As a Patriots fan myself the memories from that game still linger with me but the beauty of sport has given us the opportunity at revenge, a word that anyone associated with the team or the players themselvesnwould not use but that is pretty much what we can achieve come Sunday's game. With that being said 4 years have passed since that game in Arizona and the type of weather expected for this Sunday is not the only circumstance that will have changed. Both teams are completely different bar the Quarterbacks and other key players.
7 Patriots remain from that game in 2008 but back then the Patriots had a solid defensive unit and Randy Moss as the teams main receiving threat where as now the deep ball is not something the Pats often employ but the two athletic tight ends, record setting Rob Gronkowski (17 receiving touchdowns) and Aaron Hernandez, will be a handful even for this Giants defense. Former Super Bowl MVP Deoin Branch and long time Patriot Wes Welker will also be as useful as always for Tom Brady and who's to bet against Chad Ochocinco making a big play on the grandest stage of them all well that decision ultimately comes down to Bill Belichick. It is Belicheck's 5th Super Bowl as Head Coach of the Patriots and also Tom Brady's 5th Super Bowl as the teams Quarterback, it has been a great run for these two as they are 3-1 in the big game and with the added incentive of getting some payback for 08 I'm sure the Patriots will be more fired up then ever come kickoff.
But as mentioned before these two teams are very different from the sides that met before, the week 9 match between the two teams proved this with it being a close affair which saw Eli Manning construct a game winning drive to clinch victory for the Giants 24-20.
The Giants defense will be as strong as ever and it was them who helped a lot in pulling off that shock win in 08 and the 3 defensive ends - Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks this season) Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck will have to come up big if they are to stop Tom Brady and the Patriots from winning. On offense the Giants are a lot stronger then they were back in 08, for a start of Eli Manning has matured as a Quarterback and has proved he can mix it with the best. Plexico Burgess was the main and probably only major threat on offense in that Super Bowl winning team where as now the Giants have Ahmad Bradshaw at running back who can always rack up the yardage and 3 young and very talented receivers - Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks who can all cause this make shift Pats defense trouble.
Where as things have improved for the Giants since then their regular season record was still only 9-7, the playoffs is where they get it done and essentially that is where it counts but the Patriots have a lot to be optimistic about. As I mentioned previously the offense is very talented, as we all know they have Tom Brady as the teams's quarterback. A man who has been there, seen it and done it all; if the Patriots win tonight the case for Brady being the best quarterback ever definitely gains further momentum as he would have 4 rings to his name. Whatever happens he is a future hall of famer and easily one of the best ever up there with Montana, Elway, Marino and Peyton Manning.
The Patriots finished the season 13-3 with the best record in the AFC, the Giants are the slight underdogs in this one but because of the shock win last time a win tonight would certainly not be as surprising as 4 years ago. Despite all of the talent on the Patriots offense the defense will have to play great to help the team get the win tonight, the offensive line is better then it was in the last Super Bowl as they now have experience with Brian Waters joining the likes of Matt Light and then their are younger guys like Sebastian Vollmer and rookie Nate Solder who can help protect Brady to give him the time he needs to make the key throws downfield. Obviously the offenses effectiveness will be the main piece of the puzzle if the Patriots are to win as last time the amount of pressure the Giants D got on Brady and co was the reason the Pats came up short.
So we have established that Brady needs to have a big game and I believe he will, the man loves football and admitted to sometimes thinking about that Super Bowl defeat so he will be the most pumped up guy on that team and he will get the job done tonight I'm sure. Ever since that night in Arizona he has been on a mission to prove himself, not that he needs too, and the injury to his knee will only have pushed him on more to get another Championship for him and the Patriots. This season Brady has been back to his, they got over the recent playoff slide with a 45-10 win over the Broncos and then against the Ravens it was Brady's 1 yard frontflip touchdown that proved to be the deciding factor in that game clinching the AFC Title for the Pats. Brady got the 2nd most amount of touchdown passes in his career for a season this year, 39, and he broke Dan Marino's passing yards total for a season by passing for 5,235 yards so tonight I think Brady will prove that he is the best of the best and he is the definition of an elite Quarterback.
Rob Gronkowski's fitness will be a major factor for the Patriots has he is the main option in the passing game, the 17 receiving touchdowns for a tight-end speaks for itself but if he doesn't get as much time as he would like or isn't as effective or gets hurt then the Patriots will have prepared for this. I think the secret weapon tonight is the Patriots running game as back in 08 the Pats didn't have that guy to help open up from the backfield and then provide the play-action for Brady and open up the deep passes as well as the no huddle offense which is also key for the Pats as it has worked well all season for Brady and co and if its effective it will catch the Giants off guard and could seal the game for the Patriots. BenJarvus Green-Ellis has never fumbled in his NFL career and this season his production has gone to he next level with 9 rushing touchdowns as well as 667 yards which is impressive in predominantly passing offense so look for the lawfirm and the likes of Danny Woodhead, who can catch and gain plenty of yards after the catch, and even Stevan Ridley who both have great speed to tire out this Giants defense.
Overall I'm just hoping for a Patriots victory, I've been waiting all week for this moment and I am buzzing with excitement. I hope the Patriots get the job done because I feel the team definitely deserve it and it would be a very fitting way to end the season following the passing of Mr Kraft's wife Myra. Good luck Patriots and lets do this!!!
Let's Go Pats! PatsNation!
