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As we inch closer and closer to the big game, sports networks continue to pump out new and different narratives to quench our undying need for important football information, and nothing is more important than the Super Bowl.
At least, that’s what they tell the advertisers.
However, over the weekend an interesting narrative came out, saying the New England Patriots weren’t out for revenge for the Super Bowl XLII loss to the New York Giants, which, in case you forgot, thwarted the Pats’ chance at immortality in the form of a perfect season.
Why not?
Before I rant about how much I want revenge for the obnoxious calls from my Giants-loving uncle, let me first say I don’t believe for a second that the last Super Bowl meeting between the two teams won’t be a motivator for vengeance for the Patriots this time around.
Eight members of the Patriots players remain from that Super Bowl XLII team and a number of them have said they still can’t watch highlights from that game.
So saying you’re not out for revenge while also admitting that after a game like that, “there’s an awful feeling in your stomach for a lot of years,” as Tom Brady said to WEEI, may seem contradictory.
But you just need to think about things in a Belichick-ian manner.
When doing that, my thinking is this: Revenge has a negative connotation to it, implying someone will lose focus of all things rash to seek vengeance. Patriots coach Bill Belichick wants to keep his players emotionally stable heading into the biggest rematch in NFL history — not running around like Thomas Jane in “The Punisher.”
As a side note, I also believe Belichick doesn’t want to play up the 2008 Super Bowl loss to his entire team, as there are only eight members remaining from that squad — but I wholeheartedly believe he will call those eight players into a secret meeting and tell them to be exactly like Thomas Jane in “The Punisher” after all.
Anyway, when examining the Giants’ offensive attack against the Patriots’ defense, there’s one big difference: The Patriots lack that defensive quality that puts them on par with the Giants, such as the Giants’ pass rush.
The Pats’ defense is bend-but-don’t-break, one that gives up a lot of yards — second-most in the NFL — but not a lot of points, as their 21.4 points allowed is less than a point from the top 10. However, it’s never a good model to have, because if you bend something enough, it will break.
If there’s one thing the Patriots’ defense possesses, it’s a high turnover ratio. While it’s partially skewed because of Brady’s low interception total and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis never fumbling, the Pats were third in the league with 23 interceptions and third in turnover ratio, behind the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers — two teams the Giants beat on their way to the Super Bowl.
The Giants have made it this far for that exact reason: don’t play into the strength of the defense. In three playoff games, the Giants have forced six turnovers while committing one of their own.
During the season when offenses like New Orleans, New England and Green Bay were being hailed as the greatest offenses ever, the Giants were forming a formidable offensive threat of their own. Quarterback Eli Manning threw for a career-high 4,933 yards and completed over 61 percent of his passes to a reloaded receiving core stronger than the one the Patriots faced in 2008.
Giants receiver Victor Cruz salsa-ed his way to stardom by breaking the Giants’ franchise record in yards for a wide receiver, finishing with 1,536 yards on 82 catches. Flanking him is Hakeem Nicks, who finished with 1,193 yards on 76 catches and, along with Cruz, creates one of four duos with over 1,000 yards receiving — New England had a duo, too.
The Giants’ running game was the most putrid in the league during the regular season, finishing dead last in yards and yards per carry. However, the combination of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw turned the burners up during the playoffs, moving their yards per carry from 3.5 in the regular season to 4.2 in the playoffs.
The Patriots’ defense was able to control the run game in the regular season, and that has only stepped up in the playoffs, facing two vaunted rushing attacks in the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. The Pats held the Broncos to 3.6 yards per carry while equally stifling Ray Rice and the Ravens.
It’s the passing game where the Patriots’ defense falters. If Manning can take care of the ball and keep the Patriots’ offense off the field, he can repeat his miraculous performance in 2008.
Bangor Daily News