ever since game 7 of the 2003 alcs ended i have been the exact same way. i don't assume anything. the super bowl isn't over until the final whistle blows.
Does anybody work anymore, or do Americans just post on message boards all day wasting time and lowering their countries productivity?
if i had actual work to do, i would be doing it, but i'll gladly take my paycheck every other week for the next 6 months until i can post out of my current position.
Does anybody work anymore, or do Americans just post on message boards all day wasting time and lowering their countries productivity?
Get to work Faukers!
You must really be UNproductive while work cause you MUST be asleep and dreaming to say, "Giants win easy". This is the most confident I've been in seeing another Boston team reach the playoffs.
Good luck you'll need all of it.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
How folks from around the country see this Sunday's Super Bowl between the Patriots and Giants:
Jim McCabe, Boston Globe: Patriots. “Assuming Michael Strahan has stopped talking and spectators have mustered the courage to walk into what appears to be a monstrous spaceship dropped amid desert and cacti . . . firm in their belief that Miss Nevada and the Playboy 'Bartender of the Year' have met their obligations and left the premises to purchase clothing that they desperately were in need of . . . figuring that fans have by now determined that it requires an overnight stay to get from Phoenix to Scottsdale . . . convinced that the 11,571 former NFL players sent via FedEx to satisfy the demands of talk-radio shows from 245 cities and 62 countries are returned safely . . . happy that all 1,593 transcribed interviews that required the death of 9,361 trees have been digested by media members from Tempe to Tobago . . . and satisfied that all coaches and players understand that it's all about the advertising spots and clever commercials and not about the touchdowns and tackles, NFL officials will give their blessing to the playing of a football game, one that will end as 18 previous ones have, with the Patriots winning.”
Globe staff: All 12 pick the Patriots.
Cold, Hard, Football Facts: Patriots 34, Giants 17. "All things considered, mighty Vegas is probably giving New York too much credit for the postseason with its 11.5 PPG spread. As we noted, this is literally the greatest statistical mismatch in championship game history. We wouldn't be surprised by an easy Patriot win, but then we wouldn't be totally shocked by a close one, either."
Dr. Z, Sports Illustrated: Giants 24, Patriots 20. “Oh no, it'll be far from easy for the Giants, but they have some weapons of their own, you know, and not only among their highly touted pass rushers.”
Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 34, Giants 27. "The Patriots put up 38 points on the Giants when they met a month ago, and New England has three big offensive weapons back from minor injuries that night -- right guard Steven Neal, right tackle Nick Kaczur and blocking tight end Kyle Brady. Tom Brady was uber-accurate with no errors and suffered just one sack last time. Folks, this is going to be Brady's day."
USA Today staff: 7-1, Patriots.
Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today: Patriots 35, Giants 24. “Because the Patriots have so much to gain and so much to lose and because the Patriots have been the best team all season, there's ample evidence to conclude the Patriots will make more plays than the Giants. As long as New England quarterback Tom Brady's ankle doesn't slow him down significantly.”
Newsday staff picks: Tom Rock: Patriots 34, Giants 24. “Asante Samuel has two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and is named MVP.”
Ed McNamara: Patriots, 28, Giants 20. “I don't think the Giants (13-6 ATS) will win, but I don't expect a blowout. They'll move the ball, especially between the 20s, but like last time, they won't stop the Patriots' brilliant, multi-dimensional offense.”
Bob Glauber: Patriots, 27, Giants 20. “Giants make a game of it early, but Pats pull it out behind Tom Brady's late-game heroics.”
Hondo, New York Post: Giants 38, Patriots 35. “How can you get behind a team with the Coach/Cheater of the Year, a gimpy QB, an underachieving WR, a dirty, late-hitting safety and other assorted villains, especially when they're giving an overly generous 12-point spot against America's beloved Giants? And how do you not back the Big Blue Magic Bus, which is fuel-injected by the 3Ms of Manning, moxie and mojo, and has been mowing down all in its path since a narrow loss to New England in the regular-season finale?”
Brooklyn Decker, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model: Patriots 31, Giants 28. “"Let's not be so quick to underestimate the hot-right-now Giants. I'm excited to see another Manning in the big game, and the Patriots have the perfect season on the line. The Giants have nothing to lose-- especially if Eli plays like a rockstar.”
Marisa Miller, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model: Patriots 31, Giants 24. "I think the Patriots will win. The Patriots being undefeated is incredible and it would be insane victory to go the whole season without losing a game. But I wouldn't be bummed if the Giants won. I love New York and it's fun rooting for the underdog. Honestly, I just want to watch a good game. A fight to the death! Just kidding."
Jared, Subway geek: Giants 31, Patriots 24. "My man Strahan is going to be the difference maker."
Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders.com: Patriots. “Most likely, the Giants won’t pull a shocking upset like the 2001 Patriots, and they won’t get blown off the field like the 1985 Patriots. (They certainly won’t be pulling Eli Manning for Anthony Wright, the way the Patriots pulled Eason for Steve Grogan.) Instead, they’ll end up like a third team from New England’s Super Bowl past: the 1996 Patriots, a good team outclassed by a great team.”
Cris Carter, Yahoo sports: Patriots. “This game will be closer than a lot of people expect, but New England will complete its ‘Pursuit of Perfection.’”
Plaxico Burress, Giants wide receiver: Giants 23, Patriots 17. "I don't understand what the fuss is about. I just made a prediction. We're in the entertainment business. I'm trying to have some fun. What's so wrong with that?''
Sluggerrr, Kansas City Royals mascot: Patriots 45, Giants 14. “There is only one Manning who can beat New England, and he is already on vacation.”
Jay Novacek, MSNBC.com: Patriots. “The Giants will get a couple of big plays in the third quarter to take a 21-17 lead, but the Pats will answer quickly for a 24-21 lead. Then New England will pull away in the fourth.”
Vegas Vic, Philadelphia Daily News: Patriots 31, Giants 24. “Despite what Plaxico Burress said, the Pats should score more than 17 points (that could be a first-quarter total) and should dance off the field with their fourth Super Bowl title in the last 7 years.”
Wright Thompson, ESPN.com: Giants 35, Patriots 3. "Ole Miss finally gets revenge on Michigan. The ghost of Greg Skrepenak is exorcised."
Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN.com: Giants 20, Patriots 19. "This was the score 17 years ago when the Giants staged the most recent major Super Bowl upset over the heavily favored Bills, who had a record-setting offense."
John Clayton, ESPN.com: Patriots 38, Giants 24. "Belichick needs to squeeze one more game and one more win out of this talented group. No team in football is better at finishing games -- and now the Pats will apply that mindset to finishing their perfect season."
ESPN.com staff: Patriots across the board (Sean Salisbury, Merrill Hoge, and Mark Schlereth yet to pick).
Tiki Barber, Former Giants running back: Giants 21, Patriots 20. “For the last couple of weeks, they have defied expectation.”
Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York: Giants 24, Patriots 21. “Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and the whole team seems to be hot at the right time. Plus, we know perfection will not be achieved in this life and is reserved for the next one.”
Our pick: Patriots 54, Giants 17. The Pats score early and often. The Giants keep up in the first half, but are forced to go for it too many times in the second half, putting the ball in prime scoring position for Brady and Co., who lay it on thick and complete their 19-0 season.
Presenting 15 Reasons Why You Can Schedule Another Super Bowl Victory Parade In Boston:
1. Coach Hoodie
Giving Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare for a game is like giving Albert Einstein two weeks to take the SATs. Nothing against Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, but Belichick has no peer when it comes to devising a defensive game plan. Not only that, but he has the benefit of time, as well as smart, veteran players who know how to translate Belichick's complex schemes from the grease board to the field.
"You give him two weeks and you've got problems,'' said former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, a longtime Belichick admirer. "[His players] think he gives them an edge.''
He does. The Patriots had just five prep days between their Game 15 win against Miami and their Christmas-week Game 16 road win against the Giants -- and it showed. (And, yes, I know: The Giants only had five prep days, too. But this isn't a "Why-The-G-Men-Will-Win'' column. So live with it.)
New York scored 35 points and Eli Manning threw for four touchdowns, completed 22 of 32 passes and recorded his highest QB rating of the regular season (118.6). Belichick must want to ralph everytime he watches the game film. Manning, even this new and improved playoff version, won't throw four this time. The Giants won't score 35. Or 25, for that matter.
It took Peyton Manning three playoff tries before he finally overcame Belichick and those schemes. Belichick will make Eli wait, too. After all, there's a reason the Hoodie is 15-3 in the postseason.
2. Rematches
New England loves do-overs.
Beginning with the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 21, 2007, the Patriots have faced five opponents (Colts, Jets, Chargers, Dolphins and Bills) twice during the past 12 months. So how good are Belichick and the Pats at making adjustments?
Well, the Colts scored 38 the first time, 20 points in the '07 regular-season rematch. The Jets went from 14 points to 10; the Chargers from 14 to 12 (and no TDs); the Dolphins from 28 to seven. Only the Bills bumped up, from seven the first game to 10 (whooee!) in the rematch.
The Giants make rematch No. 6. Uh, oh.
3. Three letters
A-F-C.
The American Football Conference champion has won four consecutive Super Bowls, six of the last seven and eight of the last 10. Is that any good?
4. Injury? What injury?
This pre-Super Bowl scenario sound familiar?
With his ankle heavily taped and wearing a plastic brace, Brady took his regular snaps as a starter in today's practice and showed no signs of being hindered by the injury.
"Tom Brady demonstrated in practice today that he is fit to play,'' Belichick said. "He will be our starting quarterback on Sunday.''
The passage is from a New York Times story written a few days before the Super Bowl -- the 2001 Super Bowl between the Patriots and St. Louis Rams.
Brady was nursing an ankle sprain back then, just like he is for Super Bowl XLII. The difference? He had only one week of rehab time between the 2001 AFC Championship Game and SB XXXVI. This time he has two.
How'd he do in his first Super Bowl appearance, on a semi-gimpy ankle? Only beat the favored Rams and won the game's MVP award.
5. The Prediction
I've got nothing against predictions. If Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress gets his 23-17 guarantee right, he becomes this generation's Joe Namath.
Problem is, the Patriots do take these things personally. Just ask Pittsburgh's Anthony Smith, who guaranteed a Week 14 win against New England, or San Diego's Igor Olshansky, who popped off about the Pats a week before their AFC Championship Game meeting.
Brady sort of laughed off Burress' prediction ("We're only going to score 17 points? OK."), but don't forget this is the same guy who made a beeline for the Steelers' Smith after throwing a touchdown against him in the Dec. 9 win.
Put it this way: Burress didn't do the Giants any favors.
6. History
If any team is equipped to handle a Super Bowl and the weight of a first-ever 19-0 season, it's the Patriots. They are the ultimate live-in-the-moment team, almost never allowing themselves to get overwhelmed by the hype.
The Patriots actually practice humility, to the point of discussing in team meetings how much to reveal to the media during interviews. Typical Pats. Prepare for everything.
But just because they're guarded with their comments doesn't mean they've forgotten what's at stake Sunday. They have a chance at football immortality, no small thing in their business. Lose this game and the 18 previous wins mean bupkus.
Nobody appreciates that simple reality better than the Patriots.
7. X factor
Two years ago, I said Pittsburgh's Antwaan Randle El would be the Super Bowl X factor. Back pat for me: Randle El threw the TD pass that clinched the Steelers' win against Seattle. Last year I picked Chicago Bears rookie defensive end Mark Anderson as the X factor, which just goes to show that you should never inhale oil-based paint fumes before writing columns.
This time I'm sweet on Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. I think strong safety Rodney Harrison will spend considerable time in the box (either blitzing or helping on run support), which means more responsibility for New England's corners. Samuel is the guy who will respond.
X-factor runner-up: wide receiver Jabar Gaffney.
8. Experience
The Patriots have 42 players on their roster with playoff experience. Twenty Patriots have a combined 46 games of Super Bowl experience. Eleven of the Patriots starters have started in previous Super Bowls. And this will be Belichick's fourth Super Bowl as a head coach.
The Giants? Not so much.
Only three of the Giants' 53 players on the active roster have played in a Super Bowl. Only one of those three owns a Super Bowl ring: backup offensive lineman/special teams player Grey Reugamer, who earned his ring with the Patriots in 2001.
"Playing in three or four Super Bowls really isn't going to make any difference whether you make the plays that you need to make to win the game,'' said Pats linebacker Mike Vrabel.
That Vrabel. Such a kidder.
Will experience help you make a key tackle? No, but it will help prepare you for the sometimes suffocating pressure of playing in a Super Bowl.
9. Numbers that matter
Have you noticed that Randy Moss has exactly two catches for 32 yards and no touchdowns in the Patriots' two playoff victories? Did you notice that he had six catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the 38-35 win against the Giants on Dec. 29?
Something has to give, and I think it will be the Giants' secondary. It isn't an accident that Moss is 10th on the league's all-time career touchdown list and first on the single-season list.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Chargers double- and triple-teamed him. Chances are the Giants will do the same. Makes sense. But I still think Moss will get a handful of openings to make plays. And if he doesn't, Wes Welker (11 receptions, 122 yards vs. the Giants), Donte' Stallworth or Jabar Gaffney will roam relatively free.
10. Priorities
Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour has it right when he says New England must pressure Giants quarterback Eli Manning and do something about New York's running game. Manning was sacked just one time while completing 22 of 32 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns against the Pats in the December game. And in the NFC Championship Game against Green Bay, the Giants rushed for 134 clock-consuming yards and two touchdowns.
"If we don't stop the run, we definitely have no chance in this football game,'' said Seymour.
This is the part of the Giants that probably gives Belichick the heebie-jeebies. Jacobs is a bruiser, and Ahmad Bradshaw, who was inactive against the Patriots, is a slasher. But the Patriots have seen similar tag teams like this: the Jaguars' Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew (a combined 66 yards and zero TDs in the recent divisional playoff loss to New England) and LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner (a combined 46 yards and zero TDs in Game 2 of the regular season).
I think Belichick's game plan will center on stopping Jacobs/Bradshaw and forcing Manning to beat them.
"I've been able to play smart,'' said Manning, who has yet to throw an interception during the Giants' 3-0 postseason run. Belichick and that experienced defense will figure a way to make Manning play dumb.
11. Respect
"They're a better team than the one that lost to us by three points,'' said Vrabel of the Giants.
He's right. The Giants are good enough to win. The Giants know it (just ask Plax), but more importantly, the Patriots know it.
Maybe the smart guys in Vegas have it right, but the 12-point spread feels like too much. So any chance of the Patriots' being even remotely overconfident goes directly into Rich Rodriguez's shredder.
The Patriots will take New York's best shot -- and it will be a solid stomach punch -- but recover and eventually impose their Hoodie will.
12. I'm just saying
Despite playing one less playoff game than the Giants, New England's offense has gained only 137 fewer yards. In nearly every meaningful offensive category, the Patriots are better than the Giants. And no team has given up fewer points per game during the playoffs than the Patriots.
By the way, the Patriots set or tied 13 NFL offensive team records this season.
13. Man crush
I don't want to make a big deal about it, but Brady is god.
"Not the best quarterback I've ever played with, but the best quarterback that has ever been put in this league,'' said Moss.
Look, I've never actually met supermodel Gisele Bundchen, but she doesn't deserve two-time Super Bowl MVP Brady. She probably can't even name any of the 18 NFL records Brady set or tied in 2007.
And it's true: There's no getting around Manning's improvement, especially during the crunch time of the postseason. But Manning is still two or three elevator stops below Brady.
Brady is 14-2 in the playoffs. Only Green Bay's Bart Starr (9-1, .900) has a better winning percentage than Brady (.875). Brady is 30-5 in games decided by six points or fewer (6-1 in the playoffs). He's 3-0 in Super Bowls.
So not to put too fine of a point on it, but when you start comparing positions, you place a very large checkmark next to Brady's name.
14. Kevin Faulk
The guy doesn't even start, but you can argue that he might be the third-most valuable player in the Patriots' offense, just behind Brady and Moss.
Faulk rushed for minus-2 yards against the Giants in the Dec. 29 win, but his real worth is as a receiver out of the backfield, especially in key third-down situations.
He had eight catches for 64 yards against New York. He had five catches for 36 yards against Jacksonville in the divisonal playoff. He had eight catches for 82 yards (to lead all NE receivers) in the AFC Championship Game.
He's the ultimate role player.
15. The Pick
I won't be shocked if the Giants somehow win this game. Surprised, but not shocked.
New York has won 10 consecutive road games. Manning hasn't thrown a postseason interception. The Giants' D-line is to die for. Jacobs and Bradshaw are difference-makers. Burress is a matchup nightmare.
But I simply think more matchups favor the Patriots. I think they have more depth, more experience, more Brady, more everything.
Presenting 15 Reasons Why You Can Schedule Another Super Bowl Victory Parade In Boston:
1. Coach Hoodie
Giving Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare for a game is like giving Albert Einstein two weeks to take the SATs. Nothing against Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, but Belichick has no peer when it comes to devising a defensive game plan. Not only that, but he has the benefit of time, as well as smart, veteran players who know how to translate Belichick's complex schemes from the grease board to the field.
"You give him two weeks and you've got problems,'' said former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, a longtime Belichick admirer. "[His players] think he gives them an edge.''
He does. The Patriots had just five prep days between their Game 15 win against Miami and their Christmas-week Game 16 road win against the Giants -- and it showed. (And, yes, I know: The Giants only had five prep days, too. But this isn't a "Why-The-G-Men-Will-Win'' column. So live with it.)
New York scored 35 points and Eli Manning threw for four touchdowns, completed 22 of 32 passes and recorded his highest QB rating of the regular season (118.6). Belichick must want to ralph everytime he watches the game film. Manning, even this new and improved playoff version, won't throw four this time. The Giants won't score 35. Or 25, for that matter.
It took Peyton Manning three playoff tries before he finally overcame Belichick and those schemes. Belichick will make Eli wait, too. After all, there's a reason the Hoodie is 15-3 in the postseason.
2. Rematches
New England loves do-overs.
Beginning with the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 21, 2007, the Patriots have faced five opponents (Colts, Jets, Chargers, Dolphins and Bills) twice during the past 12 months. So how good are Belichick and the Pats at making adjustments?
Well, the Colts scored 38 the first time, 20 points in the '07 regular-season rematch. The Jets went from 14 points to 10; the Chargers from 14 to 12 (and no TDs); the Dolphins from 28 to seven. Only the Bills bumped up, from seven the first game to 10 (whooee!) in the rematch.
The Giants make rematch No. 6. Uh, oh.
3. Three letters
A-F-C.
The American Football Conference champion has won four consecutive Super Bowls, six of the last seven and eight of the last 10. Is that any good?
4. Injury? What injury?
This pre-Super Bowl scenario sound familiar?
With his ankle heavily taped and wearing a plastic brace, Brady took his regular snaps as a starter in today's practice and showed no signs of being hindered by the injury.
"Tom Brady demonstrated in practice today that he is fit to play,'' Belichick said. "He will be our starting quarterback on Sunday.''
The passage is from a New York Times story written a few days before the Super Bowl -- the 2001 Super Bowl between the Patriots and St. Louis Rams.
Brady was nursing an ankle sprain back then, just like he is for Super Bowl XLII. The difference? He had only one week of rehab time between the 2001 AFC Championship Game and SB XXXVI. This time he has two.
How'd he do in his first Super Bowl appearance, on a semi-gimpy ankle? Only beat the favored Rams and won the game's MVP award.
5. The Prediction
I've got nothing against predictions. If Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress gets his 23-17 guarantee right, he becomes this generation's Joe Namath.
Problem is, the Patriots do take these things personally. Just ask Pittsburgh's Anthony Smith, who guaranteed a Week 14 win against New England, or San Diego's Igor Olshansky, who popped off about the Pats a week before their AFC Championship Game meeting.
Brady sort of laughed off Burress' prediction ("We're only going to score 17 points? OK."), but don't forget this is the same guy who made a beeline for the Steelers' Smith after throwing a touchdown against him in the Dec. 9 win.
Put it this way: Burress didn't do the Giants any favors.
6. History
If any team is equipped to handle a Super Bowl and the weight of a first-ever 19-0 season, it's the Patriots. They are the ultimate live-in-the-moment team, almost never allowing themselves to get overwhelmed by the hype.
The Patriots actually practice humility, to the point of discussing in team meetings how much to reveal to the media during interviews. Typical Pats. Prepare for everything.
But just because they're guarded with their comments doesn't mean they've forgotten what's at stake Sunday. They have a chance at football immortality, no small thing in their business. Lose this game and the 18 previous wins mean bupkus.
Nobody appreciates that simple reality better than the Patriots.
7. X factor
Two years ago, I said Pittsburgh's Antwaan Randle El would be the Super Bowl X factor. Back pat for me: Randle El threw the TD pass that clinched the Steelers' win against Seattle. Last year I picked Chicago Bears rookie defensive end Mark Anderson as the X factor, which just goes to show that you should never inhale oil-based paint fumes before writing columns.
This time I'm sweet on Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. I think strong safety Rodney Harrison will spend considerable time in the box (either blitzing or helping on run support), which means more responsibility for New England's corners. Samuel is the guy who will respond.
X-factor runner-up: wide receiver Jabar Gaffney.
8. Experience
The Patriots have 42 players on their roster with playoff experience. Twenty Patriots have a combined 46 games of Super Bowl experience. Eleven of the Patriots starters have started in previous Super Bowls. And this will be Belichick's fourth Super Bowl as a head coach.
The Giants? Not so much.
Only three of the Giants' 53 players on the active roster have played in a Super Bowl. Only one of those three owns a Super Bowl ring: backup offensive lineman/special teams player Grey Reugamer, who earned his ring with the Patriots in 2001.
"Playing in three or four Super Bowls really isn't going to make any difference whether you make the plays that you need to make to win the game,'' said Pats linebacker Mike Vrabel.
That Vrabel. Such a kidder.
Will experience help you make a key tackle? No, but it will help prepare you for the sometimes suffocating pressure of playing in a Super Bowl.
9. Numbers that matter
Have you noticed that Randy Moss has exactly two catches for 32 yards and no touchdowns in the Patriots' two playoff victories? Did you notice that he had six catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the 38-35 win against the Giants on Dec. 29?
Something has to give, and I think it will be the Giants' secondary. It isn't an accident that Moss is 10th on the league's all-time career touchdown list and first on the single-season list.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Chargers double- and triple-teamed him. Chances are the Giants will do the same. Makes sense. But I still think Moss will get a handful of openings to make plays. And if he doesn't, Wes Welker (11 receptions, 122 yards vs. the Giants), Donte' Stallworth or Jabar Gaffney will roam relatively free.
10. Priorities
Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour has it right when he says New England must pressure Giants quarterback Eli Manning and do something about New York's running game. Manning was sacked just one time while completing 22 of 32 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns against the Pats in the December game. And in the NFC Championship Game against Green Bay, the Giants rushed for 134 clock-consuming yards and two touchdowns.
"If we don't stop the run, we definitely have no chance in this football game,'' said Seymour.
This is the part of the Giants that probably gives Belichick the heebie-jeebies. Jacobs is a bruiser, and Ahmad Bradshaw, who was inactive against the Patriots, is a slasher. But the Patriots have seen similar tag teams like this: the Jaguars' Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew (a combined 66 yards and zero TDs in the recent divisional playoff loss to New England) and LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner (a combined 46 yards and zero TDs in Game 2 of the regular season).
I think Belichick's game plan will center on stopping Jacobs/Bradshaw and forcing Manning to beat them.
"I've been able to play smart,'' said Manning, who has yet to throw an interception during the Giants' 3-0 postseason run. Belichick and that experienced defense will figure a way to make Manning play dumb.
11. Respect
"They're a better team than the one that lost to us by three points,'' said Vrabel of the Giants.
He's right. The Giants are good enough to win. The Giants know it (just ask Plax), but more importantly, the Patriots know it.
Maybe the smart guys in Vegas have it right, but the 12-point spread feels like too much. So any chance of the Patriots' being even remotely overconfident goes directly into Rich Rodriguez's shredder.
The Patriots will take New York's best shot -- and it will be a solid stomach punch -- but recover and eventually impose their Hoodie will.
12. I'm just saying
Despite playing one less playoff game than the Giants, New England's offense has gained only 137 fewer yards. In nearly every meaningful offensive category, the Patriots are better than the Giants. And no team has given up fewer points per game during the playoffs than the Patriots.
By the way, the Patriots set or tied 13 NFL offensive team records this season.
13. Man crush
I don't want to make a big deal about it, but Brady is god.
"Not the best quarterback I've ever played with, but the best quarterback that has ever been put in this league,'' said Moss.
Look, I've never actually met supermodel Gisele Bundchen, but she doesn't deserve two-time Super Bowl MVP Brady. She probably can't even name any of the 18 NFL records Brady set or tied in 2007.
And it's true: There's no getting around Manning's improvement, especially during the crunch time of the postseason. But Manning is still two or three elevator stops below Brady.
Brady is 14-2 in the playoffs. Only Green Bay's Bart Starr (9-1, .900) has a better winning percentage than Brady (.875). Brady is 30-5 in games decided by six points or fewer (6-1 in the playoffs). He's 3-0 in Super Bowls.
So not to put too fine of a point on it, but when you start comparing positions, you place a very large checkmark next to Brady's name.
14. Kevin Faulk
The guy doesn't even start, but you can argue that he might be the third-most valuable player in the Patriots' offense, just behind Brady and Moss.
Faulk rushed for minus-2 yards against the Giants in the Dec. 29 win, but his real worth is as a receiver out of the backfield, especially in key third-down situations.
He had eight catches for 64 yards against New York. He had five catches for 36 yards against Jacksonville in the divisonal playoff. He had eight catches for 82 yards (to lead all NE receivers) in the AFC Championship Game.
He's the ultimate role player.
15. The Pick
I won't be shocked if the Giants somehow win this game. Surprised, but not shocked.
New York has won 10 consecutive road games. Manning hasn't thrown a postseason interception. The Giants' D-line is to die for. Jacobs and Bradshaw are difference-makers. Burress is a matchup nightmare.
But I simply think more matchups favor the Patriots. I think they have more depth, more experience, more Brady, more everything.
Patriots 30, Giants 23
you mean being cheaters is not one of the reasons?
How folks from around the country see this Sunday's Super Bowl between the Patriots and Giants:
Hondo, New York Post: Giants 38, Patriots 35. “How can you get behind a team with the Coach/Cheater of the Year, a gimpy QB, an underachieving WR, a dirty, late-hitting safety and other assorted villains, especially when they're giving an overly generous 12-point spot against America's beloved Giants? And how do you not back the Big Blue Magic Bus, which is fuel-injected by the 3Ms of Manning, moxie and mojo, and has been mowing down all in its path since a narrow loss to New England in the regular-season finale?”
Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN.com: Giants 20, Patriots 19. "This was the score 17 years ago when the Giants staged the most recent major Super Bowl upset over the heavily favored Bills, who had a record-setting offense."
Hey Hondo. Bitter much. I'll pretty much discount the NY guy though as you can almost always slander any sports teams character. Oh, and Harrison is a cheap shot artist. However so much bile makes you a homer and a fanboy.
Easterbrook you completely biased Pats hater: Who the fuck coached the defense on that team? Oh, Yeah that was bill the supposed cheater. How many Super Bowls did Parcells win without him? Zero. Coughlin does not have Bill Belichick roaming his sideline, just the opposite he has to coach against him. Sorry Easterbrook, get in line behind Specter and await your chance to claim asterisk. 19-0 is coming.
Giants 30 something
Patriots lucky to score at all.
Everyone who picks the Giants is a homer and bitter and doesnt know anything about football....blah blah blah. I hate the boston media and all the fucking knuclkeheads on "Road to Perfection". The only one who knows what the hell he is talking about is DeOssie.
Giants will put on one of the greatest performances in superbowl history. I expect all to quote me when this goes down.
Get ready to see your precious Tommy Brady carted off the field on stretcher after superbowl MVP Justin Tuck puts his helmet square in his grill and knocks him into never never land. Inside pressure baby. inside pressure rules the day.
Anyone as stoked as I am for this game?
All that's sacred, comes from youth....dedications, naive and true.
I am extremely stoked. I meant that Hondo was a homer as are most journos from NYC likely to be quoted right now. The Patriots are a lot of homers as well. Goes with the territory.
I just think that most of all Easterbrook is an asshole.
Oh, Flannel......I will be quoting you early and often come monday.
I am extremely stoked. I meant that Hondo was a homer as are most journos from NYC likely to be quoted right now. The Patriots are a lot of homers as well. Goes with the territory.
I just think that most of all Easterbrook is an asshole.
Oh, Flannel......I will be quoting you early and often come monday.
sweet! I feel bad that you will essentially be rubbing it in your own face, but heh, at least you will be man enough to do it.
Anyone else get sick of the bullshit this past week. get rid of the extra week. i know the NFL wants an extra week to sell shit, have their promoters promote shit, talk radio has a ball this week talking about nonsense (see bradys ankle and plax prediction), etc, etc, etc....but fans get bored with it.
PLAY THE FUCKING GAME ALREADY!
All that's sacred, comes from youth....dedications, naive and true.
apparently the giants are complaining about the field in arizona. too much moss in the endzone.
hi-o!
no, i didn't come up with that one on my own, it was passed along to me.
MOSS WILL NOT SCORE! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT? PATRIOTS GET SHUT OUT. SHUT OUT. ZIP. NADA POINTS. THIS IS GOING TO SHOCK THE WORLD....WAIT...NO....ITS GOING TO SHOCK THE UNIVERSE!
All that's sacred, comes from youth....dedications, naive and true.
Anyone else get sick of the bullshit this past week. get rid of the extra week. i know the NFL wants an extra week to sell shit, have their promoters promote shit, talk radio has a ball this week talking about nonsense (see bradys ankle and plax prediction), etc, etc, etc....but fans get bored with it.
PLAY THE FUCKING GAME ALREADY!
I too hate the extra week, though it can be good for injuries. Of course this can be negated by the rust that some teams feel. Usually winning a berth is emotional and then you are thrown for this big loop. In the end I think the players like it better b/c of all the off field demands.
MOSS WILL NOT SCORE! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT? PATRIOTS GET SHUT OUT. SHUT OUT. ZIP. NADA POINTS. THIS IS GOING TO SHOCK THE WORLD....WAIT...NO....ITS GOING TO SHOCK THE UNIVERSE!
did the giants get a good d?
i mean giving up 400 yards in the last meeting, this meeting on a track field
they're not playing the nfc now they do realize this right?
actually that is an itelligent observation, anyone who ever picks the nfc vs the afc in the sb the past 5 is fucking retarded
I hate the NFC as much as anyone because the level of competition isn't as high as the AFC over the last few years. but to pick NFC in any of the last 5 isn't that 'retarded' of a pick.
2006: Colts over Bears 29-17
sure, the Colts were never in position to lose, and the game couldn't start any better for Bears (a kick-return TD, a Manning pick), but it was close at halftime and could have been down to the wire if Rex Grossman wasn't the Bears QB
2005: Steelers over Seahawks 21-10
The Steelers are my favorite team and I hate to take anything away from them ever....but they were beaten by the Seahawks in the turnover battle, total yards, and time of possession. the Steelers got all their points from three big plays; Ben's 3rd and 28 completion to Ward (the one where he toes the line of scrimmage before throwing deep) that set up his 'rushing touchdown,' Willie Parker's 75 yard TD run to open the second half, and the Randel El to Hines Ward TD pass. Three plays. other than that Pittsburgh was pretty much dominated. Plus Seattle was the number one offense that year. the NFC wouldn't have been that retarded of a pick here.
2004: Patriots over Eagles 24-21
Not as close as the score would make one think it was, but still, only a three point victory. It wouldn't have been that retarded to pick the Eagles.
2003: Patriots over Panthers 32-29
The greatest football game I have ever seen. Damn you John Kasey for that kick out of bounds with 1:08 to go! you can't give Brady the ball at the 40 and expect him not to get into field goal range! still, Jake Delhomme looked like Joe Montana in the second half, matching Brady throw for throw and bringing them from behind to lead early in the 4th and tie on their last drive. again, it wouldn't have been retarded to pick the NFC in this one.
2002: Bucs over Raiders 48-21
The NFC won this so you're wrong again.
Comments
tis 1 big goofy day
no worries. it's a message board. not going to be offended by what you say or think ... even though, you're wrong about the Pats losing.
19-0 ... 6 days and counting.
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
ever since game 7 of the 2003 alcs ended i have been the exact same way. i don't assume anything. the super bowl isn't over until the final whistle blows.
very true
although most would agree if u stood home for media day
we would need to find u a life
says the guy with nearly 13k in posts.
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
i'm just waiting for ny's snappy comeback.
Toronto 2011 night 2
Hamilton 2011
London 2013
notice the if in my post
and i have alot of free time at work
no need to attack
i cant work from home and watch media day lol
are u watching the team shower/meal this evening?
Nope. Its over. Giants win easy.
Does anybody work anymore, or do Americans just post on message boards all day wasting time and lowering their countries productivity?
Get to work Faukers!
if i had actual work to do, i would be doing it, but i'll gladly take my paycheck every other week for the next 6 months until i can post out of my current position.
aww c'mon now ... you know I'm just bustin' your nuggets ... s'all in good fun.
only if Gisele is involved.
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
You must really be UNproductive while work cause you MUST be asleep and dreaming to say, "Giants win easy". This is the most confident I've been in seeing another Boston team reach the playoffs.
Good luck you'll need all of it.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
They just talked about Brady's ankle injury .... hmmm ... deja vu?
GO PATS GO!
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
Jim McCabe, Boston Globe: Patriots. “Assuming Michael Strahan has stopped talking and spectators have mustered the courage to walk into what appears to be a monstrous spaceship dropped amid desert and cacti . . . firm in their belief that Miss Nevada and the Playboy 'Bartender of the Year' have met their obligations and left the premises to purchase clothing that they desperately were in need of . . . figuring that fans have by now determined that it requires an overnight stay to get from Phoenix to Scottsdale . . . convinced that the 11,571 former NFL players sent via FedEx to satisfy the demands of talk-radio shows from 245 cities and 62 countries are returned safely . . . happy that all 1,593 transcribed interviews that required the death of 9,361 trees have been digested by media members from Tempe to Tobago . . . and satisfied that all coaches and players understand that it's all about the advertising spots and clever commercials and not about the touchdowns and tackles, NFL officials will give their blessing to the playing of a football game, one that will end as 18 previous ones have, with the Patriots winning.”
Globe staff: All 12 pick the Patriots.
Cold, Hard, Football Facts: Patriots 34, Giants 17. "All things considered, mighty Vegas is probably giving New York too much credit for the postseason with its 11.5 PPG spread. As we noted, this is literally the greatest statistical mismatch in championship game history. We wouldn't be surprised by an easy Patriot win, but then we wouldn't be totally shocked by a close one, either."
Dr. Z, Sports Illustrated: Giants 24, Patriots 20. “Oh no, it'll be far from easy for the Giants, but they have some weapons of their own, you know, and not only among their highly touted pass rushers.”
Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 34, Giants 27. "The Patriots put up 38 points on the Giants when they met a month ago, and New England has three big offensive weapons back from minor injuries that night -- right guard Steven Neal, right tackle Nick Kaczur and blocking tight end Kyle Brady. Tom Brady was uber-accurate with no errors and suffered just one sack last time. Folks, this is going to be Brady's day."
USA Today staff: 7-1, Patriots.
Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today: Patriots 35, Giants 24. “Because the Patriots have so much to gain and so much to lose and because the Patriots have been the best team all season, there's ample evidence to conclude the Patriots will make more plays than the Giants. As long as New England quarterback Tom Brady's ankle doesn't slow him down significantly.”
Newsday staff picks: Tom Rock: Patriots 34, Giants 24. “Asante Samuel has two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and is named MVP.”
Ed McNamara: Patriots, 28, Giants 20. “I don't think the Giants (13-6 ATS) will win, but I don't expect a blowout. They'll move the ball, especially between the 20s, but like last time, they won't stop the Patriots' brilliant, multi-dimensional offense.”
Bob Glauber: Patriots, 27, Giants 20. “Giants make a game of it early, but Pats pull it out behind Tom Brady's late-game heroics.”
Hondo, New York Post: Giants 38, Patriots 35. “How can you get behind a team with the Coach/Cheater of the Year, a gimpy QB, an underachieving WR, a dirty, late-hitting safety and other assorted villains, especially when they're giving an overly generous 12-point spot against America's beloved Giants? And how do you not back the Big Blue Magic Bus, which is fuel-injected by the 3Ms of Manning, moxie and mojo, and has been mowing down all in its path since a narrow loss to New England in the regular-season finale?”
Brooklyn Decker, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model: Patriots 31, Giants 28. “"Let's not be so quick to underestimate the hot-right-now Giants. I'm excited to see another Manning in the big game, and the Patriots have the perfect season on the line. The Giants have nothing to lose-- especially if Eli plays like a rockstar.”
Marisa Miller, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model: Patriots 31, Giants 24. "I think the Patriots will win. The Patriots being undefeated is incredible and it would be insane victory to go the whole season without losing a game. But I wouldn't be bummed if the Giants won. I love New York and it's fun rooting for the underdog. Honestly, I just want to watch a good game. A fight to the death! Just kidding."
Jared, Subway geek: Giants 31, Patriots 24. "My man Strahan is going to be the difference maker."
Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders.com: Patriots. “Most likely, the Giants won’t pull a shocking upset like the 2001 Patriots, and they won’t get blown off the field like the 1985 Patriots. (They certainly won’t be pulling Eli Manning for Anthony Wright, the way the Patriots pulled Eason for Steve Grogan.) Instead, they’ll end up like a third team from New England’s Super Bowl past: the 1996 Patriots, a good team outclassed by a great team.”
Cris Carter, Yahoo sports: Patriots. “This game will be closer than a lot of people expect, but New England will complete its ‘Pursuit of Perfection.’”
Plaxico Burress, Giants wide receiver: Giants 23, Patriots 17. "I don't understand what the fuss is about. I just made a prediction. We're in the entertainment business. I'm trying to have some fun. What's so wrong with that?''
Sluggerrr, Kansas City Royals mascot: Patriots 45, Giants 14. “There is only one Manning who can beat New England, and he is already on vacation.”
Jay Novacek, MSNBC.com: Patriots. “The Giants will get a couple of big plays in the third quarter to take a 21-17 lead, but the Pats will answer quickly for a 24-21 lead. Then New England will pull away in the fourth.”
Vegas Vic, Philadelphia Daily News: Patriots 31, Giants 24. “Despite what Plaxico Burress said, the Pats should score more than 17 points (that could be a first-quarter total) and should dance off the field with their fourth Super Bowl title in the last 7 years.”
Wright Thompson, ESPN.com: Giants 35, Patriots 3. "Ole Miss finally gets revenge on Michigan. The ghost of Greg Skrepenak is exorcised."
Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN.com: Giants 20, Patriots 19. "This was the score 17 years ago when the Giants staged the most recent major Super Bowl upset over the heavily favored Bills, who had a record-setting offense."
John Clayton, ESPN.com: Patriots 38, Giants 24. "Belichick needs to squeeze one more game and one more win out of this talented group. No team in football is better at finishing games -- and now the Pats will apply that mindset to finishing their perfect season."
ESPN.com staff: Patriots across the board (Sean Salisbury, Merrill Hoge, and Mark Schlereth yet to pick).
Tiki Barber, Former Giants running back: Giants 21, Patriots 20. “For the last couple of weeks, they have defied expectation.”
Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York: Giants 24, Patriots 21. “Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and the whole team seems to be hot at the right time. Plus, we know perfection will not be achieved in this life and is reserved for the next one.”
Our pick: Patriots 54, Giants 17. The Pats score early and often. The Giants keep up in the first half, but are forced to go for it too many times in the second half, putting the ball in prime scoring position for Brady and Co., who lay it on thick and complete their 19-0 season.
1. Coach Hoodie
Giving Bill Belichick two weeks to prepare for a game is like giving Albert Einstein two weeks to take the SATs. Nothing against Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, but Belichick has no peer when it comes to devising a defensive game plan. Not only that, but he has the benefit of time, as well as smart, veteran players who know how to translate Belichick's complex schemes from the grease board to the field.
"You give him two weeks and you've got problems,'' said former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, a longtime Belichick admirer. "[His players] think he gives them an edge.''
He does. The Patriots had just five prep days between their Game 15 win against Miami and their Christmas-week Game 16 road win against the Giants -- and it showed. (And, yes, I know: The Giants only had five prep days, too. But this isn't a "Why-The-G-Men-Will-Win'' column. So live with it.)
New York scored 35 points and Eli Manning threw for four touchdowns, completed 22 of 32 passes and recorded his highest QB rating of the regular season (118.6). Belichick must want to ralph everytime he watches the game film. Manning, even this new and improved playoff version, won't throw four this time. The Giants won't score 35. Or 25, for that matter.
It took Peyton Manning three playoff tries before he finally overcame Belichick and those schemes. Belichick will make Eli wait, too. After all, there's a reason the Hoodie is 15-3 in the postseason.
2. Rematches
New England loves do-overs.
Beginning with the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 21, 2007, the Patriots have faced five opponents (Colts, Jets, Chargers, Dolphins and Bills) twice during the past 12 months. So how good are Belichick and the Pats at making adjustments?
Well, the Colts scored 38 the first time, 20 points in the '07 regular-season rematch. The Jets went from 14 points to 10; the Chargers from 14 to 12 (and no TDs); the Dolphins from 28 to seven. Only the Bills bumped up, from seven the first game to 10 (whooee!) in the rematch.
The Giants make rematch No. 6. Uh, oh.
3. Three letters
A-F-C.
The American Football Conference champion has won four consecutive Super Bowls, six of the last seven and eight of the last 10. Is that any good?
4. Injury? What injury?
This pre-Super Bowl scenario sound familiar?
With his ankle heavily taped and wearing a plastic brace, Brady took his regular snaps as a starter in today's practice and showed no signs of being hindered by the injury.
"Tom Brady demonstrated in practice today that he is fit to play,'' Belichick said. "He will be our starting quarterback on Sunday.''
The passage is from a New York Times story written a few days before the Super Bowl -- the 2001 Super Bowl between the Patriots and St. Louis Rams.
Brady was nursing an ankle sprain back then, just like he is for Super Bowl XLII. The difference? He had only one week of rehab time between the 2001 AFC Championship Game and SB XXXVI. This time he has two.
How'd he do in his first Super Bowl appearance, on a semi-gimpy ankle? Only beat the favored Rams and won the game's MVP award.
5. The Prediction
I've got nothing against predictions. If Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress gets his 23-17 guarantee right, he becomes this generation's Joe Namath.
Problem is, the Patriots do take these things personally. Just ask Pittsburgh's Anthony Smith, who guaranteed a Week 14 win against New England, or San Diego's Igor Olshansky, who popped off about the Pats a week before their AFC Championship Game meeting.
Patriots 34, Steelers 13 … Patriots 21, Chargers 12.
Brady sort of laughed off Burress' prediction ("We're only going to score 17 points? OK."), but don't forget this is the same guy who made a beeline for the Steelers' Smith after throwing a touchdown against him in the Dec. 9 win.
Put it this way: Burress didn't do the Giants any favors.
6. History
If any team is equipped to handle a Super Bowl and the weight of a first-ever 19-0 season, it's the Patriots. They are the ultimate live-in-the-moment team, almost never allowing themselves to get overwhelmed by the hype.
The Patriots actually practice humility, to the point of discussing in team meetings how much to reveal to the media during interviews. Typical Pats. Prepare for everything.
But just because they're guarded with their comments doesn't mean they've forgotten what's at stake Sunday. They have a chance at football immortality, no small thing in their business. Lose this game and the 18 previous wins mean bupkus.
Nobody appreciates that simple reality better than the Patriots.
7. X factor
Two years ago, I said Pittsburgh's Antwaan Randle El would be the Super Bowl X factor. Back pat for me: Randle El threw the TD pass that clinched the Steelers' win against Seattle. Last year I picked Chicago Bears rookie defensive end Mark Anderson as the X factor, which just goes to show that you should never inhale oil-based paint fumes before writing columns.
This time I'm sweet on Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. I think strong safety Rodney Harrison will spend considerable time in the box (either blitzing or helping on run support), which means more responsibility for New England's corners. Samuel is the guy who will respond.
X-factor runner-up: wide receiver Jabar Gaffney.
8. Experience
The Patriots have 42 players on their roster with playoff experience. Twenty Patriots have a combined 46 games of Super Bowl experience. Eleven of the Patriots starters have started in previous Super Bowls. And this will be Belichick's fourth Super Bowl as a head coach.
The Giants? Not so much.
Only three of the Giants' 53 players on the active roster have played in a Super Bowl. Only one of those three owns a Super Bowl ring: backup offensive lineman/special teams player Grey Reugamer, who earned his ring with the Patriots in 2001.
"Playing in three or four Super Bowls really isn't going to make any difference whether you make the plays that you need to make to win the game,'' said Pats linebacker Mike Vrabel.
That Vrabel. Such a kidder.
Will experience help you make a key tackle? No, but it will help prepare you for the sometimes suffocating pressure of playing in a Super Bowl.
9. Numbers that matter
Have you noticed that Randy Moss has exactly two catches for 32 yards and no touchdowns in the Patriots' two playoff victories? Did you notice that he had six catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the 38-35 win against the Giants on Dec. 29?
Something has to give, and I think it will be the Giants' secondary. It isn't an accident that Moss is 10th on the league's all-time career touchdown list and first on the single-season list.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Chargers double- and triple-teamed him. Chances are the Giants will do the same. Makes sense. But I still think Moss will get a handful of openings to make plays. And if he doesn't, Wes Welker (11 receptions, 122 yards vs. the Giants), Donte' Stallworth or Jabar Gaffney will roam relatively free.
10. Priorities
Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour has it right when he says New England must pressure Giants quarterback Eli Manning and do something about New York's running game. Manning was sacked just one time while completing 22 of 32 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns against the Pats in the December game. And in the NFC Championship Game against Green Bay, the Giants rushed for 134 clock-consuming yards and two touchdowns.
"If we don't stop the run, we definitely have no chance in this football game,'' said Seymour.
This is the part of the Giants that probably gives Belichick the heebie-jeebies. Jacobs is a bruiser, and Ahmad Bradshaw, who was inactive against the Patriots, is a slasher. But the Patriots have seen similar tag teams like this: the Jaguars' Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew (a combined 66 yards and zero TDs in the recent divisional playoff loss to New England) and LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner (a combined 46 yards and zero TDs in Game 2 of the regular season).
I think Belichick's game plan will center on stopping Jacobs/Bradshaw and forcing Manning to beat them.
"I've been able to play smart,'' said Manning, who has yet to throw an interception during the Giants' 3-0 postseason run. Belichick and that experienced defense will figure a way to make Manning play dumb.
11. Respect
"They're a better team than the one that lost to us by three points,'' said Vrabel of the Giants.
He's right. The Giants are good enough to win. The Giants know it (just ask Plax), but more importantly, the Patriots know it.
Maybe the smart guys in Vegas have it right, but the 12-point spread feels like too much. So any chance of the Patriots' being even remotely overconfident goes directly into Rich Rodriguez's shredder.
The Patriots will take New York's best shot -- and it will be a solid stomach punch -- but recover and eventually impose their Hoodie will.
12. I'm just saying
Despite playing one less playoff game than the Giants, New England's offense has gained only 137 fewer yards. In nearly every meaningful offensive category, the Patriots are better than the Giants. And no team has given up fewer points per game during the playoffs than the Patriots.
By the way, the Patriots set or tied 13 NFL offensive team records this season.
13. Man crush
I don't want to make a big deal about it, but Brady is god.
"Not the best quarterback I've ever played with, but the best quarterback that has ever been put in this league,'' said Moss.
Look, I've never actually met supermodel Gisele Bundchen, but she doesn't deserve two-time Super Bowl MVP Brady. She probably can't even name any of the 18 NFL records Brady set or tied in 2007.
And it's true: There's no getting around Manning's improvement, especially during the crunch time of the postseason. But Manning is still two or three elevator stops below Brady.
Brady is 14-2 in the playoffs. Only Green Bay's Bart Starr (9-1, .900) has a better winning percentage than Brady (.875). Brady is 30-5 in games decided by six points or fewer (6-1 in the playoffs). He's 3-0 in Super Bowls.
So not to put too fine of a point on it, but when you start comparing positions, you place a very large checkmark next to Brady's name.
14. Kevin Faulk
The guy doesn't even start, but you can argue that he might be the third-most valuable player in the Patriots' offense, just behind Brady and Moss.
Faulk rushed for minus-2 yards against the Giants in the Dec. 29 win, but his real worth is as a receiver out of the backfield, especially in key third-down situations.
He had eight catches for 64 yards against New York. He had five catches for 36 yards against Jacksonville in the divisonal playoff. He had eight catches for 82 yards (to lead all NE receivers) in the AFC Championship Game.
He's the ultimate role player.
15. The Pick
I won't be shocked if the Giants somehow win this game. Surprised, but not shocked.
New York has won 10 consecutive road games. Manning hasn't thrown a postseason interception. The Giants' D-line is to die for. Jacobs and Bradshaw are difference-makers. Burress is a matchup nightmare.
But I simply think more matchups favor the Patriots. I think they have more depth, more experience, more Brady, more everything.
Patriots 30, Giants 23
you mean being cheaters is not one of the reasons?
Easterbrook you completely biased Pats hater: Who the fuck coached the defense on that team? Oh, Yeah that was bill the supposed cheater. How many Super Bowls did Parcells win without him? Zero. Coughlin does not have Bill Belichick roaming his sideline, just the opposite he has to coach against him. Sorry Easterbrook, get in line behind Specter and await your chance to claim asterisk. 19-0 is coming.
CHOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Giants 30 something
Patriots lucky to score at all.
Everyone who picks the Giants is a homer and bitter and doesnt know anything about football....blah blah blah. I hate the boston media and all the fucking knuclkeheads on "Road to Perfection". The only one who knows what the hell he is talking about is DeOssie.
Giants will put on one of the greatest performances in superbowl history. I expect all to quote me when this goes down.
Get ready to see your precious Tommy Brady carted off the field on stretcher after superbowl MVP Justin Tuck puts his helmet square in his grill and knocks him into never never land. Inside pressure baby. inside pressure rules the day.
Anyone as stoked as I am for this game?
I just think that most of all Easterbrook is an asshole.
Oh, Flannel......I will be quoting you early and often come monday.
Anyone else get sick of the bullshit this past week. get rid of the extra week. i know the NFL wants an extra week to sell shit, have their promoters promote shit, talk radio has a ball this week talking about nonsense (see bradys ankle and plax prediction), etc, etc, etc....but fans get bored with it.
PLAY THE FUCKING GAME ALREADY!
hi-o!
no, i didn't come up with that one on my own, it was passed along to me.
Pats 42 Giants 24
Let's see if it holds up when I post 1001 on Monday.
so yea anyone who picks the giants doesn't know anything about football
do we really need to examine that "close" loss by the giants?
1.) no kickoff return for a td will happen thats 7
2.) the garbage td in the final 2 minutes thats 7
so actual score of the close loss Pats 38 giants 21
and that seems about right this time
i mean giving up 400 yards in the last meeting, this meeting on a track field
they're not playing the nfc now they do realize this right?
pre-school is over
I hate the NFC as much as anyone because the level of competition isn't as high as the AFC over the last few years. but to pick NFC in any of the last 5 isn't that 'retarded' of a pick.
2006: Colts over Bears 29-17
sure, the Colts were never in position to lose, and the game couldn't start any better for Bears (a kick-return TD, a Manning pick), but it was close at halftime and could have been down to the wire if Rex Grossman wasn't the Bears QB
2005: Steelers over Seahawks 21-10
The Steelers are my favorite team and I hate to take anything away from them ever....but they were beaten by the Seahawks in the turnover battle, total yards, and time of possession. the Steelers got all their points from three big plays; Ben's 3rd and 28 completion to Ward (the one where he toes the line of scrimmage before throwing deep) that set up his 'rushing touchdown,' Willie Parker's 75 yard TD run to open the second half, and the Randel El to Hines Ward TD pass. Three plays. other than that Pittsburgh was pretty much dominated. Plus Seattle was the number one offense that year. the NFC wouldn't have been that retarded of a pick here.
2004: Patriots over Eagles 24-21
Not as close as the score would make one think it was, but still, only a three point victory. It wouldn't have been that retarded to pick the Eagles.
2003: Patriots over Panthers 32-29
The greatest football game I have ever seen. Damn you John Kasey for that kick out of bounds with 1:08 to go! you can't give Brady the ball at the 40 and expect him not to get into field goal range! still, Jake Delhomme looked like Joe Montana in the second half, matching Brady throw for throw and bringing them from behind to lead early in the 4th and tie on their last drive. again, it wouldn't have been retarded to pick the NFC in this one.
2002: Bucs over Raiders 48-21
The NFC won this so you're wrong again.
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com