felt the ball drop and the dream end at the hands of the Raiders. So, no "this year's Patriots" tale for the Super Bowl this year. It's up to the four big guys now.
On the bright side, our boys didn't go down in a controversial cloud of miscues or questionable calls. We got beat by a better team. Plain and Simple.
Chad Pennington, while never quite getting the deer-in-headlights look, was frazzled in the second half. Yes, he played like a seasoned veteran all year, but this was his first time on the road in the playoffs. Against a ravenous team and a hopped-up crowd at the Black Hole. Daunting for any quarterback. I'll give him this...he never stopped trying. If it was still possible, they were going to try.
There's a lot to look forward to for next season. The quarterback question is answered. The team is relatively young and doing well under a great coach. There is pride around New York over Gang Green once again. And Chad has the playoff monkey off of his shoulder. After the game, I saw a shot of him, all alone at the end of the bench, just hanging his head...defeated, beaten and utterly exhausted. A young quarterback may not realize this now, but it was the game of his career. Not because they threw for so many yards or whatever stat seems important right now, but because it's one more important experience in the bag. And he never quit.
And I look at the schedule and see that we play Oakland yet again next season...
So, at the risk of sounding cliched,
There's Always Next Year.
Our team, our hopes, our Cinderella story was done. New Yorkers felt the ball drop and the dream end at the hands of the Raiders. So, no "this year's Patriots" tale for the Super Bowl this year. It's up to the four big guys now.
On the bright side, our boys didn't go down in a controversial cloud of miscues or questionable calls. We got beat by a better team. Plain and Simple.
Chad Pennington, while never quite getting the deer-in-headlights look, was frazzled in the second half. Yes, he played like a seasoned veteran all year, but this was his first time on the road in the playoffs. Against a ravenous team and a hopped-up crowd at the Black Hole. Daunting for any quarterback. I'll give him this...he never stopped trying. If it was still possible, they were going to try.
There's a lot to look forward to for next season. The quarterback question is answered. The team is relatively young and doing well under a great coach. There is pride around New York over Gang Green once again. And Chad has the playoff monkey off of his shoulder. After the game, I saw a shot of him, all alone at the end of the bench, just hanging his head...defeated, beaten and utterly exhausted. A young quarterback may not realize this now, but it was the game of his career. Not because they threw for so many yards or whatever stat seems important right now, but because it's one more important experience in the bag. And he never quit.
And I look at the schedule and see that we play Oakland yet again next season...
So, at the risk of sounding cliched,
There's Always Next Year.
