The New York Giants may not be the more favored team this Sunday. They may not be more talented. They may not be better coached. But they are going to beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, and here's why.
The defensive line: The unit had a league-leading 53 sacks during the regular season. Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan are two of the premier defensive ends in the league, totaling 21 sacks between them, while backup Justin Tuck, recently signed to a long-term extension, also managed 10 sacks of his own.
The Giants will need a strong pass rush if they plan to beat the Patriots and must make quarterback Tom Brady feel uncomfortable in the pocket, even if they don't always sack him. The Patriots' offensive line is likely the best in the league, but the Giants' defensive line might be even better.
The secondary: The Giants' secondary has been a marvel this season. Sam Madison was solid as usual, tying the team lead with four picks, and rookie Aaron Ross had three. When both of them went down in the playoffs, Corey Webster and R.W. McQuarters filled the gap nicely, playing exceptionally and making two interceptions each. Beyond that, safety Gibril Wilson remains one of the most underrated players in the NFL, leading the team with 98 solo tackles and tying with Madison for the lead in interceptions. Forcing a turnover would be a huge boost for the Giants against a near-perfect Pats offense.
Thunder and Lightning: When the Giants drafted Ron Dayne in 2000, he was supposed to combine with incumbent running back Tiki Barber for a backfield known as "Thunder and Lightning." The tandem never really worked like they were supposed to, and of course, Tiki went on to become the featured back.
Now, in Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, perhaps the Giants have discovered the true thunder and lightning. Jacobs, the starter, is almost as big as an offensive lineman. He's 6-foot-4, 264 pounds, and he runs hard between the tackles. He's no slouch in the open field either, as his 4.54 40-yard dash time indicates. Jacobs can wear down a defense and is very difficult to stop on the goal line.
His style is complemented perfectly by Bradshaw, a rookie out of Marshall who was drafted in the seventh round. Bradshaw is small and shifty, and he almost always makes the first guy miss. He cuts back well on the second level, and has proven to be a powerful tool against defenses that have been beaten up by Jacobs. Not only does he lead the Giants in postseason rush yards, but he also sat out Week 17 against the Pats. Maybe that's not a huge advantage, but the Giants will take whatever they can get.
Eli to Plaxico: Over their three years together, Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress have emerged as quite a combination. They already have the Giants' team record for touchdowns by a quarterback-and-receiver combination. Teams have to focus their coverage on Plaxico, or they will get burned, much like Randy Moss on the Pats.
In the first two playoff games, Plaxico was almost always double-teamed, catching only five passes between both contests. But in the NFC title game, the Green Bay Packers attacked Burress one-on-one, getting burned to the tune of 11 receptions and 151 yards.
Eli's become dangerous in his own right, exhibiting quite a bit of growth over the past few weeks. In the playoffs he has a 99.1 quarterback rating, throwing four touchdowns and zero interceptions. If Eli can control the ball Sunday, that's a huge step toward a Giants victory. But if Eli succeeds, much of the credit should go to...
The other receivers: Amani Toomer is a veteran receiver who has played in the Super Bowl for the Giants before. In this year's playoffs, he's been a great option for Manning when Burress is smothered, totaling 196 yards and three touchdowns. Steve Smith, a rookie out of USC who had eight receptions for 63 yards during the regular season, has already secured nine receptions for 102 yards in the postseason.
When tight end Jeremy Shockey broke his leg in mid-December, many thought it would hurt the Giants tremendously, but rookie Kevin Boss has filled in nicely. He's a better blocker than Shockey, and in Week 17 against the Pats, he went for 50 yards and a touchdown.
All of these guys have been a huge part of Eli's recent maturation, and they will play a big role in the game on Sunday. The Pats will likely blitz Manning or double-cover Plaxico, so look for the Giants' other targets to step up and make plays.
Karma: If the Giants have one thing going for them, it's this: Bill Belichick is surly, unpleasant and dull, Tom Brady is the smug Golden Boy and Rodney Harrison draws personal fouls nearly every week for late hits and taunting.
Look at the Giants. Coach Tom Coughlin is a grinch-turned-buddy. Toomer is one of the classiest players in the game. And let's face it: Eli Manning wouldn't hurt a fly. If games were decided by likeability rather than physical talent and preparation, the Giants would win hands down.
