The Super Bowl is here! Many have gone out of their way to try and make this a less than super, Super Bowl, but don’t be had - this should be one hell of a game. Either way, history will be made. Either the “best team of all time” will get beat by a wild-card form the NFC, or the Patriots will light up the scoreboard for the first 19-0 season of all time. Yes, I’d like to say this game has plenty of intrigue. Not only do we have that set of fireworks, but if you can remember back as far as Week 17, you’ll realize that these two clubs played one of the best football games of the season, a 38-35 thriller where both teams seemed as though their season depended on that game. Well, the Giants get a second chance, and the Patriots try to make it a sweep - don’t believe the hype, this should be one hell of a Super Bowl! Here is my write up about how each team found themselves in the Big Game at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona on February 3, 2008.
New York Giants @ New England Patriots
Line: Giants (+12) @ Patriots (-12) O/U 53.5
Time: 2/3/2008 6:30pm EST on FOX
The Giants turned it around with a pretty important win over the Redskins where their defense came to life in the 2nd half, and never looked back during a 6 game winning streak heading into their bye. They beat the Eagles in a game that made Philadelphia look like a bunch of pylons, then they got some free passes when the played the Jets, Falcons, 49ers, and Dolphins in 4 straight. So, needless to say, they had maybe one good win, but 6 nonetheless. The end of the season wasn’t as bright, but they managed 4 wins and 4 losses in the 2nd half, gathering 10 wins overall and a wildcard birth out of the NFC East. Their season was a success because of their ability to get after the quarterback on defense, and the Giants ability, no matter who was in a running back, to run the ball effectively. The Giants also killed it on the road, winning 7 of 8 away from their home field.
Going into the playoffs, the Giants weren’t expected to make much noise, but they had just come off one of their best games of the season, a loss to the New England Patriots, 35-38 in front of their home fans. That game seemed to put a little hop in the Giants’ step, and they carried that momentum right over to their first home game with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay, a very good defense all season long, couldn’t force a turnover against the Eli and the Giants, and while they didn’t give up a ton of yards, Eli and crew did what they needed to do and held the ball for most of the game. The MVP of the game was probably Eli Manning, who threw for 185 yards on 20-27 passing with 2 TDs and 0 interceptions. Amani Toomer also had a big game with 7 grabs for 74 yards and a touchdown.
The Giants played Round 2 in Dallas, a team that had beaten them twice during the regular season. Tony Romo wasn’t off, but his receivers dropped their fair share of balls, and the Cowboys struggled to find much consistency besides Marion Barber’s big day (129 yards, 1 TD). Romo was sacked twice, and intercepted once (last throw of the game) as New York found out that in this case; a third time was a charm. Eli, once again, didn’t have a big day yards-wise, just 163 passing, but threw 2 touchdowns, had just 6 incompletion, and finished his second straight game without an interception.
The NFC Championship Game was supposed to end the Giants season, and was almost a guarantee considering how poorly Eli had played in cold weather during his first three years in the league. But this time, it was the old man who had a tough day under center, throwing 2 interceptions, including one in overtime that allowed Lawrence Tynes a chance to kick the game winning 47 yard field goal. He did, and the Giants did the unthinkable, ousting a tough Packers team in Lambeau to send them to Phoenix to play the 18-0 Patriots for the 2nd time this season.
The Patriots started off the season scoring at least 34 points in each of their first 8 games. Tom Brady was lighting up the airways from day 1, picking defenses apart underneath and throwing heat seeking bombs to Randy Moss’s gloved hands in unsuspecting end zones. There was an early scandal, some filming of the Jets coaching staff illegally, but the Patriots seemed to use that as early season motivation, and then managed to keep that chip on their shoulder despite being one of the most talented teams in the League. Check that, despite being the most talented team in the League. After 8 games, there were not only on pace to break all the scoring and yardage and completion percentage records, but there were on pace to obliterate them.
While they did manage a couple huge scoring wins over the next 8 games, the Patriots didn’t annihilate everyone like they did to start the season. A close game against the Colts brought all the doubters out of hiding, but the Patriots weren’t about to let the undefeated dream die without a fight. Despite some tough games against fairly average foes, (Baltimore 27-24, and Philadelphia 31-28) the Patriots managed to make it into the final game of the season without a single loss to speak of. But the Giants weren’t about to just let them have their 16th win. Both teams played their starters throughout the contest, and while the Patriots managed the W, New York took as much momentum away from a loss as a team possibly could.
The 2nd Round of the playoffs put New England up against one of the toughest opponents they would face all season long. The Jacksonville Jaguars fought hard and long, but couldn’t manage a win in the end as the Patriots won the game by 11 in Foxborro. After a 14-14 tie at halftime, the Patriots came out fast in the 3rd quarter, putting up two touchdowns and taking an 11 points lead. The Jags cut it to 8 in the 4th, one score and a two point conversion, but once again the Patriots defense came up big, intercepted David Garrard, and put the game to rest. Tom Brady was the MVP of the game despite Jacksonville shutting down Randy Moss (1 catch for 14 yards). Brady had 262 yards and 3 touchdowns while setting a completion percentage record by going 26-28 passing.
