Super Bowl 2012: Why New York Giants Will Hoist Lombardi Trophy

The New York Giants are going to beat the New England Patriots in the Super bowl for the second time in four years. While the outcome will be the same, that will be where the similarities stop. 

This game is going to be far higher scoring than its predecessor. The Giants took that game 17-14. This one will come close to doubling that score. Here is how it is all going to play out. 

Offensive Balance

New York has struggled to get their running game going this season. However, that ground game has picked up, and it is serving them well. 

Eli Manning is still the straw that stirs the Giants offensive drink, but he has help now. This is going to pay huge dividends, as it will prevent the Patriots from gearing up to stop the run to help their poor pass defense.

At the center of the Giants' rushing revival is Ahmad Bradshaw. Bradshaw is running strong and looks fresh after spending a long stretch of the season on the bench due to injuries. 

And he has helped turn this offense into something the Patriots will not be able to stop. 

Better Pass Defense

Both of these two teams have made strides on defense. However, the Patriots have a ways to go before they claim having made the kind of strides that New York has made. 

All of a sudden, New York is not allowing anyone to throw all over them. In the playoffs, they held Atalanta to 183 yards passing, Green Bay to 241 and San Francisco to 178. 

They have made improvements on all levels of their defense to earn these results. They have had improving health, an increased pass rush and tighter coverage. 

They won't be able to shut down the Patriots' passing attack, but they will be able to slow it down, and that is more than the Patriots will be able to accomplish. 

Year of Eli

Eli Manning is not going to be denied. He is playing amazing football, and he will lead this team to a Super victory. He has also saved his best football for the postseason. 

Manning has thrown eight touchdowns and just one interception this postseason, and he has done that on the road and as an underdog for their last two games. 

He is not doing this on his own. He has a tremendous group of receivers, and this all going to be much more that the Patriots can handle. 

New England's secondary still has its weaknesses. They just allowed Joe Flacco to torch them for 306 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 

Joe Flacco is no Eli Manning. Manning is going to go big in this game.

Prediction: Giants 31, Patriots 24