After two weeks of hype and endless talk, we're finally here. We've arrived at Super Bowl Sunday. Or, as I prefer to call it "the Giant game." If you that's been said/written is true, than it's impossible for either team to lose. The Giants are a team of destiny AND the Patriots are going to get revenge for four years ago. Eli's going to step out of Peyton's shadow and become a full-fledged member of the quarterbacking elite AND Brady's going to become a full-fledged legend by doing what only Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw have done before. Both cities are going to hold a parade.
Of course, one of them has to lose. By 10:30 on Sunday night, either the Giants or Patriots will be celebrating a fourth Super Bowl title, while the other will just be heading home. This much we do know for sure, though: it's going to be a much different game than four years ago. The Giants are much better. Some people say the Patriots are better, too, but this Patriots team isn't going into the Super Bowl undefeated, so I'm not one of them.
Last time, all the talk was about the Patriots' quest for perfection and their dominating offense. Four years later, the key to New England's success is still Tom Brady and that offense. The Patriots' big thing this year has been the success of their two tight ends. Rob Gronkowski had perhaps the best season ever for a tight end, and Aaron Hernandez's numbers were also stellar. Both of them are in there most of the time, and they're both used more as receivers than as blockers. Defenses have to honor the tight ends, which allows that annoying little runt Wes Welker (think Dustin Pedroia in a football uniform) to run all over the field. Personally, I don't think Welker's that good. I think Brady makes him good. But that's not the point. Chad Johnson is on the Patriots and will be making his first appearance. I felt the need to point that out because it's not like anybody ever notices when he's on the field. The running game is virtually nonexistent, but Benjarvus Green-Ellis has an awesome name.
It's funny that Bill Belichick was considered a defensive genius before "defensive" was dropped from that expression. I thought all year that the defense would be what prevented the Patriots from reaching the Super Bowl. I was wrong, but the defense is clearly this team's weakness, and it's not like it suddenly turned into a strength over the last two weeks. The Patriots ranked 31st in passing defense this season. While I hate the defensive rankings and don't agree with the way they're figured out, 31st is still pretty bad. Quarterbacks have been able to throw the ball all over the field against that secondary all season.
As for the New York Football Giants (yes Chris Christie, they play in New Jersey; ha-ha, we get it; you're funny), they entered the playoffs as the hottest team in the NFL, and that hasn't changed. Eli Manning might get all the headlines, but a lot of his success is due to Victor Cruz's breakout season and the contributions of Hakeem Nicks (when he's not dropping balls). Plus, the Giants both a solid 1-2 punch in the running game. It's rare to see Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs both have a bad game. They get the added benefit of running behind one of the best offensive lines in football.
But the bread and butter of this Giants team is that incredible defense. More specifically, that defensive front. Jason Pierre-Paul is a beast. So is Justin Tuck. And Osi Umenyoira doesn't even start! This pass defense is scary. The Patriots' offensive line will have to be on its toes to give Brady the protection he needs to make things happen. The linebacking corps got better as the season went on and everybody got healthy, and that secondary is extremely underrated.
So how do I see the game playing out? For starters, I don't see Brady having two bad games in a row. He'll be better than he was against the Ravens. How much better? I don't know. That depends on the offensive line. If Brady doesn't have the time to hit his receivers, the Patriots might need to rely on their run game, which could be a scary proposition for New England. I also wouldn't be surprised to see the Giants let Gronkowski and Welker do their thing across the middle of the field while holding the safeties back to prevent the big play. The Patriots' defense HAS TO prevent the big play. With that porous secondary and Victor Cruz's big play ability, the Giants could easily take advantage of that matchup and set him free. It's almost a catch-22 for the New England defense, because if they try to take away the receivers, that could make them very vulnerable to the run. That's where the game is going to be won or lost. I think whichever team is able to establish the running game will be the one that hoists the Lombardi Trophy.
I can envision this game playing out in so many different ways, and I can easily see either team winning it. Both teams have said they expect to win. I freakin' hope so. Otherwise, why are you there? In other words, I take no credence to these statements. Everybody and their mother is picking the Giants. This makes me a little weary. I have this feeling that their confidence might be turning into overconfidence. But I do think that right now the Giants are a better team than the Patriots. I also think they're a little more versatile and will be able to adapt to different situations better.
I think it's more likely the Giants pass rush stops Brady and his receivers than the Patriots secondary controls the Giants' passing game. In a game where the littlest things might make the biggest difference, that might be the biggest difference of all. That's why I'm taking the Giants. It'll be close, though. All four of Bradicheck's previous Super Bowl appearances have been decided by a field goal. This one will be, too. 27-24 G-Men.
Conference Championships: 1-1
Playoffs: 8-2
Season: 175-91
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