Super Bowl XLVI

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

February 5, 2012 6:30 ET

By: Ed Taylor
Ed@SteelNationMagazine.com



Path to the Super Bowl, New York:

New York has looked like world beaters early in the season then looked as though they would miss the play offs and ended up beating Dallas twice in the last month to win the NFC East with a 9-7 record. Once healthy the Giants began to realize their potential. For the first time all season the offense and defense were playing solid, consistent ball.

In the Wild Card round the 5th seeded Atlanta visited MetLife Stadium to take on the Giants. After giving up a 2nd quarter safety the Giants completely dominated the game, holding Matt Ryan to 199 yards passing, Michael Turner to 41 yards rushing and the entire Falcons team to 247 yards. The New York offense was just as impressive with Eli Manning throwing for 277 yards, 3 tds and no interceptions. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 155 yards on the ground while Hakeem Nicks led all receivers with 6 catches totaling 115 yards and 2 tds, one of which was a beautiful 72 yard catch and run that essentially put the game out of reach in the 3rd quarter.

The next step for the Giants in their quest to return to the Super Bowl was a visit to Lambeau Field and the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. New York was even more impressive in dispatching the 15-1 Packers by a 37-20 final score. Manning continued to prove that he really does deserve to be mentioned in discussions concerning the league’s elite quarterbacks; Little Manning completed 21 of his 33 attempted passes for 330 yards, 3 tds and 1 interception. Manning’s most effective target was, again, Hakeem Nicks who took his 7 catches for 165 yards and 2 tds, including an improbable 37 yard Hail Mary at the end of the first half to take a 20-10 lead into the locker room. Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham combined for another 8 receptions, 105 yards and one touchdown. The running game did not have the same kind of numbers they had against Atlanta in the wild card round did pick up some key first downs throughout the game to sustain long drives. For the first time all season the Green Bay offense was kept under control for the majority of the game. Aaron Rogers looked like a good quarterback instead of the untouchable we saw most of the season. Rogers rushed for more yards, 66, that any other player had rushing or receiving. The Packers fumbled three times under the relentless pressure from the New York defense, add the interception thrown by Rogers and last year’s champs are headed to the first tee box early.

In the NFC Championship game the Giants faced the 13-3 San Francisco 49ers for the 8th time since 1981, when Joe Montana led the Niners to the first Super Bowl championship. This game held up to the history of great games played by these two teams, with New York winning on a 31 yard Lawrence Tynes field goal in overtime. Vernon Davis picked right up where he left off in the divisional round game where he put together a 7 catch 180 yard performance that also included two touchdowns and numerous clutch catches. Davis took an Alex Smith pass 73 yards for the game’s first score in the first quarter. The Giants responded in the second quarter with two 10 play drives, the first was a 69 yard TD drive capped by a six yard Manning to Bear Pascoe pass. Later in the second Lawrence Tynes kicked a 31 yard field goal to finish off the 51 yard drive. To open the second half the Niners, again, opened the scoring with a 28 yard touchdown to Vernon Davis. The two defenses tightened up again, neither team scored again until Niners punt returner Kyle Williams inexplicably allowed a Steve Weatherford punt to glance off of his leg. Seemingly the only person on the field to notice the ball was still live, Jacquian Williams, picked up the ball and ran it in to the end zone. After review it was decided that the ball did hit K Williams in the leg and the Giants took possession of the ball at the San Fran 29. Six plays later the Giants were in the end zone as a result of a 17 yard Manning to Manningham pass. The Niners responded with a 48 yard drive to get David Akers in range for a 29 yard field goal to tie the game up at 17-17 with 2:55 left in regulation. Neither team was able to do much with the ball on their first possessions of overtime. After the Giants stalled out on their first OT drive, Weatherford punted to Kyle Williams again who gave up the ball again with Jacquian Williams making the recovery, this time at the 49ers 24. The Giants gained 11 yards on five plays to set up Tynes for the game winning 31 yard boot.



Path to the Super Bowl New England:

The New England Patriots won the AFC East and the top seed with a 13-3 record. The Pats cruised through their season without beating a team that finished with more wins than losses. It is a good thing that most of their opponents did not have a winning record with how the defense was playing most of the season. A good college team would have scored regularly on what New England called a defense. What most did not notice, while the offense was putting up consistently big numbers the defense was showing improvement week by week. In the divisional round, Denver, led by Tim Tebow, invaded Foxboro. The Patriots showed the Broncos what play off football is all about, driving 80 yards in 1:51 on the opening drive. Wes Welker gave the Pats the first score on that drive with a 7 yard reception. The Pats scored again at the 6:42 mark. Denver did not give up; Willis McGahee scored six seconds in to the second quarter to cut the New England lead to seven. In the grand scheme of things all Denver did was avoid a shut out with the McGahee tally, New England went on to score three times, two by Rob Gronkowski, in the second quarter to take a commanding 35-7 half time lead. The second half, comparatively talking, was fairly uneventful with more of the Patriots controlling every aspect of the game outscoring Denver 10-3 to wrap up a 45-10 route. All world tight end, Rob Gronkowski led all receivers with 145 yards on ten grabs and three touchdowns. The Patriots, also, showed a look they had not shown to this point in the season. Aaron Hernandez ran the ball five times for 61 yards to lead the Patriots in rushing. The numbers are a bit skewed by a 43 yard run, but it was an unexpected look none the less. In the AFC Championship Game the AFC North champ Baltimore Ravens were looking to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2000 season. Tom Brady showed something that we are very unaccustomed to seeing from him…he is human! Brady missed, badly, on quite a few passes and threw two interceptions before driving the Pats down the field and scoring on a one yard dive play with 3:31 left in the game. The offensive leaders for New England were Benjarvis Green-Ellis who ran for 68 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker had receptions totaling 87, 66, and 53 yards respectively. The much maligned Patriots defense played their second consecutive strong playoff game, Pro Bowler Ray Rice was held to 67 yards on 21 carries and no touchdowns. The Ravens were able to pass on the Pats with Joe Flacco, and his Fu Manchu, throwing for 306 yards and two TDs. Anquan Boldin had a game high 101 yards receiving and rookie Torrey Smith had 82 yards and a touchdown.

Surprise Performer, New York:

WR Mario Manningham; the Patriots defense has shown great improvement over the last eight weeks or so, but they have not faced an offense like the Giants since…well since the Giants. In the week nine Giants victory Hakeem Nicks did not play, and Manningham only caught three balls for 33 yards, but did get into the end zone once. Hakeem Nicks has really taken asserted himself thus far in the play offs, the Patriots will do everything to keep Nicks and fellow WR Victor Cruz under control. This should leave plenty of opportunities for Manningham to cash in on. Manningham only has 116 yards in three playoff games, but he has scored one touchdown every game.



Surprise performer, New England:

WR Wes Welker; it is tough to really call Welker a surprise performer, but record setting TE, Rob Gronkowski, has been getting all the press. First it was Gronk’s assault on the record books, now it is whether his ankle will be healthy enough for him to be effective. It is no secret how dominant the Giants pass rush has been Welker could be the best counter to the Giants front four getting to Tom Brady. Welker need to get separation off the line giving Brady a quick outlet to avoid the rush. If successful, Welker could be in for a huge day.




Key matchup for New York:

The Giants need to pressure Brady from their front four. In order to do that the secondary and linebackers will need to lock up the Patriots receivers, while keeping an eye in the back field for delayed hand offs and screen passes.




Key matchup for New England:

The Giants led the NFL in pass plays over 40 yards with 18. The top three wide outs for New York, Nicks, Cru z, and Manningham, are averaging 15.9 yards per catch. Most of the big plays turned in by Giants wide outs are short to mid range completions that were long runs after the catch. New England must make the tackles as soon as the catch is made.




Key Injuries New York:

Ahmad Bradshaw

Status: Probable
Position: Running Back

Bradshaw (foot) was a limited practice participant Thursday.


Hakeem Nicks

Status: Probable
Position: Wide Reciever

Nicks (shoulder) was a full participant Thursday.










Key Injuries New England:
Rob Gronkowsi
Status: Questionable
Position: Tight End

Gronkowski (high ankle sprain) practiced Thursday



And the winner is….

I think we are in for a real treat this year. With as many players that are still on both teams from their first Super Bowl clash in 2007 and the fact that New England and New York played in the preseason and regular season, these teams know each other well. I think the game will be decided on the sideline as much as on the field. In game adjustments are always an important part of the game, but this game will be a chess match.

This game is full of headline worthy questions, how will New England contain the Giants wide outs? Can the Giants front four keep pressure on Brady? Will Gronkowski be able to go? Can the Giants run the ball consistently enough to keep Manning upright? Can Brand and Belichick win a post spy gate Super Bowl? Is Eli Manning really an elite quarterback? I could go on and on.

I feel that when all is said and done Eli Manning will raise another Lombardi in the house his brother built. New York 35 New England 31