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Super Bowl safety talk doesn't add up

I've seen one too many writers claim that if it weren't for a safety by the Giants at the beginning of Super Bowl XLVI, the Patriots would have been able to kick a field goal to win the game at the end.

The theory, I gather, is since the Giants won 21-17, you would subtract two points for the safety, making it 19-17. Thus, a field goal wins the game.

I say it takes a simple mind to adopt that view.

Let's take away the safety, for argument's sake, making it 19-17.

Think back to the Giants' last touchdown. They went for two, to make it a six-point game. I guarantee you that there is no way -- none -- that the Giants would go for two if the game was 19-17. They kick the extra point to make it 20-17.

The Patriots don't get a chance to kick a field goal to win the game. The best a Patriots' field goal would do is tie the game.

There's one other point I'd like to make.

I'll even concede the Giants trying to covert two after their touchdown. I'll give you the Patriots kicking a field goal to win the game. How far would that field-goal attempt have been?

I'm guessing 68 yards.

I doubt the Patriots attempt the kick, let alone make it.

The Giants were deserving champs.
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