Let me set the record straight: When the New England Patriots and the New York Giants meet this Sunday in Arizona for Super Bowl XLII, I will be sitting on my couch, with my New York Yankees hat on, rooting for the Giants to pull off the upset.
That said, I’m picking the Pats to finish off their historic and legendary undefeated season at 19-0, with their fourth Vince Lombardi trophy in the last seven years.
Call me a chowder-loving, suspected cheater-apologizing, angry Irish-Bostonian bandwagoner if you wish.
I don’t care. Like I have said many times before: I just pick winners baby.
And as the Patriots have proved more than any team in the history of the NFL, they know a little something about winning games.
From top to bottom, the Patriots are superior in all aspects of the game, with maybe the sole exception of the defensive line.
But other than that, the Patriots are the better team.
Start with the quarterbacks: Tom Brady vs. Eli Manning. Hmm. Who would you pick?
My answer might be different if it was another Manning under center, but it’s not so I’m taking Brady.
I know that Eli Manning has begun to shed his “awe-shucks, I eerily remind people of Eeyore” image and grown into a clubhouse leader. I know Manning’s ridiculous numbers that he has put up in the postseason (he completed 62 percent of his passes for 602 yards, 4 touchdowns, and zero interceptions). But he is still only in his fourth season in the league and has never been to the Super Bowl.
Compare that with Brady (three Super Bowls, two Super Bowl MVPs) and it’s not only an easy choice; it’s laughable. Also, let’s not forget that Brady set the record for touchdown passes in a single season at 50 and orchestrated the highest scoring offense in NFL history, scoring a total 589 points.
Now, people will point to the infamous video of Brady walking through the streets of New York with a protective boot on his right foot and cry out that Brady is injured and might not play. I’m not buying it. Maybe he was making a fashion statement. Hey, maybe if I wear a protective boot, I can get a girl like Gisele.
Another matchup of interest is the wide receivers, and again the advantage goes to the Pats. Sure Randy Moss has been next to nonexistent so far in the postseason, but give the guy a break. He spent the first part of his career in the protective confines of a dome in Minnesota, and then spent two years in Oakland. He’s not used to playing in cold weather. And Foxborough isn’t exactly California is it?
And so the No. 1 reason that the record holder for most touchdown receptions in a single season (23) will break out of his current funk: the game is played in Arizona. In a stadium that has a retractable roof no less. The warm temperatures and fast surface will play to Moss’ strength ““ his speed.
And even if Moss doesn’t have a good game, then Brady has Wes Welker, Donté Stallworth, and Jabar Gaffney to make up for it.
Finally, the only place where the Giants might have an advantage: the front seven. The Giants have an unbelievable front seven and have an uncanny ability to get to the quarterback. And I should know. After all, I saw Osi Umenyiora steamroll over my beloved Philadelphia Eagles for six sacks.
However, the Pats offensive line is one of, if not, the best units in the league. During the regular season, they gave up a measly 21 sacks. For comparison, the San Francisco 49ers gave up 55. In other words, the Patriots protect Brady like I protect my peanut butter sandwiches: very well.
And one more note: Have you ever seen grass stains on Brady’s jersey?
I think not.
PATRIOTS 31 GIANTS 17. Yahtzee!