Super Bowl XLVI Preview

So here it is.. the big preview to the biggest Championship Final of the year - so far.

We've gone through the mundane and nauseating buildup and the joke that is called the Pro Bowl. In a few days time, we'll be onto the main course and what should be a very good one.

To be honest, we've been blessed in recent times with some of the most exciting Super Bowls in history. Last year's Packers v Steelers final was probably one of the finest ever Super Bowls in living memory. The year before that, saw that thrilling comeback by the Saints against the Colts. Then of course the Steelers had to wait till the last moments to beat the Cardinals who were looking oh so good to ending that long title drought. And the year before that, well let's not mention that game.

After all we will be mentioning that game a bit more here given it is the rematch between two football teams from two cities who don't really like each other when it comes to sport. The rivalry isn't quite up there with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees rivalry - well it doesn't help that these two only play each other in the regular season every 4 years on the current rota.

But that game has definitely lifted this rivalry to another level, into folklore, along with Eli Manning's struggle out of the pocket from the Patriots linesmen which led to that throw and that David Tyree catch.

4 years on from that fateful day in Phoenix, the Giants and Patriots have had significant changes to their roster but the quarterbacks are still the same and amazingly, both are getting better and could have more to come.

Big name wide receivers, Plaxico Burress and Randy Moss have long gone for each side, but Wes Welker is still there and his connection with Brady enables him to play the short, quick, no huddle passing game so effectively. It has worked against quite a tough defence in Baltimore even if it wasn't as prolific and will need to do so against an equally tough and dynamic Giants defence.

The Giants now have Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham to count on and both have shown to be adept at making the big play this season. The Patriots secondary is still second-rate but they didn't actually do a bad job containing the Ravens' Anquan Boldin and Torey Smith. They'll need to step it up a notch against the equally big and powerful Cruz and Manningham.

Then there's the running game. Ahmad Bradshaw appears to be at his best and is well complimented by the effervescent Brandon Jacobs - both give the Giants a very powerful and violent running game. The Patriots have BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead, two very different players. However, one feels that the Giants may have a slight edge here; mind you so did the Ravens and Broncos and the numbers weren't that great against the Pats.

One key thing Tom Brady must overcome is that Giants defensive line - one of the best I've ever seen. Tom Coughlin has got options galore - Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. Prince Amukamara is one of the great linebackers in the game. The thing about this Giants D-line is their athletic ability rather than their size. MVP Rodgers struggled with this trio but Brady would have watched the tapes and studied their game to see what they do best and how to avoid playing into their hands. 



So the outcome? Well I'm a bit nervous about this one given its the Patriots but at least this time they don't have the burden of trying to maintain an unbeaten season - which may be good for them. The advantage they have also is that due to the break last weekend, it might have interrupted the Giants' run of form - I believe playing since their last bye was integral to them getting up to beat the Packers and 49ers. The Patriots have done very well since a bye - they seem to work on their weaknesses very well during that off time, i.e. that defence suddenly turned up against the Broncos.

Tip: Patriots to win by a touchdown.

GO NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS!