NFL Pro Football 2007-2008 Super Bowl XLII Picks Background and Stats

NFL Pro Football 2007-08 Super Bowl LXII
Background and Stats

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Fearless Rick's NFL Super Bowl XLII Picks

Rick Gagliano | January 30, 2008

Sunday, Feb. 3 - University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. (FOX)

Thursday: Trends, comparisons. Friday: Rick's Pick

Background and Stats

It's an All "New" Game

Super Bowl LXII: New England Patriots (AFC) vs. New York Giants (NFC)

Everybody knew that New England was going to be really strong in 2007. Most of the preseason prophets put them up squarely as the team to beat. For once, everybody was right. Not only did Tom Brady shatter a bunch of records including the single season TD pass mark, but he guided the ball to Randy Moss often enough that the lanky receiver overshot the great Jerry Rice, with 23 scores.

The Patriots were better than good. They were incredibly great, almost beyond description. Early in the season, nobody could step onto the same field with them and later on, as the competition viewed more film and began to dissect the Patriot's games, New England found new ways to frustrate opponents.

There were seminal moments throughout the season, but the Dallas and Indianapolis games around mid-season had the most build-up and drama.

As the Pats wound their way towards a perfect season and the right to lay claim to the mantel of greatest of all time, the road got rougher, especially in those close call wins over Philadelphia, Baltimore and the Giants.

Truth be told, the Eagles should have beaten them. Down 31-28, Philly was driving for a tying or winning score when backup quarterback A. J. Feeley - who had outplayed Brady up until that point - launched an overthrown bomb towards the end zone which cornerback Asante Samuel easily fielded to squelch the drive and run out the clock.

One can't blame Feeley, however, as the call likely came from the sideline and the QB was just following orders. It was a bad call at an even worse time. There was no need to force the issue right then.

The following week in Baltimore, the Ravens played their best game of the season but also fell short by three points, the same margin by which the Eagles lost, 27-24.

After humbling the Steelers in Foxboro, the Patriots dispatched the Jets and Miami in advance of that fateful meeting with the Giants in the Meadowland in the season finale.

New England possibly faced their sternest test in that game. All the pressure was on them to complete the perfect season, while the Giants had already secured their playoff position. Again, the Pats emerged victorious, again by three points, 38-35, but the G-Men put a real scare into them, going toe-to-toe and score-for-score throughout.

New England, playing with home-field advantage, knocked off Jacksonville, 31-20, and a wounded San Diego team, 20-12.

Over their last eight games, including the playoffs, the Patriots failed to cover the spread in seven.

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The 2007 Giants are a study in development and strong, quiet leadership from head coach Tom Coughlin as well as laying claim to an NFL-record 10-game road win streak.

Quarterback Eli Manning's emergence as a cool customer in the clutch and a terrific pass rush which led the league in sacks (53) are the Giant's trademarks.

After opening the regular season with losses to Dallas and Green Bay - incidentally, the last two teams they faced in the playoffs - the Giants may appear to be in revenge mode, but the point right now is just winning. They've avenged every loss or at least broken even, against every team except Minnesota and New England.

Well, Minny didn't make the playoffs, and guess who's next? The Giants split with Washington, lost twice in the regular season to Dallas (their last road loss, in week 1), and to Green Bay, Minnesota and New England.

The Giants won three playoff games - all on the road - to reach the summit.
24-14 over Tampa Bay, 21-17 at Dallas and 23-20 at Green Bay.

Statistically, the game leans towards New England. The Patriots scored 36.8 (1) and allowed 15.8 (4) to the Giants' 23.3 (14) and 21.9 (17) during the regular season.

In terms of yardage, the Patriots were fist and 4th again, at 411.3 and 288.3. The Giants were 16th, at 331.4 yards gained, and 7th at 305.0 allowed.

In the playoffs, New England scored 26.0 points on 375.0 yards. The Giants averaged 22.7 points on 294.7 yards.

Defensively, New England led all post season teams at 16 points per game,allowed, giving up an average of 330.5 yards. New York's defense was right behind, allowing 17 points and bettering the Pats at 290.3 yards.

The Giants also played one more playoff game than the Patriots, though that point hardly seems material at this juncture.

Thursday: Trends, comparisons. Friday: Rick's Pick

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