I'd first off like to apologize to all the Couch potatoes for giving you the worst case of blogging blue balls since Fire Joe Morgan left the blogosphere. But there should be one thing on every one's minds and that takes place this Sunday in Indianapolis.
We're going to cut down to brass tacks here. The reason you read my writing is because one, I'm excellent. Two, I'm rarely ever wrong and three, combine the first two and you have a wow sandwich sitting right in front of you. I am going to draw this out a little bit though because it doesn't make sense to put the cart before the horse if ya know what I'm saying.
The Patriots vs. The New York Football Giants.
The Rematch
Peyton's Nemesis vs. Peyton's Brother in The House That Peyton Built.
Who has the edge in coaching? People will slay me for this but it's a wash. Coughlin is a master of the win or go home playoff game and that's what we got here an old fashioned pissing match. This isn't about their respective career which is obviously Belichick in a landslide, but two out of the last three meetings have gone to Coughlin including one in the Super Bowl. PUSH
Who has the edge in quarterbacking? Another tough call and I hate doing this knowing that Brady is Jesus in cleats, but it's another even matchup. No one is as hot as Eli is right now. Brady is the better quarterback that's not debatable but approaching this game you can't spell E-L-I-T-E without Eli. Once again, if you're talking about careers Brady is a machine but going into this game and looking at all the weapons that they each have: PUSH.
Who has the edge in defense? Entering the playoffs I would have said Giants in a landslide. But the Patriots are playing such disciplined, smart defense that it's no longer a layup. Tebow is not a great quarterback (yet) but to stifle him the way they did was a feat in itself. Both teams have weak secondaries and can be thrown on, and will be thrown on, a LOT. But because of the Giants ferocious pass rush they have to get an edge. GIANTS
Who has the edge in offense? This is dependent on one person, Rob Gronkowski. If Rob Gronkowski is anywhere near 90% the Patriots have a clear edge. But a high ankle sprain is not something that heals in just two weeks. I expect The Gronk to be around 80% and be more of a decoy. He may catch a few passes but without his ability to make sharp cuts he will be far less of a factor. But the "dink and dunk" offense is the exact offense that can negate the Giants ferocious pass rush. By getting rid of the ball quickly in the "hurry-up" you stop the biggest Giants strength. PATRIOTS
Who has the edge in Special Teams? This is as big of a wash as anything between the two teams. Both kickers are playoff/battle tested. Both punters are equally dangerous and both teams are disciplined defenders of punts and kickoffs. PUSH
There are two X-Factors in the game: Rob Gronkowski and Victor Cruz.
Rob Gronkowski is probably the single most difficult player to defend in the NFL. He is absurdly fast for someone the same size as a linemen and almost impossible to bring down. However, Bernard Pollard had to keep his streak alive of taking down every living legend the Patriots have ever had, and has Gronkowski hobbled for the Superbowl. The injury is such a question mark right now. But with Belichick being so close vested about injuries you don't know if he's legitimately hurt or if he's playing mind games with Coughlin.
Victor Cruz is one of the most dynamic receivers in football. One of the most vivid memories in my head is him catching a ball and running 60 yards down the sideline in a pre-season game against New England a year or two ago. Nicks and Manningham are solid NFL receivers but the Patriots need to stop Cruz and Ballard the tight end in order to have a shot in this game. If they don't the Giants will roll.
On Paper the Giants should win this game. But, the game is not played on paper and the Patriots have one thing going for them that the Giants don't have. Most teams don't interact and don't care about their owner. But the Patriots players have a working relationship with Robert Kraft, and not just Robert Kraft but his late wife Myra. She used to meet every draft pick and free agent signing personally and would work side by side with many of the players wives annually, and quarterly for different fundraisers.
The Patriots have been playing inspired football in the playoffs and it is for their owner and his late "sweetheart". I hate using the whole divine intervention as a reason for winning. But how else do you explain the ridiculous run of mediocre to poor quarterbacks on their way to the AFC Championship, a secondary that's more porous than Swiss cheese and a schedule that seemed daunting but ended up being a cupcake.
Just about everything points to a Giants win and Eli hoisting his second Lombardi trophy. I can admit that I'm scared of what the Giants are as a team and the challenges the present, but I just can't see Brady losing to a non-division opponent twice in the same year. Actually it's never happened in his career. Nor Belichick.
That being said this will NOT be Superbowl XLII. This offense is the perfect offense to take down the vaunted Giants D. This will be a shootout. More points than the first matchup and I'll take the Patriots in that regard. MHK will reign
Patriots 38 Giants 35
Stay Tuned
Norton
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