TAMPA – Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton still thinks the Ravens can be beaten. But it would take just about the perfect game.
“To beat this team you have to be patient, you have to win the battle of field position and you have to take it into the fourth quarter somehow – and when we fell behind the way we did, boy it becomes doubly hard,” Payton said after the 34-7 wipeout in Super Bowl XXXV. He said he was impressed most by the Ravens “team speed and the way they tackle.”
As for Kerry Collins’ horrific performance, Payton told Collins after the game, “I’m proud of the great season you had.”
The coach added of Collins’ four interceptions, “It’s going to take awhile for Kerry to get over a game like this, the same way it’s going to take awhile for the rest of us to get over a game like this.”
Collins turned into Trent Dilfer on this night, and his terrible pass into double coverage at the goal line that was intercepted by cornerback Chris McAlister with 54 seconds remaining in the first half proved to be a pivotal mistake.
On the play, Collins went for a touchdown to Ike Hilliard even though he had Tiki Barber wide open underneath at the 24. Collins bit off more than he could chew, and that decision proved to be the kind that could haunt him a long time.
Radio broadcaster and new Detroit Lions boss Matt Millen labeled it a “stupid play.” In Collins’ defense, it’s easy to be confused by the Ravens’ mad-dog defense, and that’s how Collins spent most of the game. The Giants’ only success seemed to come when they spread out the Ravens, something that everyone knew they had to do. Too many times, Collins tried to force the action and he paid a terrible price.
All week the Ravens defense bragged about shutting out the Giants, and that’s what they did.
“Our approach going in was solid,” Payton said. “You have to come up with a big play or two.”