It should be an entertaining Super Bowl on Sunday, and not just for the commercials or halftime show (Tom Petty) this time around either. It's the undefeated New England Patriots trying to seal the historical deal at 19-0 against a New York Giants team that'll be doing all it can to pull off the greatest Super Bowl upset since Joe Willie and the Jets upended Don Shula's Colts in Super Bowl III.
Without any question, the Giants have earned their way into this game. Playoff road triumphs over Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay showed a lot of grit and determination. QB Eli Manning is taking great care of the football and making the key throws when he has to. Tailbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have provided a great power/speed combo out of the backfield while WR Plaxico Burress dominated All-Pro CB Al Harris in the NFC Title Game.
I'll admit it: when TE Jeremy Shockey went down with a broken leg, I didn't think there was any chance New York would win a playoff game, let alone get this far. But head coach Tom Coughlin has done a phenomenal job of keeping his team together, and they've definitely responded. DEs Osi Umeniorya and Michael Strahan are as good a pass-rushing combo as there is in the NFL right now. Justin Tuck brings a lot of speed from his hybrid LB slot as well.
On the flip, New England was planning on being here all along. The addition of WR Randy Moss lifted QB Tom Brady's game to an even higher level this year, and they both shattered single season TD marks in catches and throws. RB Laurence Maroney has come on late in the year and the defense is still rugged and veteran with the likes of Mike Vrabel, Ted Bruschi, Richard Seymour and Asante Samuel making most of the big plays when it counts.
Prediction: Eli Manning has been a great story in the playoffs, but the carnival ride ends in Arizona. Bill Belichick is just too good a coach to have his team anything other than motivated and ready to roll by the time they kick this one off.
Game: New England 34 - New York 24
MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots
This win puts both Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on the short lists of discussion for greatest coach and quarterback of all time.
-JAB
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