2008 Woodie Awards
Super Bowl XLII provides an unexpected, but predictable, rematch
Zack Gugenheim
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Sports
In what has been an unexpected 2008 NFL playoffs, the end result is the perfect 18-0 New England Patriots versus the scrappy 13-6 New York Giants. As you all may know, this is a rematch from the week 17 tilt that ended in a 38-28 Patriots victory, but also provided a spark for the Giants to transform into the team that they have become during the playoffs. However, the question remains, how good are the Giants?
Let's face it, although the 10-game road win streak is impressive, the teams they have beaten were not. Tampa Bay getting into the playoffs was a product of their incredibly weak division and schedule, Dallas hasn't been playing at a high level since they beat Green Bay in week 13, and those darned Packers with their renaissance-man QB Brett Favre gave the game to the Giants. However, there has been one very positive constant: a consistent Eli Manning. Since the New England game, he has thrown 8 TD's to just 1 interception. In all three playoff games, he hasn't committed a turnover. He is actually playing up to the expectation that New York has for him. Now we get to see how good he and the rest of the Giants really are.
Unfortunately, they aren't going up against a team like the Colts, Steelers, or the Chargers, all of which are very good at blowing games that they shouldn't. They are going up against a team that doesn't make mistakes, and when they do make mistakes, they make up for them. The Patriots have Tom Brady as their quarterback, and as much as I can't stand him, he can flat out play football. It also doesn't hurt when your receivers are named Moss, Welker, Stallworth, and Gaffney. Oh, and don't forget about that monster o-line and that guy named Maroney back there. I could go on and on about the weapons that the Patriots have, but even the most casual football fan knows about them.
Here is the problem with the Super Bowl: it will be extremely predictable because it will be the same game we had a month ago in week 17. The Giants will play well, and their defensive front seven will get pressure on Brady. Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora may be one of the best defensive end tandems in the league. They have a strong running game with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Their receiving core with Amani Toomer, Plaxico Burress, and Sinorice Moss is also very solid. The Giants will be winning at some point, and will hang around with the Pats. Then, Eli will make one dumb decision, and Brady won't. That's all it will take, and the Patriots will be the 2007-08 Super Bowl Champions, and the first team to go 19-0 in the history of the NFL.
Prediction: Patriots 34, Giants 27
Let's face it, although the 10-game road win streak is impressive, the teams they have beaten were not. Tampa Bay getting into the playoffs was a product of their incredibly weak division and schedule, Dallas hasn't been playing at a high level since they beat Green Bay in week 13, and those darned Packers with their renaissance-man QB Brett Favre gave the game to the Giants. However, there has been one very positive constant: a consistent Eli Manning. Since the New England game, he has thrown 8 TD's to just 1 interception. In all three playoff games, he hasn't committed a turnover. He is actually playing up to the expectation that New York has for him. Now we get to see how good he and the rest of the Giants really are.
Unfortunately, they aren't going up against a team like the Colts, Steelers, or the Chargers, all of which are very good at blowing games that they shouldn't. They are going up against a team that doesn't make mistakes, and when they do make mistakes, they make up for them. The Patriots have Tom Brady as their quarterback, and as much as I can't stand him, he can flat out play football. It also doesn't hurt when your receivers are named Moss, Welker, Stallworth, and Gaffney. Oh, and don't forget about that monster o-line and that guy named Maroney back there. I could go on and on about the weapons that the Patriots have, but even the most casual football fan knows about them.
Here is the problem with the Super Bowl: it will be extremely predictable because it will be the same game we had a month ago in week 17. The Giants will play well, and their defensive front seven will get pressure on Brady. Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora may be one of the best defensive end tandems in the league. They have a strong running game with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Their receiving core with Amani Toomer, Plaxico Burress, and Sinorice Moss is also very solid. The Giants will be winning at some point, and will hang around with the Pats. Then, Eli will make one dumb decision, and Brady won't. That's all it will take, and the Patriots will be the 2007-08 Super Bowl Champions, and the first team to go 19-0 in the history of the NFL.
Prediction: Patriots 34, Giants 27