The NFL ended their 2017-2018 on a positive note. After all the season’s negativity that blanketed the business with the kneeling saga and the usual bad behavior by some players, the Super Bowl was probably the best Super Bowls in its history. The game was won with Eagles Coach Pederson’s two gutsy calls – one, a 4th down play at the end of the first half to score and again towards the end of the game. Most coaches (except Belichick or Carroll) would have just punted and hoped for their defense to stop the other team. Both teams had trick plays where the QBs handed off to others who threw back to them. Tom Brady showed why he is a quarterback instead of a receiver missing the easy 6 points. Youth prevailed with Nick Foles catching his and scoring. The game ended on a Hail Mary pass with 7 defenders surrounding Gronk. I knew with Referee Gene Steratore officiating (remember the down determined by the index card?) that the game would not end on a defensive penalty. With the exception of the “Catch Rule Hell Moments” with Zach Ertz’s TD, the game officiating was pretty non-existent with only 5 for 47 penalty yards for the Pats and 8 for 79 for the Eagles – most given to offenses. They let the boys play — including the horrific helmet-to-helmet hit by Malcolm Jenkins on Brandin Cooks. Unfortunately, it may have been one of the least watched Super Bowls though because both teams were so disliked by the rest of the country as well as the hatred/jealousy for Tom Brady.

For those who didn’t watch the post-game on the NFL channel, a very drunken (or something) Kevin Hart stumbled to the podium where owner Jeffrey Lurie, coach Doug Pederson and MVP Nick Foles were being interviewed. The Philadelphia native said the F-word while professing to be an Eagles fan and then fought off Deion Sanders who tried to remove Hart from the stage. Also, unfortunate was how the Eagle fans destroyed the downtown area. Of all the championship post-celebrations, this one will probably go down as the most costly for cleanup. I know it’s a big deal for a city to win their first Super Bowl championship, but I question the need to be so destructive.

The commercials were different this year as well as, as Simon Cowell used to tell the American Idol contestants, not memorable. Was it just me or did it seem that there were a lot of NBC promotions of the Olympics and to their shows? Does this mean their price tag was so high that they had to fill spots with their own? And what about the 30 seconds of black when I thought it was because I paid our cable bill at the last minute? I’m sure someone got in a lot of trouble for not loading a spot. The Toyota’s ad kept my attention the whole segment, but I couldn’t figure out how all the athletes defying all odds tied to a car. Then this morning, I couldn’t remember it was Toyota who had the spot until I researched it. I loved the Budweiser water ad – what they did for the hurricane victims needed to be touted. The “Stand By Me,” music chosen was perfect for the ad. The most entertaining commercial was the NFL ad with Eli Manning and O’Dell Beckham doing their rendition of Dirty Dancing including the lift. Poor Peyton closely followed with his Universal Parks roller coaster ride with the kid, but it was like watching a field goal scored shortly after 100 yard pick 6. There was no comparison. Steven Tyler’s Forever Young Kia ad was fun as were the Tide ones.

Lastly, let’s address the halftime show or lack of. It was way too busy for me. It seemed like parts of it were pre-produced and if one is going to lip-synch badly, at least have the trombones in the background appear to be playing!! Wasn’t Justin Timberlake’s choice of wardrobe a little strange (his shirt looked like a piece of material cut from a curtain at a hunting lodge) and how does it tie in with a Prince Tribute? Maybe he could have worn a purple tux instead?

My report card:
Game – A
Post-Game – F
Commercials – B+ (would have been a C- but Budweiser and NFL brought average up)
Halftime – D