Superbowl XLVI

I think I am starting to get more excited for the Patriots chances as the time goes on. Been stuck at home the last few days, and have seen nothing but re runs of Tyrees catch and Burress' last minute TD to win the last superbowl match up with the Giants.

Watching all the ESPN shows and reading the stuff that is online, all I seem to get from it is that a lot of people are tipping the Giants, and going mad that the Patriots should be considered favorites. All the sports writers on CBS have tipped the Giants.

The NY media is looking for anything to try and use for dressing room material (Brady saying: We're going to give it our best and hopefully we have a lot more people at our party next weekend; not exactly the most controversial thing to ever be said at a pep rally, and to jump on that?)

Yet the Giants soundbites aremaking some dressing room fodder. They have all their schemes ready and know what the Patriots will bring. Corey Webster saying he is the best out there, and he doesnt know if Welker is a challenge, or if its the throws to him that make him good. Mannignham saying he wants Edelman to play so they have an advantage. Rolle dissing the Patriots compliments of them. Granted, there is more complimenting stuff from the majority, but it just seems to me that there is more pressure on the Giants than the Patriots.

All the attention is pretty much off the Patriots as a whole, and everything is focussed on Gronkowski and his ankle.

The Patriots defence is being totally written off, despite it being immeasurably better than when both sides played in November. The Giants offence is being hyped to the last, and how they will be better since they last met with Nicks and Bradshaw back. Point being, if you talk about one side of the ball having better players in your side, why not the same when it happens the other team?

There seems to be no hype with the Patriots. all the sounds and comments are as if they are complete underdogs. And with Brady having played a really poor championship game, I expect to see him really fired up. And that is the best thing that could happen the Patriots.

There is an eerie calm about them in Indy right now. Belichick was even cracking jokes about being more welcome there now since the fourth and 2. This is in stark contrast to the last superbowl, when they were heavy favorites, with the undefeated season on their shoulders and the hype was unequivocal. They seem relaxed and focussed, as obvilously do the Giants. But this Patriots build up is more akin to earlier last decade rather than the last match up.

The game is won and lost on the field, and despite thinking the Giants have a more balanced side and are in good form, I am starting to get some confidence in NE. Lets hope so anyway.

Eli Manning wrote: »

A lot of people are tipping either side. I think most people are tipping NE and that's been clearly reflected in the betting patterns.

to be honest, anything I had seen was that the Giants -3.5 has gone to -3 because there has been more money placed on them. But by the same token, if the Patriots were minus 3, I think people would bet on that. Its such a tight match up, that either one could justifiably be given the favorite tag, but I just see more analysts tipping the Giants.

Eli Manning wrote: »

Who is jumping on that? And by that I mean a credible NY media source. A lot of crap talk was said about Brady's comment but the general consensus was that it's not a big deal.

honestly?
NY daily news: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/patriots-quarterback-tom-brady-beware-planning-super-bowl-party-ny-giants-slights-motivation-article-1.1013788?localLinksEnabled=false
NY post: http://www.nypost.com/rw/nypost/2012/01/30/covers/back013012.jpg
ESPN NY: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/giants/post/_/id/11822/brady-planning-victory-party

and there is a load of others commenting on the absurdity of it. it is absurd, but you know it just takes something as simple as this to get a load of fans riled up without seeing it for what it is.

Eli Manning wrote: »

Edelman is poor, Manningham is right. Who wouldn't want to play against Edelman? But it's extremely disrespectful and it annoys me that he couldn't just think it rather than shout it out. The Webster bit is a bit meh. Everybody knows Welker is good. It's stupid trash talk but I doubt Welker cares about what Corey Webster thinks of him. Rolle is a joker. Nothing more, nothing less. Yeah, I'd wish we shut up. But the pressure definitely isn't on us IMO.

Eli Manning wrote: »

You want more attention for your defense and less attention for the Giants offense yet you seem content that the attention is off the Pats. People have huge question marks over the Pats defense. We beat you 24-20 in your own house despite our constant linemen problem. Since we got our linemen healthy we have been a vastly improved defense.Last week was the first time the Pats beat a team with a winning record all season. I'm not underrating your defense, I'm just saying that I understand why people will put us down for the win but I don't think the Pats are underdogs. The Pats are the favorites here.

I understand why either side could be considered favorites, but it just seems a little odd to see the Patriots horrible defence, with its porous holes being commented on so often. Only Green Bay were worse, the 31st worst defence in the league.

Any idea where the Giants ranked? As I said all year, I thought our defence stunk, but they are much better lately, and with the Giants only 4 places better than them of the 32 teams, it just might not be as big a gap as people may have thought.