The rematch. Rob Gronkowski's ankle. Julian Edelman playing cornerback, Victor Cruz saying he'll toast him. Tom Brady looking to cement his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Eli Manning trying to surpass his older brother Peyton Manning in terms of Super Bowl wins, something few thought would ever happen based on their talent. The New York Giants look to win their second Super Bowl in five years. The New England Patriots seek revenge against the Giants, who ended the Pats' chances of ending the regular season and playoffs with an unblemished record in 2007.
The build-up to this Super Bowl has certainly been full of story lines and excitement (much more than last year's nonstop coverage of whether Doug Legursky would be able to successfully replace the injured Maurkice Pouncey). This game is one of the most hyped and anticipated Super Bowls in history.
From the Patriots perspective, much uncertainty revolves around the offense because of Gronk's ankle sprain(high ankle sprain to be specific, thank you Mr. Gronkowski). With a healthy Gronk, the Patriots are nearly impossible to stop. He is an absolute force, as he catches everything thrown to him then typically proceeds to break multiple tackles on his way to the end zone. Once there, he spikes the ball with enough force to drill a hole in the ground. If Gronk is out or even limited, the Patriots will have their work cut out for them. However, they'll still have Tom Brady, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Another key for the Patriots will be pass protection; the Giants are known for their pass rush, and if the Pats O-Line can give Tom Brady enough time, he'll find the open man.
When you look at the Giants, two key areas are especially impressive: the passing game, and the defensive line. Eli has proven this year that you cannot spell "Elite" without "Eli," as he has rifled the ball through tight windows to his receivers all year long. As long as he continues to be decisive with the football, the Giants will be in good shape. On defense, the G-Men are led by their stacked D-Line. Jason Pierre-Paul (JPP) has been playing like a monster, and Justin Tuck and crew have been dominant as well. If the Giants can put pressure on Tom Brady, it would go a long way toward ensuring a victory. Brady is not mobile, and if you collapse the pocket on him his only choice will be to throw the ball away.
I think this game will be another classic, although it probably won't live up to the David Tyree drama of the last Super Bowl meeting between these teams simply because that game was one of the greatest ever. As a Packer fan, I have no rooting interest either way, so my prediction is relatively unbiased. I predict the final score will be 34-27, with the Giants hoisting the Lombardi trophy Sunday night.
Share YOUR predictions and keys to the game in the comments section below!
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