SUPER BOWL XLII NEW YORK GIANTS VS. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The super bowl is set.  It was one of the most exciting games of the year.  On December 29, the Patriots went to the Meadow lands to take on the Giants in one of the most intense games of the year.  The Giants played them extremely well, and at one point lead the game 28-16.  However the Patriots came out with 22 unanswered points to take a 38-28 lead.  The Giants would score a touchdown in the final 2 minutes to get the score to 38-35, and failed to get the on-side kick.  This lead the Patriots to the first undefeated season since the 1972 Dolphins.  Although the Giants lost, I feel that they gained a lot of confidence going into the post season considering just how hard they fought the best team in the NFL.  The Giants scored more points than any other opponent that faced the Patriots during the season.  

As January rolled on, the Giants became road warriors.  Underdogs in every game during the playoffs the Giants took on the challenges that stood in their way.  Jeff Garcia, who had defeated the Giants in the last 2 playoff meetings looked sluggish in the second half of the game and the Bucs lost 24-14.  In Dallas, the drive that ended the first half by the Giants turned the momentum in their favor, and a time that was number 1 in the NFL in 3rd quarter points, was held to just 3 points the entire half and lost 21-17.  And on Sunday, at the cathedral known as Lam beau field, the Giants missed 2 field goals in the 4th quarter, both of which would have won them the game, played into overtime and intercepted one of the best quarterbacks we have ever seen.  This lead them to a third field goal try that won them the game after their kicker had been in the dog house for missing 2 big kicks, he ended up in the penthouse by games end.  So the Giants go to Super bowl 42 and continue to face the stacked odds against them.  Do they have what it takes?

The Patriots continue to learn from their all knowing head coach.  After a 16-0 season, they faced the Jaguars who were supposed to be the only team that was hot enough to beat them in the playoffs.  The Jags played them tough to a 14-14 score at half time.  The Patriots then came out in the second half and out scored the Jags 14-3 in the 3rd quarter and cruised to the finish a 31-20 victory over the Jags to host the AFC Championship.  The AFC title game was against a banged up Chargers team that played with a lot of heart.  After a week of practice, and working hard to be a better defense in the red zone, the Chargers made it into the red zone 4 times, only to be held to 4 field goals.  Brady's sloppy play was picked up by this amazing red zone defense.  The fourth quarter touchdown that gave the Patriots a 21-12 lead wasn't nearly as impressive as the final drive that took the last 9:13 off the clock.  Once again the Patriots have shown that they can beat a team in anyway necessary.  Now the last task they have for a perfect season is winning the super bowl.  Are we going to witness history?

This Super Bowl has a team with a mission against a team that wasn't suppose to be here.  The heavy under dog Giants have the odds stacked against them once again, as the rematch the undefeated Patriots.  The Giants showed that they can compete with the best of them going through some of the toughest teams in the NFC, as well as putting up a hell of a fight against the Patriots in a losing effort.  Meanwhile, the Patriots showed that no matter what a team wants to throw at them, they will continue to have an answer, and continue to win games.  Now, they are just one win away from being the best team in NFL history.  This should be a great game.