Giants vs. Patriots: 3 Things That Will Be Different in Epic Super Bowl Rematch

Although there are over 20 current New York Giants and New England Patriots who played in the memorable Super Bowl XLII in 2008, there will be a few differences in the game this time around. 

Let's take a look at three major ones. 

No real downfield threat for Patriots 

Randy Moss was held to only six catches for 52 yards and a 6-yard touchdown catch in Super Bowl XLII, after he hauled in 98 catches for 1,493 yards and a record 23 touchdowns during the 2007 regular season.

The numbers would suggest he didn't have a huge impact four years ago against the Giants, but on every Tom Brady dropback, New York had to adjust its defense to guard against the big-play ability of Moss.

The Patriots still have one of the most prolific and efficient offenses in the league, led by a terrorizing underneath guy, Wes Welker, and two tight end dynamos, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.

However, there isn't much of a downfield threat. Matthew Slater was targeted on a 50-yard bomb that ultimately became Brady's second interception of the day in the AFC Championship Game. 

Neither Slater nor any other New England wideout cemented himself as a dangerous, burner-type player during the 2011 season. 

The Giants will be much more worried about the Patriots' pass-catchers' yards-after-the-catch explosiveness than being beaten deep. 

More running 

Brady and Eli Manning will rightfully be the headliners of this epic Super Bowl rematch, but I expect more rushing in this game than we saw in Super Bowl XLII. 

New England entered that 2008 game as the most prolific passing offense ever, as Brady had thrown 50 touchdowns and Moss caught 23. 

They essentially used short, high-percentage passes to Welker as their "running game". 

While Welker is utilized in a typical fashion these days, Bill Belichick is much more apt to run the football. 

In the AFC title game, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead combined for 86 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense. 

With the Giants boasting a similar, premier pass rush, the sly and always-adjusting Belichick will keep it on the ground more than we expect. 

The same goes for New York, a team that's been extremely balanced during its "run" to the Super Bowl. 

Facing the 49ers' best run defense on Sunday, Ahmad Bradshaw mustered a gritty 74 yards on 20 carries and Brandon Jacobs carried the ball five times for 13 yards. 

Manning and his talented group of pass-catchers have been making the majority of the plays for the G-Men, but a lot of their success is due to Bradshaw and Jacobs keeping the opposition honest. 

The Patriots defense may be inferior to other units the Giants have played this season, but New England as been able to get to the quarterback of late, meaning Tom Coughlin must feature his running game to negate the Pats' pass-rushing efforts. 

More points 

Tom Brady laughed when then-Giants receiver Plaxico Burress predicted the Patriots' legendary offense would only score 17 points in Super Bowl XLII, and shockingly, Plax was nearly spot on, as New York triumphed 17-14.  

We'll see much more offense this time around. 

The teams are more evenly matched than ever and boast good defensive lines, but Manning and Brady should both be in for productive days on February 5th. 

The Giants' quarterback has been on a roll over the last month, and he'll face one of the league's worst secondaries that features wide receiver Julian Edelman as a defensive back.

Despite an underwhelming effort against the Ravens, Brady has been incredible during the Patriots' current 10-game winning streak, throwing 25 touchdowns to only five interceptions. 

New York beat New England 24-20 in Week 9 this season and did so without Bradshaw and wideout Hakeem Nicks. 

They were able to score 20 points on the road, in the rain, against arguably the league's best defense on Sunday. 

For the Patriots, you better believe Belichick will be scheming specifically to counter what the Giants did to his team in the regular-season meeting. 

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