Super Bowl Rematch

Zack Jarrett
Phi Kappa Tau

There were two match-ups fans wanted to see in this year's Super Bowl: Ravens vs. 49ers ("The Brother Bowl") and Patriots vs. Giants ("The Grudge Rematch"). To my personal disappointment, we will be treated to the latter on Feb. 5.

John Harbaugh, coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and his brother and coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh, both suffered very tough losses in their respective championship games last week, crushing the chance of holding the first Super Bowl in which the opposing head coaches were brothers.

The Patriots earned a spot in this year's Super Bowl after earning the number one seed in the AFC with a terrific regular season. In the divisional round, they destroyed Tebow and the "Long Shot" Broncos. And last weekend, Billy Cundiff (kicker for the Baltimore Ravens) handed the Patriots their 7th Super Bowl appearance and a chance at their 4th championship.

The Giants road to the Super Bowl was quite the opposite of the Patriots. A decent regular season, which included a huge 4th quarter comeback win over New England, left New York in control of their own destiny with a win-or-go-home situation in their final game against the Cowboys. With the win, they finally solidified first place in the NFC's eastern division. They entered the playoffs as a 4 seed and proceeded to wipe the floor with Atlanta. In the divisional round, the Giants shocked the world when they took down the defending champion Packers. Finally, last week, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the New York Giants toppled the younger of the Harbaugh brothers in their overtime, thrilling victory against the 49ers.

This match-up of the Patriots and Giants will make for a very intriguing Super Bowl. It was just four years ago that these same teams met in the Super Bowl. That year (2008), the Giants arose the victors in what many people argue was the best Super Bowl in the history of the NFL. If that's true, then 2012 should play host to a new greatest Super Bowl of all time.

What made the 2008 Super Bowl so amazing? Well, the 2008 Super Bowl was also a grudge match of sorts. The final game of the regular season that year was between the Patriots and the Giants. The Patriots were 15-0 coming into the game and pulled off a tight 38-35 victory giving them the first perfect regular season since the 1972 Dolphins. Of course, the Patriots continued their winning streak through the playoffs, until the Giants showed up again. Super Bowl XLII in 2008 was a rematch of an intense regular season match in which the Giants won to end a perfect season for New England and got their just revenge in the form of a Super Bowl ring.

This year, we get to witness the rematch of the rematch of the grudge match. Excluding the first ever "Brother Bowl," what could be more exciting than that?!

The early favorite for this year's rematch is of course the Patriots. They were in 2008, and honestly, I think they are favored in almost every game they play. And while they are indeed good, the Giants are on a hot streak very reminiscent of a Packers team that won it all last year.

Whether the Patriots finally close the deal or the Giants pull off another upset, one thing is for certain: this Super Bowl will definitely be talked about for years to come, and the winner will have bragging rights for at least one more year.

Zack is a sophomore studying pre-journalism and advertising. You may contact him at z40478@uga.edu.