Super Bowl XL-Deuce

Well, it’s David vs. Goliath in the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots are currently 18-0 (the first team ever to achieve that feat) and are looking to cap off the perfect season this Sunday when they play the New Yawk Football Giants. There has been only 1 undefeated season in the history of the NFL (1972 Dolphins) but that team was no where near as dominant as the Patriots have been this year. Everything from their coaching, to their players, to their philosophy, to their mental toughness just screams champion. NE is the best team in the league, hands down…and could be for years to come. Nothing more needs to be said about them.

However, I don’t think the Giants will be intimidated by the greatness of the Patriots. Their confidence level is sky high after they won playoff games in Dallas and Green Bay. Even though Dallas and GB beat the Giants pretty good during the regular season the Giants seemed unphased by that and got their revenge when it counted. So I don’t think the G-Men put too much stock in the 3 point loss to New England the final game of their season. Plus, NY knows they can play with NE. If Eli didn't throw that INT in the 4th quarter of that game, who knows how it would have turned out.

To win, the Giants have to continue doing what they have in the playoffs in effectively running the ball and committing no turnovers. Eli has yet to throw in interception in the playoffs and was impressive in the NFC Championship game vs. Green Bay. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have proved to be a formidable running back tandem but they both are going to have to bring their “A” game.

I think it will be a tough game (as the previous one was) and could come down to the last series and/or snap just as the Dallas and GB games did; I will be a little surprised if the game is a blowout. And, I've said all season that I think somewhere, someway, somehow the Patriots are going to lose 1 game...even if it's the Super Bowl. I can’t back off that now.

I’m going out on a limb here…my gut says that the Giants are going to pull the upset. This goes against what I've always said and thought...that the better team usually wins. This may just be wishful thinking as I don't want to see any other team (other than Dallas) ever go undefeated. But, I may know nothing because I thought New Yawk would lose their previous 2 games against the Cowboys and the Packers.

However, the last Super Bowl that had a heavy favorite, like the Patriots this year, was in 2001 when the “Best Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams played the New England Patriots led by upstart rookie quarterback Tom Brady. No one, and I mean no one, gave the Patriots 2 shots in 10 to beat the Rams. Most thought the game would be a blowout, just like this year. However, the Patriots played a great game and ended up winning the Super Bowl on a last second field goal by Adam Vinatieri. Maybe the same good fortune will befall the Giants this year.

Prediction: Giants 27, Patriots 24