Centerfield

At least it was a good game. And I have to say, I was impressed at how well the Chargers played. Even with having a bunch of starters injured, the Patriots definitely knew they had been in a struggle!

Chargers were always considered a good team. Their last win was memorable. NE was in a game despite the SD injuries. One can observe however, that the Patriots seem to mirror the energy level and demands of the moment. They didn't seem to play with the same brutality I expect in the final game the Giants are going to bring. Kudos NE: they are an impressive bunch with an outstanding coach running a well-oiled machine.

My money was on Giants and Patriots. The Green Bay game was what to expect if you've been following the Giants. I wasn't certain due to how little I followed Green Bay. I knew they could play in the cold and throw some loops to the Packers. Another observation is how well the Giants are using the Patriot's playbook. Pressure was good and coverage tight, but the weather was wild. The passes were not zipping and the biggest surprise was some great catching by NY. Is Eli channeling Payton? Giants usually seemed confident moving the ball, but Favre kept going with the screen as NY shut down Grant. Great tackle by Pierce. Being too aggressive in the cold cost the Giants some blown pass coverage, but Green Bay did not execute and adapt like the more NE-styled Giants. NY should have ended it with earlier field goals and given the pressure, Tyne making the last one was surprising.

Giants and Packers get Kudos in the cold. If NY is healthy, fierce, consistent and opportunistic, they have a decent chance for the upset. Giants have come close to breaking NE. The margin will probably be Patriot's coach and kicking, but I think a 14 point spread is a bit too much. Giants can force turnovers. Pressure will be critical. My take is that NY could take Jags and Chargers with recent play. 9 away wins is impressive. However, Jags were probably tougher than Green Bay, Tampa or Dallas. NE broke Jags and Chargers and never looked too worried (if showing some vunerability against short passing and the run). Dropped passes probably saved the Giants in the Dallas game as Romo was let down by his team. Pressure helped both NE and Giants as did some great coverage, running and calm execution. Brady has been Mr. Cool. Eli needs to be cool when that NE blitz comes. That might be the big difference.

I say NE has it down to a science. Giants with their starting Tight End, players healthy and better special team play might be the difference between a Giant loss or win. Can NE keep the positions filled by new players as their vets age? Brady and company could win even more Super Bowls if the front desk plays the cards correctly. A few good add-ons might actually make them stronger next year as some great vets are not going to keep it up for much longer. And Belichick wants that top spot in the Hall of Fame. Six Super Bowls might do it....LOL

Hmm,is it really a coincidence that Manning has played better since Shockey got hurt and the spread the ball around more?

That was an epic game, GB-NYG. I wonder, was it the first OT game for such high stakes? I got a real kick out of Strahan's mid-week comments to the effect that it was stupid to play in shirtsleeves to prove you were tough. Didn't stop most of the guys from doing it anyway. Lots of guys were running on fumes by the 4th quarter, to my eyes. And the cold had ALOT to do with it.

I was shocked when Tynes made that last kick...I figured he was luggage after the 2 preceding misses. NYG really dominated this game IMO, so I was happy they won. The deserve to make the super bowl, as they really outplayed all 3 teams they beat to make the super bowl. The Cowboys and Packers have no bitch. And thank god we've been saved from 2 weeks of Bret Favre Football Genius versus the evil empire.

Still we have the matchup of the juggernaut against the wildcard, and I think the nation's rooting for the Giants. Eli Manning has played great lately, but you can still count me as agnostic. Bellichick-Coughlin is a good angle, too.

My best guess at this point is that Brady bounces back huge playing indoors after a terrible game and the Patriots trick Eli into a few bad choices and we win by double digits.

I think the Giants played great balldown the stretch and that they were the best team in the NFC when all was said and done. But I have had a funny feeling since we played them the first time that if we played them again we'd handle them more easily.We took their best shot in week 17, IMO.

From my view down here in NY, even last year's Giants had a potentially great team. Imagine working Shockey in now with a commanding Manning and coach. I said here last year at the start that the Giants could be great. Lots of talent. I guess it takes time to fashion it into a whole. They are still a bit inconsistent and NE runs on all gears most of the time.

I noticed the offensive line is giving Manning great lanes to see. NE gives Brady time to go down his check list. Giants Defense made the plays and put some hits on. They were a bit too in your face at times. I don't know if NE has faced that intensity since they played the Giants last. I was simply amazed how nothing flustered the Giants. The were not going to be denied despite a kicker with a frozen foot. We haven't seen such grit here in NY in a long time. Their running backs hurt tacklers. Man, the ground must have killed.

The Patriots can probably fool Eli and play with their blitz. NY must answer with running game. I'm not sure it will be 14 points because Giants seem to be getting better each game. They have nothing to prove once again and have some great weapons. Belichick would admonish Giants to just do their jobs and execute.

In the end, Eli needs to have quick responses for suspected pressure including some surprise plays. He has to make NE pay for blitzing. Giant line has got to open some holes and get running going. Eli isn't going to out Brady Brady. Jags could run. Eagles found the seams. Maybe NY can do both and keep NE on their heels.

On Defense, Giants have to hide their rush, watch Faukner and smother recievers. Giants will be working on that. How can Giants pressure Brady? They have to guess right and hope Giant line is attacking faster than the Patriot line. I'm not expecting Giants to win based on numbers, but I still think the Giants have not hit their stride and have really play a great game. You, know, that game when they'e in a zone and nothing they do is wrong. Were NY to come out and beat NE up, I wouldn't be shocked, nor would I be shocked if NE showed up and had an answer for everything, putting on a clinic of sorts. My guess NE scores first and builds a lead with NY coming back. Close one and Giants win.

Now back to reality. Brady finds a way to win again. Either way, football has been served. If Giants win, I'm not sure they will be this year's best team. They might be next year. If NE wins, the next Super Bowl win will put Belichick over the top. He will be God.

But those guys on the line fighting in Green Bay were incredible. The weather was grim reaperish. The eyeballs must have stung and the ground nasty like slick cement. Some shots were totally crushing and some catches as good as it gets. Most played bare armed and fatigue was setting in by the fourth quarter. The Giants would not be denied, nor a kicker robbed his redemption. A classic.

No question but that the Giants deserved to win their game. But it looked to me like a major factor was Green Bay mistakes. Including turn-overs.

Which might make the big question for the Super Bowl: will the Patriots make enough mistakes for the Giants to win? (Or, if you prefer, will the Giants find a way to force mistakes?)