QUARTERBACK:
A year ago this one would have been easy, but after the season Eli Manning has had and the 4th quarter records he has broken this year...the gap has shrunk. Tom Brady is still Tom Brady, one of the greatest qb's to ever play the game...but is there anyone more clutch than Eli Manning? Going back to Super Bowl 42 when Eli led the game winning drive with 2:42 left in the 4th quarter against the Patriots, Eli has been one of if not the best 4th quarter qb in the NFL. 5 times this season, Eli led his team down the field and scored late touchdowns to win games and came close 3 other times. One of those wins was against these very same Patriots in week 9. To decide this one, I'm looking at how both qb's have played this post season. Eli has been near perfect in beating the Falcons, upsetting the Packers and outlasting the 49ers. Brady looked perfect against the Broncos then dialed up one of his worst post season performances against the Ravens.
Advantage: Draw
RUNNING BACK:
Neither team has run the ball that well this year, although the Giants run game has improved now that it has Ahmad Bradshaw back splitting carries with Brandon Jacobs. Benjarvis Green-Ellis isn't an every down back and teams dont have to account form him in the backfield like they do against the shifty Bradshaw and the punishing Jacobs.
Advantage: Giants
WIDE RECEIVER:
Biggest no brainer of the game...the Giants boast one of the best young receiving corps in the NFL. Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham are far and away better than their New England counterparts. Wes Welker is still a force and led the NFL in catches but after that you got an aging Deion Branch and Chad Ochocinco who has done absolutely nothing for the Patriots this year.
Advantage: Giants
TIGHT END:
Just as the Giants had a huge advantage at wideout, the Patriots enjoy an big advantage at tight end. Rob Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends in football (when healthy) and Aaron Hernandez is a #1 tight end in his own right. For the Giants, Jake Ballard has done a good job of helping Giants fans forget about Kevin Boss but he's been battling a knee injury for most of the second half of the season. Bear Pasco is capable of catching a pass or two but neither Giants TE measures up to the 2 guys in New England. The only good news here for the Giants is Gronkowski is nursing a high ankle sprain and will surely be limited in what he can do in the game, but the Giants still have to account for him on every play.
Advantage: Patriots
OFFENSIVE LINE:
Neither line has been overly impressive this season. The Giants protect the quarterback better but the Patriots open more running lanes.
Advantage: Draw
DEFENSIVE LINE:
The Giants possess the best defensive line in football, the Patriots do not. The G-Men can generate pressure just from their front four which boasts such sack machines as Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Pro Bowler Jason Pierre-Paul. They will employ the same defensive scheme that knock Brady on his ass over 20 times in Super Bowl 42. For the Patriots, only Vince Wilfork has stood out but this whole line will have to really step it up to match the pressure the Giants are going to unleash.
Advantage: Giants
LINEBACKERS:
Both linebacker corps boast young, fast, sure tacklers. Jacquian Williams and Michael Boley will have to have big games for the G-Men as they will be covering the New England TE's for most of the game. Give the slight edge to the Pats as their backers have played better as a group than the Giants.
Advantage:Patriots
SECONDARY:
The Patriots have given up more yards through the air than any other team this season. Bottom line, they don't have anyone who can cover Nicks, Cruz or Manningham. This is the matchup that very well could decide the game. The Giants secondary hasn't been much better but they do matchup better with New Englands receivers. Corey Webster is the best corner in this game and he'll be matched up with Welker for most of it.
Advantage: Giants
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Gostkowski > Tynes
Mesko < Weatherford
Edelman > Blackmon/Jerrinigan
Pats cover team < Giants cover team
Advantage: Draw
COACHING:
Tom Coughlin has gone from the hotseat to the hall of fame in just 6 weeks, but Little Bill's record speaks for itself.
Advantage: Patriots
Giants: 4, Patriots: 3, Draw: 3
Make The Final: Giants 28, Patriots 21
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