Why Patriots will win Super Bowl
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Wes Welker is often open when the pressure is on Tom Brady
Looking around the net, it seems obvious that everyone is picking the Patriots to win the Super Bowl.
Time to get to work and break it down.
Foxsports.com had all 11 sports analysts pick the game and 10 out of 11 picked the New England Patriots to triumph.
Interestingly enough, they list the game as Giants vs. Patriots, maybe an alphabet thing or something.
My pick is the Patriots, as well.
But geez, nothing would make me happier than being wrong. My wife says that being wrong is pretty much easy for me. Maybe she is picking the Giants.
Wait, maybe she is on to something. If we could figure out how the Giants could win, maybe we would know why most of the world thinks the Patriots will win.
Does that make any sort of convoluted sense?
For today’s expert we turn to Michael David Smith of Fox Sports.com. Michael will give us 5 keys for the Giants to win this game.
Your intrepid author’s comments will be in italics.
1. Eli Manning has to continue his mistake-free playoff run
After a regular season in which he threw 20 interceptions in 16 games, Manning has zero interceptions in three playoff games. Manning is making wise decisions — including throwing the ball away and taking sacks when nothing is open — in a way that he too often failed to do during the regular season and, for that matter, during his entire NFL career. source
Ok, this one is obvious. Tom Brady is a way better QB than Eli Manning. Eli has to stay out of his own way for the Giants to win. Add in that Tom Brady has to have a rare off game.
2. The Giants’ running game must produce
…the good news for the Giants is they have a weapon at their disposal that they lacked the first time they played the Patriots. Rookie running back Ahmad Bradshaw, a speedy, shifty runner who has been the Giants’ leading rusher during the playoffs, was injured and missed the regular-season matchup. A couple of big plays from Bradshaw — along with some tough runs from starting running back Brandon Jacobs — could turn the game in the Giants’ favor.
The running game made the difference in the frigid Green Bay game. At minus 24 degrees wind chill it may have been ok for Brett Favre, but his receivers could not hold on to the ball. Problem with that is the weather in Arizona will not be minus 24 degree wind chill. Still, if the Giants have any hope of moving the ball on offense, the running game will be paramount.
3. Hit Tom Brady early and hit him often
When Brady has time to sit back, scan the field, and wait for one of his receivers to get open, he’s lethal. If the Giants can hit him — and do so without having to rush so many players that they leave some of the Patriots’ receivers open — that’s the best way to stop him.
Yeah, hit his ankle on the high ankle sprain. Just kidding. The rush and subsequent stoppage of running plays has been the strength of the Giants and must continue. Tom Brady seems to see Wes Welker, Lawrence Maroney, and Ben Watson when the rush closes down. This puts a lot of pressure on the linebackers.
4. Focus on Randy Moss
Breakdowns like that just can’t happen in the Super Bowl. The Giants can’t let up against Moss and can’t let him get deeper than the deepest player in their secondary, even if it means they give up a lot of short passes to other receivers.
Oddly, more than one team has stopped Randy Moss and still lost to the Patriots. Probable because of too much wasted manpower stopping Moss. It would help the Giants to keep Moss in front of them. Have watched Randy get deep on my Lions with ease time after time since the beginning of his career. It is a back breaker.
5. Make plays on special teams
All it takes is one blocked punt, one botched snap, one missed tackle, and the whole game can change.
Guess when you say you have 5 things you have to list 5 things. Yeah, turnovers could make the difference, but the Patriots hardly make any, so don’t count on it.
Hmm, it seems after all this information, your gallivanting author will stick with the Patriots to win.
NFL Football Fan Question Are switching to the New York Giants?
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POSTED IN: Eli Manning, NFL Playoffs, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Predictions, Randy Moss, Super Bowl, Tom Brady
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