Patriots vs. Giants: Anything you can do, I can do better
New York and Boston are separated by about 215 odd miles, at least geographically. But their sports fans — and writers — might as well be oceans apart.
We gave the keys to the Super Bowl debate machine to Metro’s two rival sport editors and let the sparks fly and venom spew.
We just wanted to know two things: Who will win the big game, and why?
There wasn’t much of a consensus. But both men did pause to wonder which side Ines Sainz was on.
And, of course, they agreed that Super Bowl XLVI should be one heck of a football game.
Matt Burke
Metro Boston Sports Editor,
matt.burke@metro.us
We understand if this means everything to you New York. I mean, it’s rare that one of your nine pro teams (New Jersey counts, right?) makes it to the title game.
With seven pro titles in the past decade, this whole Super Bowl deal has become just another event for us in Boston. So we say, enjoy it guys. Welcome to the big time.
At the same time, it should still sting a tad to know that two of the three Super Bowl titles in Giants history were directly won by our head coach, Bill Belichick. His game plan for Super Bowl XXV, not Parcells’, is in Canton — and it’s a well-known fact that Belichick schemed Lawrence Taylor to the top and that the Fat Tuna never won jack without the hooded prince.
As for Sunday, it will be next to impossible to duplicate the luckiest play in the history of sports (Tyree’s helmet catch). So, good luck with that.
And your favorite hick son Eli? One solid season does not make a Hall of Famer. As of today, he’s Trent Dilfer with a goofy haircut and a Southern twang.
Mark Osborne
Metro New York Sports Editor
mark.osborne@metro.us
The Patriots are favorites in this game for one reason — 2002 to 2005.
Sorry, New England, but this isn’t the same team. Tom Brady is still great, no question. And yes, you’ve added two tremendous tight ends. (Well, maybe one and a half for this game.) But that is, quite literally, all you have going for you.
The Giants, meanwhile, are living in the present. Eli Manning is in the prime of his career, he has two dynamite young receivers in Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, and the defensive line is the best in football.
We know both teams have bad secondaries, so throw them out. But you can make a legitimate case that the Giants have two better running backs, two better receivers and three better defensive ends than anyone on the Pats.
It’s quite simple — over the past 10 games, the best QB the Patriots beat was Mark Sanchez. Who’s the worst quarterback the Giants have faced the last 10 games? Mark Sanchez.
The Patriots are stepping up in class, and it shouldn’t be as close as Super Bowl XLII or Week 9 this year.
