The New York Giants are set to take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on February 5th.

The New England Patriots narrowly escaped Gillette Stadium with a win against the Baltimore Ravens. Joe Flacco was leading the Ravens downfield in the final minute to attempt to either send it to overtime or win it. However, one dropped pass in the end zone and the miss of a chip shot field goal left the Ravens on the outside looking in.

The New York Giants defeated the San Francisco 49ers in an overtime thriller to earn their trip to the Super Bowl. A number of miscues made by the 49ers aided the Giants’ victory with the most prominent one being the 49er’s Kyle Williams fumble of a punt to set up the Giants game winning field goal.

Key Matchups

The Giants Defensive line vs. the Patriots Offensive Line

The Giants boast one of the strongest defensive line in the entire league. With 48 sacks on the season, the Giants have an innate ability to get to the quarterback fast and with Tom Brady’s pocket passing style he could become a friend with the turf. Keep an eye out for the second year sensation Jason Pierre-Paul. Pierre-Paul started this year with unmatched raw talent and as the season progressed he has developed into an elite pass rusher.

Eli Manning vs. the Patriots Secondary

In the year of the quarterback, Eli Manning showcased performance after performance of why he should be considered an elite QB. Manning led the Giants on numerous fourth quarter comeback drives this season, rarely succumbing to the pressure of the situation. Against the Patriots 31st ranked passing defense, don’t be shocked to see Eli and his receivers having a field day. Keep an eye out for wide receiver Victor Cruz. Cruz is easily the biggest surprise of the 2011 season. After being relatively unheard of, Cruz burst onto the scene and caught for over 1,500 yards during the season.

Rob Gronkowski vs. the Giants Secondary

Rob Gronkowski had a record breaking season as a Tight End for the Patriots in 2011. Gronkowski had 90 receptions on the season and accumulated 17 touchdowns, proving his tremendous worth in the red zone. The Giants defense should be better prepared for the matchup thanks to seeing the 49er’s Vernon Davis in the NFC Championship game. However, the Patriots have an assortment of tight end formations that are often not utilized by other teams in the league, which could confuse the Giants defense. Keep an eye out for Aaron Hernandez, for if the Giants plan too heavily around stopping Gronkowski, Hernandez could step up and have a big game.

Key Storylines

The Rematch

The matchup between the Giants and the Patriots is accompanied by a plethora of storylines. The unforgettable catch by David Tyree in Super Bowl XLI will undoubtedly be played on numerous occasions during the broadcast of the game. Of course, ‘the catch’ did lead to the Giants upset over the then undefeated New England Patriots. The chase for the perfect 19-0 season was the key storyline of the 2008 Super Bowl, but for 2012 it’s revenge.

Eli Manning and Tom Brady

Before the season began, Eli Manning stated that he considered himself in the same class of quarterback as Tom Brady. After making these comments, many people criticized Manning for even stating that he is as good as Tom Brady. Manning will get his chance to disprove all of the naysayers when he faces Brady in the Super Bowl for the second time. After all, a 2-0 record in the Super Bowl against Tom Brady would have to stand for something, right?

The Manning Brothers

Even with Peyton Manning not playing a single snap in 2011, it feels like Eli still can’t escape the shadow of his older brother. The question of who is the better Manning has essentially been irrelevant as 90 out of 100 people will say Peyton (and giving Eli that many votes is generous). But Eli has shown something that many people often criticize Peyton about. Showing up in big games and being clutch. If Eli wins his second Super Bowl, will people stop seeing him as Peyton’s brother and start seeing him as the best Manning?

Best Prop Bets

There are always prop bets that can provide a good laugh. But the prop bets for the super bowl are always the best. Here are three bets that you shouldn’t miss:

1) Which team will Barack Obama publicly pick to win?

2) How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the National Anthem?

- Over/Under 94.5 seconds

3) What color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning coach?

- Yellow -110, Clear +140, Orange +450, Lime +500, Blue +1200

Prediction

Giants 27, Patriots 21

The Giants have looked like an unstoppable team in recent weeks and appear to have finally found their identity. With an extra week of rest the Giant’s D-line should be able to get to Brady fast and cause him to be uncomfortable early. On the offensive end, the Giants will prove to be too much for one of the worst defenses in the NFL. If the Giants have success in the run game early Manning will exploit the weak secondary of the Patriots. Ultimately, the hot streak of the Giants will carry them to victory as we all witness a near repeat of 2008.