In a year filled with sequels and remakes, it seems only fitting that this year’s Superbowl will be a sequel as well. This Sunday the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will be playing each other for Superbowl 46 in Indianapolis.
The teams will finally have a rematch to the epic championship game they played just four years ago.
A lot has changed since then, and what four years ago was a David and Goliath story has now become a battle of two evenly-matched teams.
The Patriots are led by two-time Superbowl MVP Tom Brady and an elite passing attack. They finished the season as the top
team in the AFC, with a 13-3 record and the number one seed.
“The Patriots are consistent,” Eastern Michigan head football coach Ron English said. “They are ready to play and are very professional every game… all about business”
Though not the undefeated juggernaut from the previous game, the Patriots limp into the playoffs. Just barely beating the Baltimore Ravens on a last-second missed field goal sent the Patriots to the big one.
Brady was far from spectacular in the AFC championship game, throwing two interceptions, and openly said after the game on
CBS, “I sucked pretty badly today, but our defense saved us.”
The New York Giants were far from elite in the regular season. Led by another Superbowl MVP, Eli Manning, the Giants struggled throughout the season.
Amid their coach, Tom Coughlin, being on the hot seat, an injury ridden defense and doubts of whether Eli Manning was an elite quarterback, the Giants made a late season push to make it into the playoffs with a record of only 9-7.
“The Giants are tough, they are New Yorkers, they have overcome adversity this year,” English said. “They were 7-7 at one point in the season and then won the next 5 games to get to the Super bowl.”
The Patriots have been picked as a three-point favorite to win the game, but Coach English thought otherwise in his prediction.
“I like Eli, he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and I also like Brady because he doesn’t make mistakes either… What I like better though is the Giants’ defensive front four,” English said. “I am picking the New York football Giants”
More than the Lombardi trophy is at stake in this year’s game. The legacies of two quarterbacks are at stake.
Will Brady tie Joe Montana’s record of four Superbowl wins or will Eli Manning stop him again and surpass brother Peyton’s Superbowl win total?
A key factor of the game is Brady’s favorite target, tight end Rob Gronkowski, who broke records at his position this year, has a high ankle sprain and is unlikely to play. Without its best receiver playing and the Giants’ pass rush breathing down its neck, the Giants will be stopping the Patriots yet again.
Prediction: Giants 28 Patriots 21
Don’t miss Superbowl Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on NBC.
