Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Rematch Won't Be Deja Blue for New York Giants

One of the maddening storylines you'll be forced to suffer for the next two weeks will be the one comparing all of the similarities between the 2007 Giants and this year's team. It's an easy parallel to draw, and sportswriters and media personalities will beat it into the ground.

That's to be expected. The problem is, these two teams aren't really that similar.

The 2007 Giants finished 10-6 and had clinched a playoff berth in Week 16. Their longest losing streak of the season was two games to start the year 0-2, which they followed with six straight wins. They were solid and had the look of a playoff team for most of the year.

The team's close 38-35 loss in Week 17 against the undefeated New England Patriots gave them confidence that they could make a run to the Super Bowl, which they did as a Wild Card team that won all of its playoff games on the road.

In 2007, the Giants averaged 134.2 rushing yards per game, fourth best in the NFL, while Eli Manning threw 20 interceptions, worst in the NFL that season. The Giants defense gave up 207.3 passing and 97.7 rushing yards per game (305 yards total) during the regular season, finished with 53 sacks and gave up 21.9 points per game.

And that Giants team beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

The 2011 Giants finished 9-7 and didn't clinch a playoff berth until defeating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17. After losing four straight games in November and early December, the Giants stood at 6-6 and seemed in danger of missing the playoffs. But they got hot (minus a head-scratching loss to the Redskins in Week 15) and went 3-1 down the stretch, gaining momentum for a playoff run.

As division winners, the Giants defeated the Falcons at home before winning two straight on the road in Green Bay and San Francisco.

This year, the Giants averaged a league-worst 89.2 rushing yards per game, while Eli Manning had his best season as a pro, throwing for 4,933 yards, 29 TDs, 16 interceptions and playing like the best player in the NFL playoffs.

This Giants defense was far more porous during the regular season, allowing 255.1 passing and 121.2 rushing yards per game (376.4 yards total), finished with 48 sacks and gave up 25.0 points per game.

And this Giants team won't beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

That team was built to beat a high-powered offense like the one New England had. They played solid defense across the board, rushed the passer effectively and were able to control the clock by running the ball.

This Giants team is built to possibly beat the Patriots in a shootout if they have the ball last. They're vulnerable in their secondary and can be thrown against, they also rush the passer effectively, and they rely on Eli Manning and the passing game to outscore the opposition.

Different team, different result.

The Giants beat a team reliant on a high-scoring offense like the Patriots are when they played the Packers in the Divisional Round, largely because the Packers dropped far too many passes, missed opportunities down the field and turned the ball over four times.

If the Patriots execute better than that, they'll win this game.

And fans in New York hoping for deja blue will turn blue rather quickly.

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