This game just feels like destiny. After the Giants pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all-time beating the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, was there really any doubt who Brady who have to go through to get his 4th ring?
I have heard this season called the season of Redemption. If the Patriots find a way to win this Super Bowl they would've beaten every team that Brady had lost to in the playoffs (Jets, Ravens, Colts, Broncos, *Giants). It's just another reason why this game seemed destined to happen. Yet, there are so many times in our lives these stories don't turn out the way we want. To say I am confident about this game would be a lie. I think the Patriots can win, but I a scared shitless by the Giants.
Why am I scared? Because this is by far the best QB we have played so far in the playoffs (Tebow/Flacco). Actually if you look even deeper into this ShEli the last good QB we played, and we lost that game...
Nov 13 @N.Y. Jets Won 37-16
Nov 21 Kansas City Won 34-3
Nov 27 @Philadelphia Won 38-20
Dec 4 Indianapolis Won 31-24
Dec 11 @Washington Won 34-27
Dec 18 @Denver Won 41-23
Dec 24 Miami Won 27-24
Jan 1 Buffalo Won 49-21
(the the two playoff games I had already mentioned)
I didn't mean to depress any Patriots fan reading this, but you need to recognize the facts, and the facts are the Patriots defense has been playing better, but they haven't been playing passing offenses like this one. That doesn't mean the Patriots truly haven't gotten better just that they haven't faced a team like this in a while, and when we have it hasn't gone well.
The other thing you have to be worried about is this Giants pass rush. They got to Brady the last time these two teams played, and they were missing guys. The Patriots offensive line is in for a huge test, they have to be able to give Brady some kind of pocket, so that guys like Welker, Gronk, Branch and Hernadez have time to make their cuts.
Ok, enough of the bad stuff. How do the Patriots win this game?
I am not the only one who thinks thins, but I think the Patriots need to run the ball. The Giants have a good defensive line, but they aren't overly big, and their linebackers aren't anything special. We have already heard that Ridley is going to be active for this game. That tells me the Patriots plan on pounding the ball.
I know somewhere DP is yelling "and take the ball out of the hands of the best player in football!!!!"
That's really not the point. It's to take the edge off the pass rush. It's to wear them down so that later if the Patriots need to spread them out they won't have the legs to be all over Brady. It's because Brady and this offense can be very effective off of play action. Don't be shocked if you see Nate Solder as a TE a couple times in this game with Volmer taking his spot. Seriously, he was a TE in college and if the Patriots want to straight up pound the ball, having both those guys out there will only improve their chances and put even more weight on those pass rushing DEs.
Another key is Brady has to play better then he did against the Ravens. The Giants are going to score, there is little doubt in my mind, but Brady can't give ShEli a short field. The Patriots defense does give up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. That can change in a hurry though if they are point in bad positions.
One thing that people aren't talking about is where the Patriots offense starts on the field. Last time these two teams played the Patriots started with the ball ahead of their own 21 yard line once the entire game. Tough to score points when that happens. They need a better return game, but they also need this defense to find a way to get at least a couple 3 and outs. That's going to be tough to do, but whether they get them off the field through turnovers or 3 and outs, they are going to need to do it at least 3-4 times to win.
I think this is going to be a real close game. So close that every Patriots fan may lose a year or two off their life expectancy...
Patriots win 27-24
MVP: Tom Brady
Non QB MVP: Hernandez