Less than 24 hours and the Super Bowl will be live and in living color, and for some, High Definition. For fans, we've been able to fill our time with work, and watching all those annoying position and coaching breakdowns. We get to see some old players talk about how they dealt emotionally with the time leading up to the big game. The media, God Bless their soul, dissects every small story that comes out of each team camp. It can be overwhelming with the stories and experts and fans. And it get worse on game day. How the heck do you need a 6 hour pre-game show.It can be overwhelming sometimes. It makes it unenjoyable. But we love football. We need football. We crave it baby. This is what makes Super Bowl week so great. Just the fact that a lot of us grow up wondering what it would be like to come out the tunnel or be on the sidelines when the national anthem is sung. Some athletes have said that they have had to fight back tears because their emotions are so overwhelming. Most American men grow up wondering what that would feel like and to play for a world championship on a world stage. Knowing that people have set aside everything for this day. Even our military, who protects our freedom, gives the troops time to watch and enjoy the game. It's the Super Bowl and it deserves the hype.
With this said, lets begin to break down this game and look at the match ups. As I stated in my previous blog, winning games is all about match ups and that's what will decide this game.
Momentum: Much has been said about how the Giants were 7-7 and on the verge of not making the playoffs and how they won the last two games to win the division, dominate both the Falcons and the Packers and then knocked off the 49ers at Candlestick to advance to Indy. They come to the dance with a great amount of momentum and swagger (I hate that word). Yet, do you realize that the Pats come in on a 10 game winning streak? They have been very quietly putting together a very good run of their own except in true Bill Belichick fashion, they have been mum about their accomplishments. I actually give the edge to the Pats on this one because during their winning streak, they have gotten better in every aspect of the game, except one:Tom Brady. Tom the Terrific has been, well, terrific, but has struggled in a few games. That doesn't bode well for the Giants. Yes, he doesn't like to be hit, but I believe that the Pats will attack the Giants differently this game: runs and screens. Both of these plays will literally make the NY pass rush void. This Pats team sorta reminds me of the 1988 49ers. The team that actually went 10-6 during the regular season as Joe Montana looked good but not as invincible as previous years. In my opinion, Brady is sort of like Montana in that, in a big game would you really want to bet against him? The Giants have been doing a lot of talking about hitting Brady and how they expect to win ( they should expect to win and I don't see why the media is making such a big issue about it). They are talking as if the game is already in the books. This is not a very good strategy against the highest winning Coach-QB combo in the history of the NFL. Could this two weeks be enough time for the Giants to lose their mojo? Possibly
Nastiness: I think that the Giants are the more physical of the teams. But this is true more on offense than on defense. I like the Giants commitment to the running game with Bradshaw and Jacobs. This could definitely make a huge difference in a tightly contested game. Neither defense is especially physical and I do not see those nasty and physical linebackers and safety's of past teams. There are no Rodney Harrison's, or Teddy Bruschi's for the Pats, or Antonio Pierce's for the Giants. The NFL has opted for speed and with this speed comes more guys who can be pushed around. I have watched the Patriots play and they seem to just totally abandon the run, even on the goal line. They would rather pass the ball. I believe this is where the Giants have the advantage. If this game does become a slug fest, the Giants can do what they did to the Packers and break the will of the Pats.
Big Balls Factor: Eli vs Tom, Tom vs Eli. I think this match up is actually even. Eli, to the chagrin of my dad, has proven he can flat out play. I don't think people look at him as lucky or as a game manager any more. He has shown that he is en elite QB. We already know what Brady can do so no need to talk about him. It isn't the QB's who will decide the game, it will be who he has around him who will step up on the biggest stage and not have stage fright. Victor Cruz, and the rest of the Giant receiving corp has become the darlings of playoffs by having some monster games. They have definitely stepped up to the plate. But for some reason, I'm not seeing them as making THAT catch at THAT time to score THAT TD. Because of the Patriot way of doing things, I can actually see their guys having no care or feeling no pressure to perform. They go out and do things at a level and composure that few do. To me its the Pats who have the advantage in this factor.
Coaching: Much has been made of the Bill Belichick model of consistency. He is easily one of the greatest coaches since Bill Walsh. When your team is referred to as the Evil Empire, then, in my mind, you've done the right things. Once criticism of Belichick is that he cheats. Well if he has cheated, oh well. In the NFL, you can not consistently cheat and when. It's literally impossible. It will catch up to you. He is a master at preparation and talent evaluation and his teams always plays hard and enjoys beating peoples butt. On the other sideline is Tom Coughlin. I like his old school approach and the way his teams are structured. Line up, run the the rock and play D. What more do you want. He believes in playing great special teams and just being an all around solid team. It works well and he has seemed to put up the middle finger to the NY press and stand toe-to-toe with them. Like Belichick, his teams are prepared and motivated in big games. He has gone mind game to mind game with Belichick and has beaten him two consecutive times. Simply, he knows how to get his players ready.I think there is actually no edge in this match up that sticks out unless you count the 8 super bowls Belichick has been in as an assistant or head man. But, if someone was to put a gun to my head, I'd have to bet my life on Belichick just because he seems to always find that one flaw or that one angle to motivate his team.
Flaws: Exposing a weakness of a team takes a lot of time and patience. You kind of gnaw at a team until an opportune moment and then expose them. We saw the 49ers do that against the Saints in the playoffs. Remember the crucial third down when Alex Smith rolled out and ran for the score. Well, I'm sure the coaching staff waited all game to catch the Saints in their all out, man-to-man blitz, knowing that the QB would not be accounted for. End result TD. I love the way the Pats seem to expose your strengths and weaknesses. They know the strong part of the Giants is their pass rush and how their line stunts in certain situations. The Giants know how the Pats like to get the ball to Wes Welker in critical third downs and how he is usually Brady's first read. These are obvious things, but it's the little small areas which coaches look for that they try to expose. It could be something as simple as a half yard split by a wide out that can tell you where the play is going. It's these small, minute things that will make the difference in a game. Ask the Saints Tracey Porter who waited almost a full game to take advantage on one Peyton Manning flaw - going to Reggie Wayne on the read slant. These instances are what is going to make the difference in the game. I believe the advantage goes to the Pats. I think Brady will expose some of the Giants issues in the secondary better than the Giants defense can expose Brady's dislike for pressure.
With that said, I think this game has the makings of a good Super Bowl, but for some reason I see a blow out. I think this will be both Tom Brady's and Bill Belichicks stamp on being the true dynasty and set the franchise apart from any other. I like the Pats to win big and make a mockery of the Giants early.
Final Score
New England 38 - NY 13
Have fun watching the game and check back soon
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