During the regular season, the New England Patriots averaged 11 offensive possessions per game. They averaged three points per possession, which yielded their league leading 33 points per game average.When the Patriots (16-0, 1st AFC East) played the New York Giants, their Super Bowl XLII opponent, during the last week of the regular season, the Patriots totaled 38 points over nine possessions (not including end of half and end of game possessions). New England scored on all but two of its possessions, but surprisingly, nearly lost.
New York (10-6, 2nd NFC East) held a 28-16 lead in the third quarter.
Obviously, the Giants were doing some things right early on, but they just couldn’t handle the adjustments coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots made late in the game. They were outscored 22-7 from that point.
No modern day NFL defense has the ability to stop quarterback Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriot offense, so the Giants’ offense must slow them down. Brandon Jacobs and New York’s running game will be the key when the teams meet again February 3 in Glendale, Arizona.
Jacobs, who rushed for 67 yards when the teams met the first time, must keep Brady and Co. on the bench with his legs. In order to keep his offense on the field, the 6’4″, 264-pound running back needs to touch the ball regularly and average at least four yards per carry. If the Giants can accumulate about three to four first downs every time they get the ball, they will limit the amount of chances Tom Brady will have to find his favorite target, NFL single season touchdown receptions record holder, Randy Moss.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning must play mistake free if he plans to end New England’s bid at perfection. Manning has a 62.4 completion percentage, a quarterback rating of 99.1, and most importantly, zero interceptions thrown in three games this postseason. This is far from the inexperienced, sloppy Eli we’ve seen over the course of his four seasons in the NFL. Perhaps things are changing for the former No. 1 overall draft pick.
If Manning revisits his old habits of forcing throws and holding the ball too long, New England’s veteran defense will surely take advantage of his mistakes.
There are few quarterback, running back, wide receiver trios in the league better than Manning, Jacobs, and Plaxico Burress. Unfortunately, the Giants will face the best in Brady, Laurence Maroney, and Moss, and it will be too much for them to overcome.
Expect a back-and-forth, tightly played contest in the first half, until mastermind Belichick has a chance to make his halftime adjustments, similar to the first game. The Patriots will come out and be the dominant second half team they’ve been all season. The Patriots’ change of play will take the tempo out of the Giants’ hand and push Eli to force plays and make mistakes, leading to the Patriots eating up the clock in the fourth quarter.
New England will take home its fourth Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy in the last seven seasons, with a 37-24 victory.