SB Weekend 2012

New York Giants (12-7) vs- New England Patriots (15-3)

Most of America is less than enthused that it will be New York and Boston, two championship-rich cities, batteling to add another Super Bowl ring (both have 3 championships). QB Tom Brady and QB Eli Manning don't have the folk followings outside of their cities like Brees, Rodgers, Peyton and others do. Much of the media is telling us these are not even the two best teams in the Super Bowl. Well, they are the two best. You want to see a Super Bowl of the two teams playing their best football in late January and this is New York, and this is New England.

Much is made of Tom Brady not dominating the AFC Championship and now having to face that "relentless" Giants pash rush. I didn't see 49ers Alex Smith too flustered in the NFC Chamoionship. In the Divisional Round, Aaron Rodgers was done in by the many drops and uncharcterstic overthrows. The one-week-sports-media seems not to remember that Rodgers ran for many key first downs? Is that becauuse the Giants' D-line was just too good to stop him?

No there aren't the sympathetic underdogs, or even any loveable legends to root for but this a high-powered New England offense and a red-hot New York Giants team. We have two flash-in-the-pan running games that often dissappear completely. We have two high powered aerial attacks with elite recievers and tight ends. It will at least make for good television.

 HOW NYG GOT HERE: After two straight years of sliding from week 5 elite Super Bowl contenders to watching the playoffs from home, the Giants scratched the starting-strong theory, and appear to have elected instead to start slow and sneak into the playoffs late, just as they did in 2007. The 2007 New York Giants have been a bit of a conversation point among the media but this is a more explosive team, with a less constricting defense

They have again caught fire and ran through playoff opponents who handled them easily in the regular season. WR Victor Cruz has been the additional playmaker they have needed, his emergence is a huge reason for the turnaround. WR Hakeem Nicks has also been insturmental, stepping up to combine with Cruz for Eli Manning's most dangerous weaponry of his career.

HOW NE GOT HERE: New England's defense had a substantial amount of injury issues throughout the season but they are finally healthy up front, LB Brandon Spikes, LB Jarod Mayo and DT Vince Wilfork will be in full health. Meanwhile, QB Tom Brady, WR Wes Welker, TE Rob Gronkowski have generated historic numbers to make up for the D, though it's been lost in the shadows of the Saints (Brady also broke Marino's record for passing yards this year!) and Packers MVP Rodgers, over 5,000 yards and Gronkowski has broken all kinds of records for tight ends.

Why then, is nobody quite sure about the Patriots? The defense gave the most passing yards this year, scratch that, of ANY year by ANY team. As Brady and his weapons have found out, there is no such thing as a safe lead. Though to be fair, the Patriots secondary game up big in the Ravens game.

KEYS FOR NE: Rebuilding their defense from the glory of 2001-2007 has been a rough road. While QB Tom Brady has blossomed from a gritty champion to a high-flying leader of the passing game revolution, the Patriots had lost their big game touch. This likely has to do with defense. They lucked out with Tebow and Flacco comprising their road to the Super Bowl but stopping Eli will not be easy. Tebow and Flacco just don't make those same 3rd-and-long conversions that Eli maddens defensive coordinators with.

KEYS FOR NYG: Basically the exact same thing. They must have an elite passing game because while everyone is predicting a repeat of 2007 and Brady on his back and Justin Tuck throwing up Subway gift cards, I don't see how Coach Bill Bellicheck allows this two to happen in yet another Super Bowl. Brady and Bellicheck, surefire Hall of Famers, are helpless against the spokesman for Subway and DE Jason Pierre-Paul? Throw in the towel? No, the Patriots offense will likely do fine. It is up to that Giants passing game to keep them in the game.