A Giants-Patriots Rematch

By Nick Ostiller

Here we go again.

Four years after what many consider the best finish in Super Bowl history, the Giants and Patriots are facing off once more for the NFL championship. While there are no perfect records on the line this time, this matchup could be equally enticing.

It certainly looks that way, heading into Sunday's big game. In 2008, with New England undefeated and having beaten New York in the regular-season finale, the Patriots were 12-point favorites. The spread now is 3, but the Giants beat them during the season.

Many Santa Clara students are disappointed that the 49ers, who lost to the Giants two weeks ago, will not be playing on Sunday. However, the Bay Area football fans recognize that New York is more than capable of winning another big game.

"If the Giants' offense was able to carve up the Niners' secondary, one of the best defenses in the league, imagine what they'll do to the lowest ranked defense of New England," said sophomore Darren Velasco.

Both teams are on quite a roll. The Patriots (15-3) have won 10 straight games and the Giants (12-7) have five consecutive victories.

Having come this far before is immeasurably helpful, according to Justin Tuck, the leader of the Giants' defense whose return to health and form has keyed New York's resurgence. He says the experience from four years ago in the Arizona desert, will benefit everyone.

"The only thing that I tell the younger guys is make football football," Tuck said. "Don't make this game bigger than it has to be. Everybody around you is going to make it bigger, but we have to concentrate on why we're going out there."

While the defense Tuck leads to Indianapolis isn't quite as overwhelming as the unit that made life miserable for Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady in '08, it has been reinvigorated as the Giants surged through the playoffs. It is also just as deep as the group that sacked Brady five times, hit him nine more — Osi Umenyiora claimed he had that many hits alone — and unnerved the usually unflappable star.

Today, it's Tuck, Umenyiora, All-Pro Jason Pierre-Paul, Dave Tollefson and linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, who compare favorably with Umenyiora, Tuck, Michael Strahan, Jay Alford and Antonio Pierce in 2008.

Other than Head Coaches Belichick and New York's Tom Coughlin, the defensive units are the most common element between the two Super Bowls.

"It's been a strength of their team for as long as I can remember," Brady said. "...It seems like they always have guys who can rush the quarterback. Justin Tuck is as good as they come. Osi week in and week out, he's a player who can ruin a game for an offense. You look at the group they have now, and they have a ton of depth at the defensive line position."

Controversial receivers Randy Moss and Plaxico Burress have been replaced by skilled playmakers like tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in New England. Wideouts Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz have taken center stage New York. Eli Manning no longer is a question as Giants' quarterback, and has carried the offense much the way running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw did in the past. However, Santa Clara students are torn when it comes to which team and players will be under more pressure on Sunday.

"I think Eli has all the pressure on him since he self-inducted himself into the same class as (Drew) Brees, (Aaron) Rogers, and Brady at the start of the season," said sophomore Dan McCormick. "The Pats are going to score. It's up to Eli to keep (the Giants) in the game."

On the other hand, "look at who won in '08," said Coby Newton, referencing New York's 17-14 Super Bowl victory. "The Pats definitely have more pressure."

Sixteen Giants remain from the '08 squad, while only seven Patriots are still around.

Similarities and differences, all juicy elements for Giants-Patriots Part II.

Contact Nick Ostiller at nostiller@scu.edu or (408) 554-4852. Tom Canavan and Mike Marot of The Associated Press contributed to this report.