Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 28, 1991

At last, a Super Bowl that was super. . . .

It wasn’t only what happened Sunday in Tampa, but what didn’t happen. There were no turnovers and only two instant-replay reviews. . . .

Those New York Giant 10-minute drills will beat you every time. . . .

Buffalo didn’t score enough but it scored every way possible--touchdown, extra point, field goal and safety. . . .

They gave the most valuable player award to the wrong running back. It should have been Thurman Thomas in a losing cause, instead of O.J. Anderson. . . .

Suddenly, the initials O.J. have a whole new meaning in Buffalo. . . .

Seven of the past eight Super Bowls had been won by at least 10 points. . . .

Andre Reed’s drops didn’t do the Bills any good. . . .

Play of the game: Mark Ingram breaking tackles and gaining a first down on the Buffalo 18-yard line during the Giants’ third-quarter drive that brought back memories of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers. . . .

The safety that gave Buffalo a 12-3 lead in the second quarter might have been the best thing that could have happened to the Giants in that situation. If Jeff Hostetler hadn’t been tackled in the end zone, New York would have punted from deep in its territory and the Bills might have scored seven or three points instead of two. . . .

Hostetler is no Jim Kelly--or even Phil Simms--but he showed a wonderful competitive spirit. . . .

Did you find yourself paying more attention to the commercials than usual because you knew how much money they were costing the sponsors? . . .

It was a big day for graduates of Los Angeles’ Hamilton High School. Al Michaels was outstanding calling the game for ABC and Stephen Baker caught a touchdown pass for the Giants. . . .

No argument here on Bill Parcells’ decision to go for a first down on fourth and two at the Buffalo 35. It was too long for a field-goal attempt by Matt Bahr and a punt wouldn’t have done the Giants much good unless it landed within the 10-yard line. . . .

Just think, you’ll never see smiling Jerry Seeman announce a penalty

again. . . .

I thought the Bills did too much celebrating on the sidelines a week

ago. . . .

Pepper Johnson is a salty guy on a football field. . . .

Try skipping the Super Bowl pregame show. I did and was much fresher for the game. . . .

If Tex Schramm is good enough to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, then Al Davis should be elected to some higher body. . . .

Uppercut of the day: Ottis Anderson on Mark Kelso. . . .

Takedown of the day: Carl Banks on Thurman Thomas. . . .

Thomas, not Barry Sanders, is the best back from Oklahoma State. . . . It would be nice to see Bo Jackson playing, instead of acting, some Super Sunday. . . .

Anderson was the first running back to be named MVP since Marcus Allen in 1984, the last time the game was played in Tampa. . . .

Sign of the times: Reuters contributed to The Times’ Super Bowl notes story Sunday. . . .

The Giants, who aren’t supposed to come from behind, also trailed at halftime the last time they won the Super Bowl. They rallied from a 10-9 deficit and pounded Denver in 1987 at the Rose Bowl, 39-20. . . .

The best thing about having two teams representing the same state was that we didn’t have to read about two governors making a silly bet. . . .

The previous closest Super Bowl game--Baltimore 16, Dallas 13 in 1971 at the Orange Bowl--wasn’t nearly as good as this game. In fact, it was a bore except for the drama provided by Jim O’Brien’s winning field goal from 32 yards. . . . The Giants’ strong offensive line is young, but I don’t hear anybody outside the 212 area code talking about a dynasty in the making. . . .

New York’s average of fewer than one turnover a game this season says something positive about conservative football. . . .

For a change, the time-of-possession statistic was meaningful. . . .

Jumbo Elliott vs. Bruce Smith was a terrific duel. . . .

Buffalo’s inexperience in Super Bowls had nothing to do with its defeat. . . .

Giant General Manager George Young was being

too modest when he gave

most of the credit to Parcells. . . .

Super Bowls should always be played in California, where at least the first half is played in daylight. . . .

The only two upsets in the playoffs were pulled off by the Giants. . . .

Give Whitney Houston a 10 for her inspirational

rendition of the national anthem. . . .

The most boring game of the season was Bud Bowl III.