Super Bowl XLII: New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

well played, hotballa, well played

 

ESPN has been unwatchable for years.

 

I wanted the Packers to make it so when the Patriots beat them, they could say that they beat the Cowboys, Giants, Packers, Chargers (twice), and Colts - pretty much all the best teams. Oh well...

However, I do think that the Giants have the better chance compared to the Packers of beating the Patriots. But I don't see New England losing - they finish undefeated and poor Mercury Morris shuts his trap up forever.

 

Tom Brady was spotted in NY wearing a walking cast today on his right foot - definitely some concern for the Patriots but he's adamantly said that he'll be fine for the Super Bowl.


Brady wearing walking cast while on visit to New York

The New England Patriots have sauntered through the rest of the league this year. But on the verge of perfection, their leader has come up gimpy.

Photographs and video show Tom Brady wearing what appears to be a walking cast while in New York on Monday. A video of Brady in the cast is available on TMZ.com.

The Boston Herald reported that Brady -- flowers in hand -- was visiting the apartment of his girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen.

During his weekly radio show on WEEI, Brady did not deny that he suffered some sort of injury during Sunday's win over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game.

"Ah, you know, there's always bumps and bruises. I'll be ready for the Super Bowl," Brady said. "I'm not worried about that. I'm not missing this one. I'd have to be on a stretcher to miss this one. There will be treatment this week. In games like this, you get a little nicked up. It's nothing serious."

Brady, who threw 50 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions during the regular season, was not at his best on Sunday. He threw three interceptions in the 21-12 victory over the Chargers.

He now has two weeks to recover. The Patriots' Super Bowl matchup against the New York Giants is Feb. 3.

 

1) I don't see the Giants offense being hugely successfull against the Pats with rest and 2 weeks of planning. The Giants offense hasn't eactly chewed up TB, Dallas or GB--an average of around 300 yards of offense and 22 points. They will need a lot more than that (see point 2).

2) The Giants secondary cannot match-up with NE's receivers and NE pass protection is very, very good. Even though NYG have the best D line in the league, you can't expect them to win nearly every battle.

Thus it will take a Herculean effort by their D and O lines to stay with NE. I think take the Pats and the over--but I might wait and see if the line comes down (11).

Really I think the Giants probably have no better chance than the Jags and Bolts (who both did stay wth NE for a while) to beat NE--and less of a chance than Dallas or Indy and probably GB would have. NE's road have been helped but upsets--but you can't take away the fact they beat who they need to.

Too bad Dallas blew it with penalties, drops and special teams or we would have a better superbowl lined up. (After all they did out have a 30-40% advantage in yards and TOP, and nearly double the rushing yards than the Giants--the Boys picked the wrong game of the 3 to lose to them). Brady and his receivers are going to be steady where Romo and Boys were shaky under the big lights and gave the Giants a chance.

I guess I'll rout for the Giants, but I don't see it honestly. 19-0 it is.

 

so the fact that we had a 28-16 lead in the 3rd qhen NE was going all out to get the 16-0 record means nothing. sounds good to me

 

Anyone interested in buying field level tickets for $5K each ($10K total)?

 

And you still lost and gave up two records on a play that NE ran twice in a row. I’m not a huge Patroits fan but I have noticed that you need to play 4 quarters of ball to beat them. They don’t get down when they are down….

I respect what the Giants have done so far. To continue winning Eli will have to continue to limit his mistakes. Dollar Bill has two weeks to go through all of his illegal tape, so I don’t see that happening. I really don’t like NE (like Moss though), but it is kinda cool to see a historic moment.

 

Umm, no.

 

I'll take them...if I can finance the total over about 20 years...without interest.

 

hes saying the Pats will cover. I'm refuting that point. I think my Jints will win, but even if they lose, there's no way they're getting blown out, especially when you see how they have been playing recently and how they played the Pats in week 17.

 

If I heard correctly, the Patriots actually have covered only 1 time since November. It's going to be a good game early, but I expect the Pats to run away with it in the end.

 

The Giants played their best ball--got 4 Eli TD passes and kick return for a TD, and still lost. NE scored 22 strait 2nd half points once they adjusted their protections to the NYG great dline.

I just don't like the matchup. NE has such an edge at QB and skill positions and isn't weak in the Giant's strength (power running and a powerfull defensive front 7). NE also has the best game strategizing staff in the league, the hardest QB to throw off, and 2 weeks to prepare.

I am not saying it isn't possible for the NYG to stay close or win--a few big special teams plays + their lines dominanting NE's + Eli and Buress having their career days (like Eli versus them the 1st time, like Plax last week)-- it could happen. I will probably rout for it to happen.

But I like the odds of NE - the points better than the above happening.

 

I think the Pats actually have less pressure on them in the Super Bowl than they did in week 17. This game is going to be played in perfect conditions in Arizona and we will see a performance closer to what we saw earlier in the season with the Pats.

 

That week 17 game was outside and in NY, where the homecrowd could have an impact. The SB will be have prime conditions for passing and is in a neutral site.

 

that would be a good point except for the fact both teams scored at least 30 points. our offense is pretty good with good weather also.

 

I think the Giants have a good shot at winning but a lot of things have to happen. SD showed that they could move the ball on the Pats D but they couldnt score TD's in the red zone. The Giants will have to score TDs and not settle for FGs to win.

The Giants D must get to Brady. Bring the pressure and bring it all game long.

 

I see you ignored the point about the week 17 game being in NY....

If NY wins I will gladly come back and eat crow. I just don't see Manning playing error free ball against a good scheming D that has two weeks to prepare for him.

Now one thing I do like about the Giants is the ability of their D-line to get pressure. That would concern me if the Patroits weren’t so good and the dink and dump game to move the ball down the field.

 

how did i do that? the Jints had a 3-5 record at home this year, so the home crowd doesn't really do anythign for them and whatever weather effect there may have been, it didn't affect either team.

The Pats have a great offesne which matches up very well with our pass rush. Brady is probably the most decisive (and makes good decisions) QB in the league, and I don't think we'll be able to get our hands on him in all honsty. What we can do is load up in the medium zone and really lay some hits on Welker, Faulk, or Moss in the beginning of the game and then go blitz happy later on.

 

Eddie Murphy knew all along:

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