Super Bowl

It all comes down to one last Sunday. It is the best of times for football and it is the worst of times. The greatest spectacle of American sports today also signifies the end of the 07-08 season. There was a lot to talk about this season. It was filled with surprises, starting with the Cleveland Browns finally looking like they are on their way to being a good football team, Brett Favre having an amazing season at 37 years old, and of course the New England Patriots going for the second perfect season in NFL history (the first since the 16 game schedule) and "spygate". Before we get into what a great season the Pats are having, let's first have a look at the New York Giants. Before the season started, there were questions on how the team would respond after losing RB Tiki Barber to retirement and if Michael Strahan would even return to the field after missing all training camp contemplating retirement. There was definitely some talent still in NY, but only time would tell how good the Giants could truly be. When the Giants got into the playoffs it was said that the Giants were "the worst 10-6" team, and there were not too many believers in what they could accomplish. Eli Manning had another up and down season, his touchdown to interception ratio was an unimpressive 23-20, and had a QB rating of only 73.9. However, Eli has turned into Super-Manning in the playoffs. He has thrown no interceptions, four touchdowns, he is completing 62% of his passes for a QB rating of 99.1. The Giants have had some solid consistencies this season that were key. The pass rush kept them in games and WR Paxico Buress had a stellar season despite having a bum ankle that has kept him out of practices. He had 70 receptions for over 1000 yards and twelve touchdowns, a trend that has continued in the playoffs. He dominated Pro Bowl CB Al Harris in the freezing cold NFC championship game for 11 receptions and 151 yards. Harris and the rest of the Green Bay secondary tried to be physical with him, and he bull dozed, stiff armed, and trampled all over them by using his size to his advantage (6'5" 232 lbs). The Giants have also received an extra spark in the running game by rookie Ahmad Bradshaw, giving them a thunder and lightning combination with Brandon Jacobs that is similar to that of the last time the Giants went to the super bowl (Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne). Tom Coughlin may also have a better chance of keeping up with mastermind Bill Belichick since the both are the products of the Bill Parcells coaching tree.
But let's be real for a second, no one has been able to out-Belichick, Belichick. Last time I checked he has Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and a defense that despite being older has still more than held up its end of the bargain. Randy Moss has had a record setting season, but he is not even the leading receiver on his own team. Wes Welker leads the NFL in receptions this season with 112. In past years, the Patriots have grown a reputation for being versatile on defense. They lined up in unorthodox formations, with blitzers coming from all over the field. This year, its the offense that has proved to be most versatile. During the regular season, the run game was not existent and this was a flaw on the NFL's best team. When playoff time came around, they knew that had to change. Now the Pats are ranked second amongst playoff teams in rushing (the Giants are number one) . Against the Chargers, they went to two and three tight end sets and just let RB Laurence Maroney do his thing, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Bill Belicheck has an extra week to prepare, and I expect the Pats to have a few things up their sleeves we haven't seen before (maybe Dan Marino will come out of retirement for one play so he can finally get his ring...ha!). All jokes aside, this will be a great super bowl. Plaxico Buress will get his numbers, over a hundred yards, a touchdown or two, but it will not be enough. The boys from Boston will force Eli to make a costly interception, and that spells doom for the G-men. I am looking forward to this high scoring affair, 38-36 New England.