Who will win it all and why? The New England Patriots face the New York Giants.
Everyone said the Patriots couldn't beat tbe Ravens unless Brady had a good game. All the QB stats from the game show Flacco played better. The Ravens played better defense. The Pats ended up with more points on the board. Both teams dropped TD passes. Ravens could not pressure Brady. Patriots had good success running the ball. It was an odd game. The bottomline is the Pats walked away with the W.
As far as the SB goes, I'll have more later.
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SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
Well Random you and I have matched picks through the Divisional Round and the Conference Championships, but I have a feeling that we won't have the same picks for the Super Bowl...
It's still early, so maybe I will change my mind, but for now I'm going with the Giants. First I have to say that the Giants are yet again coming into this one hot (even more so than a few years ago) - look at who they've beaten to get here: Atlanta, Green Bay, San Francisco. Now look at who the Pats have beaten: Tebow and his lowly Broncos, and then barely escaping with a win against Baltimore (whose defense is overrated and QB has been slammed by the media).
The second point is, which is the more complete team? Eli has had a superb year, he has made the argument that he is at least comparable to Peyton much more valid, he should be able to pick apart the Pats secondary. If you factor in how well Eli has done in the playoffs, the gap between him and the Pats passing game really isn't as big as you'd think. The problem for New England is that the passing game is really their only clear strength. At spots where New York has struggled at times in the regular season - defense (especially pass rush) and the running game, they have pulled it together in the postseason.
Bottom line, if Eli keeps it up and Brady isn't at the top of his game come kickoff, the Pats will be hard pressed to win.
[SAS] VET WEST
SQUADRON SERGEANT MAJOR (RET.)
22nd [SAS] E.V.R. - Who Dares Wins
I like all your points West.
I don't really have anything good to go on, seeing how I don't really even watch sports, but I base my vote solely on the fact that I watched the Giants play today. I guess it's not fair to vote for Pats just because I didn't see them play badly, but I still feel that guessing is an adequate way to predict the winner anyway ;P
I want Patriots to win, NE for the win
Voted Patriots
[SAS]_Vet_Ade Veteran (Vet) 22nd Elite Virtual Regiment.
You say the Giants are coming in hot. The Patriots have won 10 games in a row. The last time they lost was Nov 6th against the Giants in Foxboro. You would really have to look back in time to find the last time the Patriots lost to the same team in the same year. Advantage? Who knows?
In that Nov 6th match-up, Manning threw for 250 yards while Brady threw for 352 yards. While you may think the Giants won the ground battle, keep in mind that the Patriots rushed for 106 yards while the Giants rushed for...wait is that right? The Giants rushed for 111 yards. Bradshaw did miss the regular season match-up and he will be a factor for the Patriots defense to deal with. Whose defense is better?? Advantage?? Who knows?
If you compare passing games, the Patriots threw for 5084 yards in the regular season compared with the Giants 4734. Which isn't a big difference, but when you look at scoring, it's another matter entirely. The Patriots scored 61 TDs and 28 FG this season compared to 47 TDs and 20 FGs for the Giants. If you factor in points allowed, which is an even bigger factor when comparing defenses, the Patriots allowed 40 TDs while the Giants defense surrendered 46. Whose defense is gets picked apart more? Advantage?? Who knows?
As far as the post-season goes, the Giants have had a rougher road to the Super Bowl without a doubt. They are certainly on their game right now and should play a tough game in two weeks. The defense against the pass rush isn't a huge factor for the Patriots offense because they have a tremendous offensive line and two huge TEs; not to mention that you need to be super fast up front to beat the shotgun or the 3 step drops and 5 yard patterns of the NE offense.
I bet the Giants have more bumps and bruises having played 3 post-season games against stiffer competition than the Patriots. Gronkowski did roll his ankle, but he returned to the game and certainly I don't expect him to miss this next game! The two weeks between now and the Super Bowl will be put to good use by both teams resting, healing, planning, etc. I just think the Giants have more resting and healing required than the Patriots do. Advantage?? Who knows?
This should be a great game to watch. When I can't see a clear winner on paper, I'm forced to go with my home team.
Prediction 27-24 Patriots barely win Super Bowl LXVI.
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
GIANTS all the way
Patriots are traitors to the crown lol
SAS_Capt_Sniper
Head of Recruitment & Tactical Training
GCHQ - 22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
I think the new team will win it
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
I have added some analysis to my previous post. Have a look!
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
Valid point, however we can also look outside of the postseason if you want. Pats' regular season opponents this season are a combined 115-141 (.449). In their winning streak to end the regular season, their 8 opponents were 50-78 (.391). New England played just 2 winning teams in their entire 16 game schedule, both times they lost (Pittsburgh and New York). As for the Giants, their opponents totaled 133-123 (.520). But if you choose to ignore that, I think everyone can agree that the winner of the Super Bowl doesn't necessarily crown the team who has had the best year collectively, but rather the one that is getting hot at the right time.
As for their meeting earlier this season - well it all goes back to whether you think being on a 10-game winning streak (with only one opponent having a winning record) is more significant or having a rocky regular season but then going into the SB having beaten the NFL's best offense and the NFL's best defense (scoring-wise).
One thing is for sure though, it will be a great finish to a great season. Not guaranteeing a Giants win, but if I were to place a bet, New York would be my pick. Go Giants!
[SAS] VET WEST
SQUADRON SERGEANT MAJOR (RET.)
22nd [SAS] E.V.R. - Who Dares Wins
In the NFL, teams with winning records lose to teams who have losing records all the time--every week actually. It's what makes things unpredictable. Winning games and winning titles is what matters. Just look at the Giants. They are a wild card team. They didn't win any regular season title, yet they are in the Super Bowl. It proves that record doesn't matter, just like having an easier schedule doesn't really matter. The Patriots and Giants still had to win in the playoffs, where every team you play is a strong team. Besides, when you are at the top, everyone you play is someone you should beat. Every team loses games they should win. Every team wins games they are predicted to lose.
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
Pats will win. Brady has a lot of experience and the QB is your most important player in a SB. Furthermore, it's my only good bet since the beginning of the playoffs.
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
Sure, although that doesn't make it any more excusable. A team with a winning record should beat a team with a losing record.
Not saying the Giants were complete victims of a hard schedule or the Pats made it here off 100% luck thanks to an easy schedule, but you can't just dismiss that difference in their opponents' records, can you? After all, the postseason is seeded through regular season records is it not?
Anyways, I think this could be debated endlessly. Both sides obviously have things going for them...but something else that is quite interesting, is an ESPN Sportsnation Poll I saw asking which team will win SBXLVI, out of 344,261 votes so far, 50% for Pats (New England area & most of Midwest/West Coast) and 50% for Giants (Almost all of East Coast).
[SAS] VET WEST
SQUADRON SERGEANT MAJOR (RET.)
22nd [SAS] E.V.R. - Who Dares Wins
It should be a good game if both teams prepare properly.
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
I am sure that ill be asking JB for the rules just like every other year
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
The over/under for the game is currently at 56. Which, to me, looks like a good bet to take the under.
The game itself has the Patriots slightly favored at a -3.5 pts. I would have thought the Giants would be favored by 1 or 2 points, not the other way around.
I'll try to keep this thread going.
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
I would have liked to see the Patriots win so I could get another Super Bowl Championship hat and T-shirt, but I guess it wasn't to be.
I was accurate as hell in this post. If you took the under, you made money. I had the Giants favored by 2 points and they ended up winning by 4.
The Patriots gave up lots of yards and their average 21 points. Manning wasn't really stellar, he just got the expected results that the entire league got all year when facing New England.
This game was not won by the Giants as it was lost by the NE receivers. So many dropped balls and missed opportunities.
When NE had to punt with 4 minutes left in the game, I knew with 100% certainty that the game was lost. There was absolutely no way NE was going to stop NY from getting at least 3 points.
The only question was how much time Brady would have to try and answer the score, and if they would need more than just a field goal.
To preserve time on the clock, NE allowed NY to score a touchdown rather than possibly have the Giants score 2 or 3 plays later and give NE no time to work with.
Again, the NE receivers dropped many catchable balls. The Pats drive stalled and the hail Mary pass was tipped and skittered harmlessly to the ground past the outstretched fingertips of the gimped TE Gronkowski. Season over.
Giants win.
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
I mostly agree, the Pats defense probably did the best they could have hoped (up until Manningham's catch and the final Giants drive) - Brady's receivers were a major letdown for him, although I do think the Giants did a solid job themselves.
Eli completed 75% of his passes. He has completely silenced the naysayers by showing he is a true elite QB. He made a great throw to Manningham and it was a great year for him.
New York made what could have been two very costly mistakes on the fumbles, especially the Bradshaw fumble deep in New York's own territory - but the Pats failed to capitalize on either one.
I think the bottom line though - was that the Pats were just too one-dimensional. Tom Brady had to do everything, and in spite of a strong game from him it still wasn't enough. Brady couldn't stop his receivers from dropping the ball, he couldn't magically heal Gronk's ankle, he couldn't jump on those Giants fumbles, and he couldn't stop the Giants on their final offensive drive.
[SAS] VET WEST
SQUADRON SERGEANT MAJOR (RET.)
22nd [SAS] E.V.R. - Who Dares Wins