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February 02, 2012
Giants-Pats Set for Round 2, and Football Fans Can't Wait
As someone who has struggled with the difficulty of being a New Yorks Giants fan living in Wisconsin, the current situation has been much more pleasant than the past. The Giants are in the midst of a run through the playoffs that has any Giants fan enduring memories of 2007, with hopes of seeing Brady and Belichick sheepishly walk off in the same fashion as that unforgettable Super Bowl. With the regular season finishing with a Jets win over Cowboys and #1 seeded Packers and #2 49ers in their building, any Giants fan in Madison would be overjoyed. This article is not meant to gloat about the Giants beating the Packers along the way, but rather provide a preview to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis that should cap an unforgettable playoff for the NFL. The New England Patriots themselves have had a great season to get here as well. With their strong regular season behind Tom Brady, they coasted to a #1 seed where they got a bye and home field advantage. After embarrassing the always-exciting enigma named Tim Tebow, they defeated the Ravens in a classic game with an underwhelming performance. Brady wasn’t his best by any stretch, and it took a dropped Lee Evans touchdown and a missed chip shot field goal by Billy Cundiff to clinch their berth. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how difficult it may have been - a win is a win, and in the playoffs that’s all that counts. With these two teams set to clash in Indianapolis, it sets up a rematch of great proportions. The storylines for this game are endless with a rematch of Super Bowl 42; Eli trying to pass to his brother Peyton in Super Bowl victories in his own building, and Brady and Belichick trying to capture their elusive fourth Super Bowl, tying Brady with Montana and Bradshaw, Belichick with Chuck Noll, respectively for first all time. The magnitude of the game and the opportunity has fans from each side salivating at the prospects, analysts already growing with anticipation, and media members attempting to decipher all these storylines. But to the game itself, this will not only be a rematch of Super Bowl 42, but a rematch of week 10 - a Giants victory in Foxborough. It’s fair to say that both teams have grown since that time. From the Giants side, they are much healthier and playing with much higher confidence. With the return of Osi Umenyiora from injury and Justin Tuck playing like his old self, the Giants have re-discovered their fearsome pass-rush which will give any opposing offensive coordinator nightmares. Eli Manning continues to play at an elite level as he has done all year, and the emergence of Victor Cruz along with Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham has allowed the Giants to develop an aerial tack that rivals anyone in football. On the flipside, the Patriots have matured and grown as well since that matchup. Although they boast the 31st ranked defense in football, the defense has continued to improve throughout the year. Furthermore, allowing two weeks for Belichick to scout any opposing offense always presents a difficult challenge. And then, of course, is the presence of Tom Brady and his passing attack. With Rob Gronkowski shattering tight end records left and right this season, the always dangerous Wes Welker, and “number two” tight end Aaron Hernandez, who still hauled in 79 balls this season, will all present a great challenge to the Giants secondary. It will be interesting to see how the Giants specifically handle Gronkowski, as 49ers tight end Vernon Davis gave the Giants fits in the NFC Championship game. This game couldn’t have any more elements to it that a football fan won’t crave. It will be dissected for the two weeks, growing with anticipation with so many questions to be answered. As a Giants fan, I can’t wait. There are no predictions from me, no guarantees of anything, but rather feelings of cautious optimism. Confident how we're playing, but more importantly, understanding of the difficult challenge ahead. I’m lucky enough to be of only two fan bases remaining that have a football game left to be played. As a Giants fan in Packer nation, that will likely be received with disgust, as Packer fans believe they should be the ones playing. But that’s how sports go, and that's why we tune in every day. There is no denying that this playoff month has been one of the best of recent memory. From Tebow over Pittsburgh, to San Francisco over New Orleans, to both games this past championship weekend, these playoffs have provided thriller after thriller, tense moment after tense moment. There is no reason this Super Bowl shouldn’t be the same. So to all football fans, have fun Super Bowl weekend, as the multiple storylines and questions are answered in likely dramatic fashion. As for me, it will be a culmination of a long tense and thrilling season of football, hopefully ending in an unforgettable finish.
DJ is a senior studying accounting, risk management and |
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