I wanted to wait a day before I gave my take on the super bowl. History aside, I am a sports fan and had to actually let it sit in that this was the last professional football game for a while. Therefore, I just though during this somnolent time it was best to reflect on this being the last football game for a while before giving my two cents.First, I was elated for both Dungy and Manning. I was mad when he was released from Tampa Bay and brought in Gruden to win a super bowl with Dungy’s team. In addition, Peyton, well being from Tennessee, I bleed Volunteer Orange and I remember him never being able to beat Florida and Tennessee winning the National championship after he left.
In summary, Dungy played smash mouth football outside of a dome stadium. He beat the Ravens, Tom Brady and crew and the Chiefs by stopping the run and ball control. To win the Championship, they beat a team that played out doors in Chicago by running the ball down their throat and making Rex Grossman be Rex Grossman in the rain.
Yep that is what happened, 42 rushes, working the clock and ball control kept the defense tired and the special teams off of the field – the only legitimate offensive scoring threats the Bears had to be competitive. All of this was reflective of the coach. Dungy was smart enough to know this and it showed. He was unwilling to take a field goal because he knew the Bears would be less likely to score with the offense compared to the special teams being on the field. Then there was the strategy that was evidently no strategy at all when the Bears had second down and one on the Colt’s 45-yard line and Rex Grossman was sacked at the Chicago 44 for an 11-yard loss by Anthony McFarland. Although I think that Bob Sanders should have been the games MVP for his interception and pop that took the ball and Cedric Benson out of the game.
I still think the St. Louis – Tennessee game was the best Super Bowl Ever, but this one did show that the best coach and the better man and the teacher one,. It also showed that good men do end up first.
