Entering Super Bowl XLVI, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has registered a record five straight road playoff wins dating to the 2007 season. At the same time, New England Patriots QB Tom Brady now has 16 postseason wins under his belt, tying him with Hall-of-Famer Joe Montana for first place on the all-time list. In Indianapolis on Sunday, something’s got to give. Either Manning’s resourcefulness will lead him to a sixth straight postseason win away from East Rutherford or Brady will best his childhood idol with playoff victory No. 17. In my estimation, it will be Manning’s turn to wait ‘til next year as New England prevails, 28-24.
THE EYES HAVE IT: Brady will look to spread the wealth among his many sure-handed receivers.
Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will both play pivotal roles in today’s Super Bowl XLVI showdown, as will Giants QB Eli Manning and Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. But the final margin of victory will be the result of a remarkable defensive or special teams play by New England’s often-maligned unit. Throughout this season’s playoffs, the two teams still standing in Indy are there largely as a result of outstanding plays turned in by their defenses and/or special teams.
Sure the two juggernaut offenses are both clicking on all cylinders, but the conference championships were both decided by memorable plays on the other side of the ball. In the AFC title game, Brady provided the go-ahead points with his quarterback leap for six in the fourth quarter, but it was back-to-back stellar plays in the secondary by New England safety Sterling Moore on Baltimore’s final drive that preserved the victory. Ravens’ kicker Billy Cundiff’s ill-timed miss from 32 yards with 11 seconds left simply sealed Baltimore’s fate.
WALK THIS WAY: If Gronkowski isn't up to par, watch Hernandez pick up the slack and then some.
In the NFC battle, it was the heads up special teams play of Devin Thomas that propelled Big Blue to their fourth Super Bowl appearance. At the 11:08 mark of the fourth quarter, with the 49ers leading 14-10, the Giant special teamer noticed San Francisco return man Kyle Williams’s first blunder when the latter accidentally let the incoming punt glance off his right knee thus creating a live ball. Thomas recovered it at San Fran’s 29-yard line, which led to Manning’s touchdown pass to Mario Manningham less than three minutes later.
In overtime, it was Thomas again who capitalized on Williams’ second monumental gaffe. After failing in their second offensive series of OT, the Giants punted back to Williams. This time he fielded the kick cleanly, but after a five-yard scamper up the middle, he fumbled the ball right back to New York into the waiting arms of (who else) Thomas. Even though it was Jacquian Williams who stripped the ball from Kyle Williams, it was Thomas who was Johnny-on-the-Spot once again. Two minutes and 26 seconds later, Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes drilled a 31-yarder to book the G-Men’s flights to Indianapolis.
PATRIOTS SECRET WEAPON: Watch Edelman turn nothing into something on Sunday evening.
That’s why I think today’s bone-crunching battle will be decided by virtue of yet another unpredictable turnover or game-changer. And to go out on an even longer limb, I’m going to say that Patriots multi-tasker Julian Edelman will be the difference-maker. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound punt returner, kick returner, wide receiver and sometimes cornerback, will do something spectacular on either side of the ball which will provide New England with the points needed for victory.
With the Giants less worried about the Patriots recently hobbled tight end extraordinaire Rob Gronkowski, their double-team strategy will go to work on the Patriots other tight end, Aaron Hernandez, and wide receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch. When no one’s looking, Brady will drop back and throw a laser to Edelman for six points. If that particular scenario doesn’t pan out, watch for Edelman to create an opportunity on special teams or while he’s doing double duty as a member of New England’s secondary.
Brady will secure his third Super Bowl MVP award and tie both Montana and Pittsburgh Hall-of-Famer Terry Bradshaw for most Super Bowl wins by a quarterback with his fourth Lombardi Trophy. But the little-known Edelman from Redwood City, California, a seventh-round draft pick out of Kent State, will wind up being one of the most-talked-about players from Super Bowl XLVI. Just keep your eye on No. 11 and let’s see what happens.
Terry Melia is the former longtime Public Relations Manager for the Upper Deck Company and a freelance writer living in San Diego. His prose will be filling this Blog as often as he can spin them.