congrats G-Men! - Page 3

Wagner · #21 02-05-2008, 05:36 AM

They talked about it on ESPN, it isn't a big deal but to me a guy coming from a team that won 3 SB's in 7 years should be classy enough to stand the sideline for the final snap.

Sorry just funny now:

Quote:

PHOENIX -- I admire a good underdog story as much as the next guy, and the one featuring the New York Giants is extremely compelling.

They've also written a pretty nice comeback story, turning red-hot at the absolute right time -- the beginning of the postseason.

I like Eli Manning's transformation from underachieving No. 1 overall pick to consistent elite performer. I like Tom Coughlin's transformation from ultra-rigid drill sergeant to a coach who can listen as well as he dictates.

But I don't like anything about the Giants as much as I like the New England Patriots' chances of being 19-0 after Super Bowl XLII.

The Pats had the look of an NFL champion back in August, when I (along with many others) picked them to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy for a fourth time. They've since developed the look of dominance that has put them in a position to make history and go down as the greatest team in the history of the league … and one of the greatest in the history of sports.

Here are five reasons why the Patriots will achieve perfection on Sunday:

1. Tom Brady will perform at his best. His much-discussed ankle injury, suffered in the AFC Championship Game, won't be a factor. It didn't even show up on the Patriots' injury report, and he practiced all week. Brady's struggles against San Diego in the AFC title game were an aberration. Against the Giants, we will see the Brady who won league MVP by throwing 50 touchdowns. On Sunday, he will attack the middle of the field with slot receiver Wes Welker and tight end Benjamin Watson. Welker and Watson are fast enough to split safeties Gibril Wilson and James Butler and help open up the perimeter for speedy wideouts Randy Moss and Donte' Stallworth, with one or both reaching the end zone.

2. The Pats will be able to run the ball effectively. The most under-appreciated aspect of the offense is their rushing attack, which ranked 13th in the NFL. Laurence Maroney has come on as a major force in the postseason. Maroney is particularly successful running up the middle, behind center Dan Koppen and guards Logan Mankins and Russ Hochstein. He should continue to have that sort of impact in the Super Bowl in order to help slow down the Giants' pass rush and give the Patriots' offense some balance.

3. Brady will effectively use play-action against the Giants' aggressive defensive front. He is one of the very best quarterbacks in the league at reading the blitz, and quickly checking to hot routes. The Patriots will spread the field with four- and five-receiver sets and let Brady locate mismatches. Most everything that the Pats do on offense begins with Brady using play-fakes and attacking with short and intermediate passes. The quicker he gets the ball out -- especially on sideline routes -- the better his chances of keeping the chains moving and getting into a rhythm. And he will be able to do exactly that on Sunday.

4. New England should do a good job of handling the Giants' impressive one-two rushing attack of powerful Brandon Jacobs and speedy Ahmad Bradshaw. The Patriots did an excellent job of shutting down Jacksonville's rushing attack, one of the best in the NFL, in their divisional-round victory over the Jaguars. The Pats' run-stopping ability begins with nose tackle Vince Wilfork using his considerable lower-body strength and leverage to clog the middle and force runners to bounce outside to Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas.
New England's aging inside linebackers, 39-year-old Junior Seau and 34-year-old Tedy Bruschi, should be able to count on Wilfork to keep them free of blockers. The Giants will need at least two blockers to handle to Wilfork, and that should help provide freedom for ends Richard Seymour and Ty Warren, and the Pats' linebackers.

5. Once the Patriots have the Giants' running game under control, they will be able to confuse Eli Manning, or at least keep him off balance, by mixing up fronts and coverages. Although Manning has yet to throw an interception in the postseason, he should count on some pass-rushing configurations that he has never seen before and coverages that will cause him to hold the ball and/or take a sack, make a poor pass under duress, or entice him into making a bad pass.

Regardless of how they do it, a Patriots victory over the Giants will be the sort of achievement that can be admired for many, many years to come. That's because -- given the 35 seasons that have passed since the Miami Dolphins went 17-0 -- it will likely be many, many years before we see another perfect season in the NFL ... if we see another.

I expect the Patriots to write the final chapter of this incredible season with a blowout win. Final score: Pats 42, Giants 10.

Sponsored Links

Roc3b · #22 02-05-2008, 11:12 AM

Pats missed six opportunities to put them away... at least three on the final drive. They missed the chance for the knock out blow with Asante missing a sure pick on the sideline...the missed sack and miracle catch...on a side note why three PAT'S dbs stood and watched instead of laying a lick is beyond me and Merriweathers missed pick before the first down. All season that kid could not catch a cold and it hurt us in the big game. Leaving Hobbs out there all by himself with a Hernia suffered in the 1st qtr was not wise either.

Bottom line G-Men won and kudos to them.

The Pats will be right back there again in the fall. Moss will sign a 2-3 year deal. The Pats will trade out of the 7 spot and move down for someone's early second rounder and late first rounder to take some of the sting out of losing the 31st pick.

Spygate will amount to nothing. Everyone forgets the memo came out the beginning of this season not to have unauthorized cams on the field, every one that calls it cheating never played a down of football in thier life...the signs are changed every game just like in base ball. I would be near impossible to get the signal...break it down...understand it and relay it for that game. They were compiling tendencies and to be so stupid as to not ask for clarification of the rule falls under the feeling of that it is easier to apologize than ask for permission which in this case was the wrong move, just like not kicking the FG with 4/13 for a first down. One of the two major mistakes Belichick made this year.

As far as walking off the field. No one ran up to stop him...he may not have been aware and driven focused dude like that might have went zombie in his own thoughts. It happens. He is friends with Coughlin and I am sure he has shaken his hand and congratulated.

So when do pitchers and catchers report?

Wagner · #23 02-05-2008, 11:22 AM

You better pick up some linebackers

Seau looked like a ballerina trying to find his way through the line, Bruschetta (

) was useless.....

cmyX6go · #24 02-05-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roc3b

So when do pitchers and catchers report?

9 days...

Tainui · #25 02-05-2008, 12:18 PM

Only thing that makes me sad about the Pats losing was Jr. Seau not getting a ring. Hell I watched him play when I was in H.S. and he's still out there doing it.

Roc3b · #26 02-05-2008, 02:02 PM

God love em but Ted has lost at least .5 a step and he was not that fast to begin with playing with great instincts and smarts. I truely believe we need speed at the LB position. Colving going down really did come back to hurt us because it moved Thomas to the outside and took away his speed and size from the middle. Hell his best game did not come until the SB in a Pats uni, Colvin makes plays period. He has a big cap figure this year and I hope they extend him and spread it out. We need him so we can move Thomas back inside and get someone else with speed and toughness next to him. I believe either Teddy B will be back as a part timer..he or JR. but not both.

cbax5 · #27 02-05-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roc3b

Pats missed six opportunities to put them away... at least three on the final drive. They missed the chance for the knock out blow with Asante missing a sure pick on the sideline...the missed sack and miracle catch...on a side note why three PAT'S dbs stood and watched instead of laying a lick is beyond me and Merriweathers missed pick before the first down. All season that kid could not catch a cold and it hurt us in the big game. Leaving Hobbs out there all by himself with a Hernia suffered in the 1st qtr was not wise either.

Bottom line G-Men won and kudos to them.

The Pats will be right back there again in the fall. Moss will sign a 2-3 year deal. The Pats will trade out of the 7 spot and move down for someone's early second rounder and late first rounder to take some of the sting out of losing the 31st pick.

Spygate will amount to nothing. Everyone forgets the memo came out the beginning of this season not to have unauthorized cams on the field, every one that calls it cheating never played a down of football in thier life...the signs are changed every game just like in base ball. I would be near impossible to get the signal...break it down...understand it and relay it for that game. They were compiling tendencies and to be so stupid as to not ask for clarification of the rule falls under the feeling of that it is easier to apologize than ask for permission which in this case was the wrong move, just like not kicking the FG with 4/13 for a first down. One of the two major mistakes Belichick made this year.

As far as walking off the field. No one ran up to stop him...he may not have been aware and driven focused dude like that might have went zombie in his own thoughts. It happens. He is friends with Coughlin and I am sure he has shaken his hand and congratulated.

So when do pitchers and catchers report?

I'm not sure about being back to the SuperBowl. This is a copycat league and there is some payback next year for some of the thrashings the Pats gave teams this year. But they will definitely win their division and be a high seed in the playoffs. Hell they get 6 free games every year! 2 against the Jets, Bills and Dolphins. 6 wins by just showing up.

But the dynasty might be over...

Roc3b · #28 02-05-2008, 06:06 PM

I mean the playoffs, I am not stupid enough to assume they will march right back in the SB43..they need luck and preparation...I am not worried about the prep.

Acezoned · #29 02-06-2008, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motordavid

From the let'em eak cake dept.

Saw the "interview" with surlyBillBel after the game...
fairly classless, imo.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/nfl...?urn=nfl,64971

Congrats to J'ints and the fans!

Belichick's a Scumbag
He cheats...in football and on his wife with another woman.
He's a backstabber...he backed out of the Jets coaching job a day after accepting the position in 1999.
He's a snake in the grass...he once used a player who got cut from the Bills for inside information.
He's arrogant and cocky.
He's a sore loser who has very little respect for his opponents.

...and let's not forget the Patriots using a felon and the snow plow in 1982 and the coked out partied out Pats that lost the 84 Super Bowl

Sponsored Links