It’s a bittersweet week knowing that the Super Bowl is tomorow. While the game should be wildly exciting, it also means the last game of NFL season is here. It seems like just yesterday we were all unsure whether there would even be a season, and now the New York Giants and New England Patriots are facing off in a Super Bowl rematch. I’m 3-3 for the playoffs so far. Here is my Super Bowl pick.
Matchup
This year’s Super Bowl features a rematch of Super Bowl XLII which was won by the Giants on a final drive, ending the Patriots’ run at going undefeated. It’s been four years and the teams are back with plenty of new pieces.
The teams’ passing attacks have changed significantly as the Giants are now led by Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham, and surprise receiver Victor Cruz, rather than Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer. On the other hand, the Patriots feature two incredible tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, a far cry from former Patriot receiver Randy Moss.
Both teams have come from different paths this season, as the Patriots were the number one seed in the AFC while the Giants were the number four seed after a win-or-go-home game against the Cowboys (sorry to bring it up) in the final game of the regular season. Both quarterbacks, Eli Manning and Tom Brady, have been playing well in the playoffs, with passer ratings of 103.1 and 105.8 respectively. Each team’s defense also has played extremely well, with neither team giving up over 20 points in the playoffs.
What to Watch
Many people credit the Giants’ victory in Super Bowl XLII to their defensive line’s ability to get to Tom Brady and make him feel uncomfortable. Well, the Giants have a new pass rushing beast in Jason Pierre-Paul along with Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, who were on the ’07-’08 Super Bowl winning team, to send after Brady this year. If the Giants can once again put Brady on the ground, which they did 5 times in ’08, the Giants may just be going 2-0 in Super Bowls against the Patriots.
Prediction
Patriots- 24, Giants- 21. Brady and Belichick get their revenge on Manning and Coughlin in what is hopefully a game as exciting as their first Super Bowl matchup.
