Did everyone suddenly forget about the adjustments in the first Giants game?

[alamo]

Oh, and Kyle Brady, Neal (very good run blocker), and Kaczur were inactive for that week 17 game. For those keeping count, that's two starting O-linemen, and their best blocking TE (one of the best blocking TE's in the NFL), so the Giants will be getting a different Patriots team this time around.

If you look at the Giants injury reports, that's true of them too. Maybe moreso.

That brings up a good point: we seem to be excellent at seeing all the reasons we might be better, but completely dismiss that they might do the same.

And I keep hearing the TD on the kickoff blamed on the penalty. This I never understood, is the coverage so different when everything just moves 15 yards closer to our goalline? I don't see why that wouldn't have been a TD even without a penalty, unless there was a touchback (which you can't count on).

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That game wasn't played in the best of conditions. I mention this because NE's offense has been very strong in domes, and their offensive speed could be a killer in that Arizona dome.

They also seem to get a better return average from Hobbs, Welker, and Maroney in domes.

Oh, and Kyle Brady, Neal (very good run blocker), and Kaczur were inactive for that week 17 game. For those keeping count, that's two starting O-linemen, and their best blocking TE (one of the best blocking TE's in the NFL), so the Giants will be getting a different Patriots team this time around.

And don't forget that two of the better coverage guys were out on ST too (Eckel and Andrews).

 

[patsox23]

I'm not sure how much you can really take from a 1st matchup.

Green Bay absolutely crushed the Giants in their regular season game.

The Patriots beat the Giants less than a month ago. It is ABSOLUTELY relevant. I know you don't want to hear that.

 

[moosekill]

Folks, at first I was leery about this matchup, however, the more I look at it.........this is going to be a trouncing of historic proportions.

1) Dr. Z crows how in week 17, Maroney rushed only for 46 yards and a 2.4 average. What he fails to mention is the Pats were missing the ENTIRE right side of the OL. Yup, no Neal, Kazcur or the BEST BLOCKING TE in the NFL.

2) ALL of the pressure in that game was on the Patriots. They know how to handle pressure and they did. The Giants had NOTHING to lose and played like it.

3) Other than Burress and Strahan, can anyone name one player on the Giants who has ever played in a Super Bowl? Think they might not be so "loosey-goosey" with a 2 hour on-field pre-game show and a 45 minute halftime?

4) That night in the Meadowlands, the temps were in the 30's and there was a wind. Super Bowl - - Dome, nuf ced.

5) Patriots are 10-0 since 2003 in games when they have 2 weeks to prepare for a team.

6) The New York Media - - God Bless 'Em! Have wasted no time in hyperventilating their hate for the Pats. Keep it up suckers - - and please make more of those Bridget masks for the big game!

Exactly. I was at that game, I think Bill Simmons explains it best.

The Patriots expected the Giants to play their starters for 1/2 the game. BB just wanted to stay close during the first half, then beat their second stringers. The Giants decided to keep their starters in so BB had to change his strategy. The Patriots played complete vanilla defense for the entire first 1/2. On offense they just tried to set the Moss, Brady records. BB wanted to show absolutely nothing to his upcoming playoff opponents. As soon as the Giants decided to keep playing the Patriots started blitzing a bit and completely destroyed the Giants. I think the Sports Guy called it pulling a Milton Berle, or some such thing.

I like the Giants, and I told the Giants fans I was sitting next to I thought they had a good chance to go to the superbowl....but I really think the Pats are going to completely destroy them.

The Giants beat a 9 and 7 Tampa team, a Cowboy team that well imploded, and a Packer team in ungodly weather that completely did away with all of the Packer's advantages. They did great winning all of these games, but I really think, as long as Brady is healthy, that the game won't be close at all. But as always any team can win on any given Sunday.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

What exactly did happen? The Pats beat the Giants, on their own field. No ifs about it. Most of the little points seem to be coming from Giants fans. Pats don't need to make little points because they've won every game they've played this year. Period. End of discussion.

I am not a Giants fan. Yes, the game week 17 is relevant. The Patriots won a game that could have easily gone either way.

The only relevant thing that can be taken from that game, is the teams match up roughly equal and either team can win the SB.

 

[chunkypony]

Exactly. I was at that game, I think Bill Simmons explains it best.

The Patriots expected the Giants to play their starters for 1/2 the game. BB just wanted to stay close during the first half, then beat their second stringers. The Giants decided to keep their starters in so BB had to change his strategy. The Patriots played complete vanilla defense for the entire first 1/2. On offense they just tried to set the Moss, Brady records. BB wanted to show absolutely nothing to his upcoming playoff opponents. As soon as the Giants decided to keep playing the Patriots started blitzing a bit and completely destroyed the Giants. I think the Sports Guy called it pulling a Milton Berle, or some such thing.

I like the Giants, and I told the Giants fans I was sitting next to I thought they had a good chance to go to the superbowl....but I really think the Pats are going to completely destroy them.

The Giants beat a 9 and 7 Tampa team, a Cowboy team that well imploded, and a Packer team in ungodly weather that completely did away with all of the Packer's advantages. They did great winning all of these games, but I really think, as long as Brady is healthy, that the game won't be close at all. But as always any team can win on any given Sunday.

Yea what he said.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

I am not a Giants fan. Yes, the game week 17 is relevant. The Patriots won a game that could have easily gone either way.

The only relevant thing that can be taken from that game, is the teams match up roughly equal and either team can win the SB.

I agree. One thing that has been obvious is that while the Pats have been perfect, there have been many close calls, and they haven't played perfectly on many occasions.

Tough to bet against the Pats until they actually lose, but anyone can see that this is a GOOD Giants team playing their best football right now, and that may be enough to ruin our season. Luckily for us, the Pats have shown they take no team lightly, and the SB will be no different in this regard.

 

[stcjones]

Well facts don't mean much to the mediots and NY dumbazzclown writers. They just see 38-35....whooooohoooo. the Giants ALMOST beat the Pats.

PATS ARE RIPE FOR THE TAKING. LOL remember that one

42-17 Pats. This will be a blowout

NY media will be putting unrelenting pressure on the new messiah

Gawd I hope that you are right Don....I would love a Pats blowout over the Gints......that way I could just sit there drinking with a big grin on my face,......no heart attacks......no stress.......Man.....I hope you are psychic!!

 

[stcjones]

I am not a Giants fan. Yes, the game week 17 is relevant. The Patriots won a game that could have easily gone either way.

The only relevant thing that can be taken from that game, is the teams match up roughly equal and either team can win the SB.

See I don't think the teams matchup that well....They have a big question mark at QB.....will the new Eli show up.....or under the extreme pressure of a super bowl....will the "old", shaky Eli show up (I pick the latter) The Gints have been giving him a pretty conservative strategy......I do see the Pats putting all kinds of pressure on him.......and the stress of playing on the big stage....will result in turnovers! On our side.....we have the greatest QB of all time......

They have one TOP SHELF WR in Burress.......the rest of their receiving corps is shaky.......Their top threat in the first game was the TE Boss......I don't see him having that kind of game this time around........We have the greatest WR/TE corps in the history of the game.....enough said.....They have two good straight ahead power backs that are a concern.....we must shut them down...........We have LoMo who has been running lights out for the past several games.....I see more of this for him in the SB......and we also have Faulk who is coming up huge game after game....and Evans has also been coming on strong.....This area is a wildcard because I think both teams have decent running games.........Our O line is better than there's....defenses do match up pretty well.........Now here is the edge.....coaching.......and experience of coaching staff...and many veteran players.....that is a HUGE edge....we have been here before and are used to the stage.....Gints (including Eli) will play tight and nervous..........And lastly....our PK has not shanked two 30 yarders in an extremely important game.....Theirs did just that this past weekend....usually that is a dagger in the heart....but because Brett the gunslinger couldn't get it done......they got another chance.....

In closing I see much more advantages on the side of the Pats in this one....not to discredit the Gints....but they will see a much different Pats team in 2 weeks........GO PATS!

 

[stcjones]

Folks, at first I was leery about this matchup, however, the more I look at it.........this is going to be a trouncing of historic proportions.

1) Dr. Z crows how in week 17, Maroney rushed only for 46 yards and a 2.4 average. What he fails to mention is the Pats were missing the ENTIRE right side of the OL. Yup, no Neal, Kazcur or the BEST BLOCKING TE in the NFL.

2) ALL of the pressure in that game was on the Patriots. They know how to handle pressure and they did. The Giants had NOTHING to lose and played like it.

3) Other than Burress and Strahan, can anyone name one player on the Giants who has ever played in a Super Bowl? Think they might not be so "loosey-goosey" with a 2 hour on-field pre-game show and a 45 minute halftime?

4) That night in the Meadowlands, the temps were in the 30's and there was a wind. Super Bowl - - Dome, nuf ced.

5) Patriots are 10-0 since 2003 in games when they have 2 weeks to prepare for a team.

6) The New York Media - - God Bless 'Em! Have wasted no time in hyperventilating their hate for the Pats. Keep it up suckers - - and please make more of those Bridget masks for the big game!

Schmessy.....Great, great friggin post..!!!! GO PATS

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

See I don't think the teams matchup that well....They have a big question mark at QB.....will the new Eli show up.....or under the extreme pressure of a super bowl....will the "old", shaky Eli show up (I pick the latter) The Gints have been giving him a pretty conservative strategy......I do see the Pats putting all kinds of pressure on him.......and the stress of playing on the big stage....will result in turnovers! On our side.....we have the greatest QB of all time......

They have one TOP SHELF WR in Burress.......the rest of their receiving corps is shaky.......Their top threat in the first game was the TE Boss......I don't see him having that kind of game this time around........We have the greatest WR/TE corps in the history of the game.....enough said.....They have two good straight ahead power backs that are a concern.....we must shut them down...........We have LoMo who has been running lights out for the past several games.....I see more of this for him in the SB......and we also have Faulk who is coming up huge game after game....and Evans has also been coming on strong.....This area is a wildcard because I think both teams have decent running games.........Our O line is better than there's....defenses do match up pretty well.........Now here is the edge.....coaching.......and experience of coaching staff...and many veteran players.....that is a HUGE edge....we have been here before and are used to the stage.....Gints (including Eli) will play tight and nervous..........And lastly....our PK has not shanked two 30 yarders in an extremely important game.....Theirs did just that this past weekend....usually that is a dagger in the heart....but because Brett the gunslinger couldn't get it done......they got another chance.....

In closing I see much more advantages on the side of the Pats in this one....not to discredit the Gints....but they will see a much different Pats team in 2 weeks........GO PATS!

The ellipse is a poor substitute for sentences and paragraphs.

 

[shakadave]

A factor that hasn't been mentioned much is the Giants' coaching. It must be good if they beat teams the second time they faced them (i.e., Packers, Cowboys, right?) And it must be good if they win on the road a lot, especially in the playoffs.

I assume they are capable of learning some things from the Week 17 game film and incorporating them into their Super game plan.

(I also think we'll win.)

 

[JoeSixPat]

As I said in my "Six Blueprints of Giants losses" giving up big time 4th quarter points is typical of the Giants.

I expect a close game through the first half with the Patriots pulling away.