Super Bowl 42: First quarter

By Vinnie Iyer
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer blogs today’s action on the field. Refresh this page for the latest entries. Awful Announcing’s Brian Powell blogs throughout the Super Bowl broadcast. For more on today’s ads, read Spencer Hall’s live blog.
0:23
There’s Tom Brady throwing to his tight end, Ben Watson, down the middle of the end zone, and it draws a pass interference penalty on middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, who can’t stay with Watson in coverage. The ball is placed at the Giants’ 1, but we will probably need to wait until the second quarter until the Pats punch it in for the lead. Oh yeah, they will punch it in -- somehow.
0:32
What a shock -- the Giants are trying to take away Randy Moss, and Tom Brady is simply looking to everyone else. Donte’ Stallworth, Kevin Faulk and Wes Welker all have key intermediate catches in this game, and Brady just missed to Ben Watson.
3:30
Laurence Maroney is the early pick for MVP. He’s got plenty of spring in his running and the Giants clearly are worried about Tom Brady first with their pass rush and coverage schemes. Great two carries for 14 yards.
4:52
Smart move by putting running back Laurence Maroney to return the Patriots’ first kickoff. It’s just another chance for one of the Pats’ big playmakers to touch the ball. He zips down the left sideline for 43 yards, and the Pats are in business at their own 44.
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6:41
There’s Steve Smith again, making his presence felt with another third-down catch. He’s a good-looking possession receiver and is a bit elusive for the Pats’ defensive backs to cover inside.
8:17
Ahmad Bradshaw, who didn’t play against the Patriots in Week 17, gets his first action on back-to-back carries. It leads to 10 solid yards and another first down on a third-down run. Yet another rookie X-factor.
10:47
Another conservative two downs, and another third-down conversion. This time, it’s to one of those “other” Giants receivers who will need to be key this afternoon. Rookie Steve Smith runs a nice route to move the chains. I think he’s an X-factor.
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12:53
The Giants start with a couple Brandon Jacobs runs that don’t do too much, but Eli Manning shows everyone in the crowd that Plaxico Burress is just fine by completing a 14-yard third-down conversion to him. Nice grab, and Plax is looking good early.
Kickoff.
The Giants elect to receive with Domenik Hixon returning it out of the end zone. Finds a bit of a crease, but he ends up only on the 23-yard line. You can always expect solid special teams coverage out of the Pats in big games.↵