The Cobra
02-02-2012, 03:28 PM
As per TSN
No. 4 New York Giants (9-7) vs No. 1 New England Patriots (13-3)
Sunday, February 5 - coverage begins at Noon et/9am pt on CTV
Giants
Coach: Tom Coughlin
Super Bowl wins: 3
Passing Offence: 5th (295.9 Yards/Game)
Rushing Offence: 32nd (89.2 Yards/Game)
Passing Defence: 29th (255.1 Yards/Game)
Rushing Defence: 19th (121.2 Yards/Game)
Patriots
Coach: Bill Belichick
Super Bowl wins: 3
Passing Offence: 2nd (317.8 Yards/Game)
Rushing Offence: 20th (110.2 Yards/Game)
Passing Defence: 31st (293.9 Yards/Game)
Rushing Defence: 17th (117.1 Yards/Game)
Regular Season Matchup
WK RESULT PASSING
9 New York Giants 24 at New England 20 E. Manning 250 yds 2 td 2 int | T. Brady 342 yds 2 td 2 int
Head to Head Comparison
Offence
Eli ManningEli has always lived in the shadow of his big brother Peyton. But with a win on Sunday he would pass the elder Manning in Super Bowl victories. Both of those wins would also be at the expense of Tom Brady. Not too bad. Eli is coming off a career year in 2011 where he threw for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. He's also been stellar in the playoffs with 8 touchdowns and jsut one pick. The strength of the Giants receiving corps is at the wideout spot with the dynamic duo of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. While the passing game was very good, the Giants run game finished dead last in the NFL this season. However, Ahmad Bradshaw was limited to 12 games this season due to injury. He's healthy now and picked up 72 yards against the stingy 49ers last week. Tom BradyTom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. His resume is staggering. He already has three Super Bowl rings, two MVP awards, and by beating the Ravens in the AFC Championship he will tie John Elway for the most Super Bowl appearances by a starting quarterback. Oh yeah this season he threw for 5,235 yards with 39 TD and just 12 interceptions. His weapons on offence are plentiful with Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski his favourite targets. Gronkowski was hurt last week against the Ravens but even if he can't go Aaron Hernandez is better than anyone the Giants have at tight end. The Patriots have a run by committee approach that doesn't get the credit it deserves sometimes.
EDGE: Patriots
Defence
Osi UmenyioraThe strength of the Giants defence lies up front on the line. The tandem of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul are tough to keep away from opposing quarterbacks. Statistically they weren't very good during the regular season against the pass allowing opponents 255.1 yards per game (29th). But Umenyiora played in just nine games this year due to injury and his pass-rush helps the Giants weak secondary immensely. And in the playoffs their D has been on fire holding the Falcons to just two points before knocking off the high-powered Packers while allowing just 20 points. Last week, they held the 49ers to just 1/13 on third down conversions and allowed just 17 points.
EDGE: Giants Vince WilforkThe Patriots philosophy of defence sometimes seems to be letting Tom Brady go out and score more points on offence. That wasn't the case last week though as the defence really stepped up while Brady struggled against the Ravens. Vince Wilfork was huge controlling the line of scrimmage for the Patriots and holding Ray Rice in check while pressuring Joe Flacco. With big Wilfork in the middle the Pats are decent against the run but really struggled against the pass this year allowing nearly 294 yards per game through the air. Their young secondary will have to be at their best against the Giants tandem of wide receivers. And if they aren't, well Brady is as good as anyone at masking a defence's shortcomings.
Special Teams
Haloti NgataLawrence Tynes connected on 79.4% of his field goals this season. He is a pretty reliable kicker inside the 40 but doesn't have the strongest leg in the game . Just four of his 19 makes this season came from beyod the 40. In the return game the Giants were middle of the pack in terms of average yards per return. Last week against San Francisco, their cover team recovered two key Kyle Williams fumbles. They'd love to see more loose balls against New England. For you stats junkies out there their weighted DVOA this season ranked 12th in the NFL. Devin McCourty Stephen Gostkowski was his usually steady self for the Patriots this season hitting just under 85% of his field goal attempts. He also has pretty decent range with 10 field goals of 40 yards or longer this year. He also rarely allows opponents the chance to return the ball on kickoffs. The Patriots are absent a real threat in the return game but are solid in return coverage. And once again for the Stats junkies out there, the Pats ranked third in the NFL in weighted DVOA according to Football Outsiders.
EDGE: Patriots
No. 4 New York Giants (9-7) vs No. 1 New England Patriots (13-3)
Sunday, February 5 - coverage begins at Noon et/9am pt on CTV
Giants
Coach: Tom Coughlin
Super Bowl wins: 3
Passing Offence: 5th (295.9 Yards/Game)
Rushing Offence: 32nd (89.2 Yards/Game)
Passing Defence: 29th (255.1 Yards/Game)
Rushing Defence: 19th (121.2 Yards/Game)
Patriots
Coach: Bill Belichick
Super Bowl wins: 3
Passing Offence: 2nd (317.8 Yards/Game)
Rushing Offence: 20th (110.2 Yards/Game)
Passing Defence: 31st (293.9 Yards/Game)
Rushing Defence: 17th (117.1 Yards/Game)
Regular Season Matchup
WK RESULT PASSING
9 New York Giants 24 at New England 20 E. Manning 250 yds 2 td 2 int | T. Brady 342 yds 2 td 2 int
Head to Head Comparison
Offence
Eli ManningEli has always lived in the shadow of his big brother Peyton. But with a win on Sunday he would pass the elder Manning in Super Bowl victories. Both of those wins would also be at the expense of Tom Brady. Not too bad. Eli is coming off a career year in 2011 where he threw for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. He's also been stellar in the playoffs with 8 touchdowns and jsut one pick. The strength of the Giants receiving corps is at the wideout spot with the dynamic duo of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. While the passing game was very good, the Giants run game finished dead last in the NFL this season. However, Ahmad Bradshaw was limited to 12 games this season due to injury. He's healthy now and picked up 72 yards against the stingy 49ers last week. Tom BradyTom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. His resume is staggering. He already has three Super Bowl rings, two MVP awards, and by beating the Ravens in the AFC Championship he will tie John Elway for the most Super Bowl appearances by a starting quarterback. Oh yeah this season he threw for 5,235 yards with 39 TD and just 12 interceptions. His weapons on offence are plentiful with Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski his favourite targets. Gronkowski was hurt last week against the Ravens but even if he can't go Aaron Hernandez is better than anyone the Giants have at tight end. The Patriots have a run by committee approach that doesn't get the credit it deserves sometimes.
EDGE: Patriots
Defence
Osi UmenyioraThe strength of the Giants defence lies up front on the line. The tandem of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul are tough to keep away from opposing quarterbacks. Statistically they weren't very good during the regular season against the pass allowing opponents 255.1 yards per game (29th). But Umenyiora played in just nine games this year due to injury and his pass-rush helps the Giants weak secondary immensely. And in the playoffs their D has been on fire holding the Falcons to just two points before knocking off the high-powered Packers while allowing just 20 points. Last week, they held the 49ers to just 1/13 on third down conversions and allowed just 17 points.
EDGE: Giants Vince WilforkThe Patriots philosophy of defence sometimes seems to be letting Tom Brady go out and score more points on offence. That wasn't the case last week though as the defence really stepped up while Brady struggled against the Ravens. Vince Wilfork was huge controlling the line of scrimmage for the Patriots and holding Ray Rice in check while pressuring Joe Flacco. With big Wilfork in the middle the Pats are decent against the run but really struggled against the pass this year allowing nearly 294 yards per game through the air. Their young secondary will have to be at their best against the Giants tandem of wide receivers. And if they aren't, well Brady is as good as anyone at masking a defence's shortcomings.
Special Teams
Haloti NgataLawrence Tynes connected on 79.4% of his field goals this season. He is a pretty reliable kicker inside the 40 but doesn't have the strongest leg in the game . Just four of his 19 makes this season came from beyod the 40. In the return game the Giants were middle of the pack in terms of average yards per return. Last week against San Francisco, their cover team recovered two key Kyle Williams fumbles. They'd love to see more loose balls against New England. For you stats junkies out there their weighted DVOA this season ranked 12th in the NFL. Devin McCourty Stephen Gostkowski was his usually steady self for the Patriots this season hitting just under 85% of his field goal attempts. He also has pretty decent range with 10 field goals of 40 yards or longer this year. He also rarely allows opponents the chance to return the ball on kickoffs. The Patriots are absent a real threat in the return game but are solid in return coverage. And once again for the Stats junkies out there, the Pats ranked third in the NFL in weighted DVOA according to Football Outsiders.
EDGE: Patriots