In response to ClarkGriswold's comment:
In response to dreighver's comment:
SB XXXIX:
First two offensive series stalled and resulted in punts.
First two defensive series resulted in 3-and-outs.
That's good. Different era. If you hit a QB today, it's a foul. No one is thinking McNabb and those WRs are anywhere near the depth and quality of what we just saw in this SB either. Flacco is actually a better passer and it's also an easier era to pass in via Gooodell.
You can't compare the eras.
In SB 42, NE held to 6 points in the second half, while our offense scored only 7.
Different era? This was 8 years ago...
They weren't illegally hitting McNabb... they were pressuring him, forcing bad throws, and sacking him. No late hits, no dirty hits.
And FWIW, they've called a defensive holding and an illegal contact penalty thus far. These rules were in place back then... perhaps enforced with less vigor, but they existed and were called. It's a silly excuse to use. They were simply BETTER back then. More talented, more physical... better at covering receivers and rushing the passer.
