TG: Hey, thank God we haven’t hijacked this thread, too! Well, we at least have plausible deniability because SDR admitted he was going to do it!
That disclaimer out of the way, I would point out (in no particular order): The Colts did beat NE right up until the end and, save a few errant plays, clearly won in all phases of the game. The Giants most definitely watched the Eagles – NE game and applied the same defensive formula (pressure Brady, don’t allow WRs to get a clean release).
You can run on these guys. The Ravens did it quite effectively. That was another game where Billick had them on the ropes and they let up. You cannot do it with a team this good. They are a battle-hardened, veteran team and totally ruthless. I pointed out to my wife that (imho) the key difference between Manning and Brady is that Manning is a nice guy. Brady isn’t. He is very cold and calculating and merciless.
They aren’t invincible, though, and as the season moves on the chinks in the armor are more apparent, as TG pointed out.
Cris Collinsworth is definitely one of the best analysts out there. I also like Dan Dierdorf. He has a no-nonsense, player-derived perspective that I enjoy. I think John Madden has gone insane, or at least senile. Someone out to take that telestrator away from him before he hurts someone.
