Patriots look to continue dynasty that began a decade ago
Why the heck is the over/under on this game 55 points? This one is going to be close in the fourth quarter, and the winner isn’t going to need more than 27 points. Even that may be too high. Look, it’s the Super Bowl — there’s a lot on the line, and both teams are going to be a little more hesitant to air it out. Believe it or not, the Patriots play pretty solid defense, especially in the red zone. The Giants are solid as well, especially up front. Don’t be surprised to see each team punt on the first few possessions before they settle in and execute on offense.
No huddle, no problem
Patriots fans have seen it all season: When the going gets tough, the no-huddle offense gets going.
And nobody runs it better than Tom Brady. You’ve read enough about how awesome the Giants’ front four (and actually more than four) are, but how soon until one or more of them fakes an injury to slow down the Patriots hurry-up offense?
It’s been the closest thing to automatic that the Patriots have — and if Gronkowski is in there with Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, and Deion Branch (Chad Ochicinco?), and the O-line is holding strong, he’ll find his man. Look for that often.
Revenge, no. Legacy, yes.
Football is a team sport. Fact.
But it’s also a fact that while it means the world to each and every player on each team, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are each working on a legacy that could be remembered in football as the best of all-time.
The numbers say that they are already the best quarterback-coach tandem in NFL history. Brady will always be considered one of the best, but he’ll need a fourth Super Bowl ring to be considered THE best. Same goes for Belichick, who currently trails Chuck Noll by one ring.
Is this the year that it all comes together?
Strange ways
The Giants have fielded two of the worst Super Bowl contenders in history based on regular season scoring differential:
2011 Giants are the first regular season team to reach the Super Bowl after a year in which they surrendered more points (400) than they scored (394) in the regular season.
2007 Giants were the fifth worst of all-time with a +22 point differential.
– Cold, Hard Football Facts
McCourty ready for big challenge
Devin McCourty was a Pro Bowler in his maiden campaign and has been a key contributor on two Patriots playoff squads. But the corner certainly had his fair share of struggles this season as the Patriots defense was routinely ridiculed around the league.
McCourty’s role figures to be rather immense come Sunday, as he’ll be lined across from any number of Giants receivers — a unit that is arguably the best in the league. And even though Big Blue’s receiving corps is an upgrade over what McCourty saw during his time at Rutgers, he said in the end it all comes down to executing and just finding a way to get things done.
“They bring every challenge that a wide receiver group brings [because] they have three very explosive receivers,” McCourty said. “But at this time of year, it doesn’t matter what a secondary has given up throughout the season because playoff stats [reset]. There’s one game left and each team is going to do what they have to do to get this win.”
