As they did late in 2007, the Giants came together at the end of the regular season to make it into the postseason before catching fire in the playoffs. After beating the Atlanta Falcons at home, they upset both the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers on the road to land a spot in this year's big game. The Patriots, on the other hand, cruised to a relatively easy division title and a blowout over the Denver Broncos before just squeaking by the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game.
New England, of course, will be motivated by the loss that ruined their quest for perfection in '08. They've also dedicated the season to Myra Kraft, the late wife of owner Robert Kraft. She passed away prior to the 2011 season, and the team would love nothing more than to win a championship in her honor.
As with just about any football game, though, this contest will come down to who wins the individual matchups and the turnover battle. Below are some of the matchups to keep an eye on.
Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Patriots LT Matt Light
Perhaps the most telling aspect of this contest will be how well the Patriots offensive line controls the Giants pass rush, and that all starts with defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. In just his second year in the league, Pierre-Paul racked up 16.5 sacks. He has the speed to get around the corner as well as the power to bull rush opponents. Left tackle Matt Light will have his hands full, but he is a veteran who has played in big games before against effective pass rushers. Quarterback Tom Brady has a history of struggling when the pass rush takes away his ability to step up in the pocket, so the winner of this battle could go a long way toward deciding the outcome of the game.
Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski vs. Giants S Antrel Rolle
Rob Gronkowski emerged this season as the league's biggest receiving threat at the tight end position, recording 90 receptions for 1,327 yards. He also proved to be a tremendous red-zone threat, pulling in 17 completions for touchdowns. He's been banged up, and just got out of a walking boot, but should be ready to go on game day. And he should give Antrel Rolle all he can handle at the safety position.
Giants Wide Receivers vs Patriots Defensive Backs
Although they have played better lately, New England's defensive backfield has been thrown on at times this year. And they should be tested by Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham, who combined for more than 3,000 yards receiving this season. The Pats are going to have to control this trio, otherwise this could turn into a shootout.
Patriots DT Vince Wilfork vs. Giants Interior Offensive Line
Vince Wifork can be one of the most disruptive and explosive defensive forces in the game, and New York center David Baas will have his hands full trying to control the big guy. The Giants likely will give Baas help, but Wilfork has the talent and physical ability to power through and disrupt the backfield.
The Giants have been on a roll over the past month, playing by far their best football of the season. But the Pats, on the other hand, have a lot of motivation on their side to repay the Giants for perhaps the most stinging loss in New England history. On the surface, this contest looks to be a toss up that has the potential to develop into a high-scoring affair. The team that capitalizes the most on the above matchups, however, and comes out on top in the turnover battle, should emerge victorious.
Prediction: Giants 38, Patriots 33