Here’s hoping the Giants make one of those en vogue agreements with Spagnulo to replace Coughlin when he retires and/or has an embolism…

While we may disagree on some of the particular calls (the Smith catch was a rare instance of the ground causing control!), I think we can agree that the refs just need to be sharper for such an important game. I think the Sam Madison call was hard to have an opinion on because Fox didn’t show the replay – inexcusable for such a big play. I also thought that on one of the first drives Tramon Williams had a textbook pass interference by the goal line that wasn’t called – would have been 7 points instead of 3 for you guys.

Anyway, I too have been impressed by your D coordinator and the gritty effort of a undermanned Giant defense.

Agree with your sentiment on coaching. The Giants seemed to have a much better game plan. Offensively, the Giants mixed their plays up well, controlled the ball, and exploited Green Bay’s predictable man-to-man coverage. On defense, the Giants secondary schemes were impressive. You take out the fluke throw to Driver and Favre threw 34 passes for 146 yards while stuffing Grant. And that was with a banged-up secondary. No wonder the Falcons are adding the Giants defensive coordinator (Spagnulo) to their coaching search.

Also agree with – and am shocked not to hear more from the press on – the officiating in the game. Awful. Maybe we’re both biased but it felt like Green Bay got the better of the bad calls. Green Bay’s 2nd TD was courtesy of a personal foul on Madison on a 3rd down play that seemed questionable. They never showed it but it looked like it was a case of two guys pushing each other after the running back held a block for way too long. Questionable holding calls on the Giants killed one 1st half drive and brought back the Bradshaw TD run with a minute left in regulation. The Packers’ FG in the 1st half was courtesy of a 3rd down Illegal Contact call on the Giants safety that I recall being bullshit. I didn’t like the call on Harris on 3rd down for GB but the Collins late hit – while a cheap way for the Giants to get a 3rd down – was the right call. Collins wasn’t looking at the ball and took 2-3 steps after Eli threw it. The Steve Smith catch looked ok to me – at best, that’s a play where the call is going to stand regardless b/c it’s tough to prove. It didn’t matter, though, b/c we missed the subsequent FG try.

At the end of the day, Green Bay had the better season and the Giants had the better game. A 40 minute to 22 minute time advantage for the Giants. 380-264 on total yards (with 90 on a fluke play). Packers went 1-10 on 3rd down. Giants should’ve won by 10 points.

Great blog and best of luck to the Packers in the draft and in 2008!