Doug Saffir

Photo Credit: TSM Interactive

Four years should have been enough time to heal. But Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants proved that, for New England fans, the wounds from the 2008 Super Bowl are still very much open.

Eli Manning dumped the saltshaker on those wounds this weekend, leading his Giants to a last minute, 24-20 victory over New England.

I sat alongside my good friend Marc, a rabid Giants fan, as it all unfolded. And listening to him stomp his feet and seeing him raise his fists in victory only added to the pain. For the second time in three years, a team I know in my heart is inferior took down my beloved Patriots.

Over the course of the last three minutes, I stared on in disbelief – first as Mario Manningham’s 10-yard score provided chilling flashbacks to Plaxico Burress’ championship winning catch, then as Tom Brady led a clinical drive that ended with a Rob Gronkowski touchdown, and finally as Eli Manning zipped a 1-yard strike to Jake Ballard to win the game.

The three lead changes in the final three minutes made clear just how inadequate New England is on defense. Twice the Patriots stood in the same position they stood three years ago – New York driving but just one big play away from victory. Twice the defense crumbled with redemption on the line. In a game that meant everything to the heart and pride of New England, the defense gave nothing.

Two boneheaded pass interference penalties and at least two chances to stop New York on third down allowed the Giants to end 85 and 80-yard drives with touchdowns.

The two scores sealed the victory and put the spotlight on a severe lack of discipline in New England – from Rob Gronkowski’s Twitter picture with porn star Bibi Jones, to Julian Edelman’s sexual assault charge, to the fighting and penalties (7 for 81 yards) that went on throughout Sunday’s game. The Patriots, once the pinnacle of control and restraint, lost it on Sunday and it cost them.

Now the Patriots and their fans have a long time to consider the shortcomings that were all too evident on Sunday. The Giants and Patriots, barring a playoff rematch, will not face one another for four years. That’s a long time to reflect on the heart wrenching damage of the last two games they have played. And sadly, I don’t think they make a bandage big enough to cover this wound.