Super Bowl 2012: Why Title Game Should Be the Best of Patriots-Giants Series

Super Bowl XLVI will the best and most riveting game of the New England Patriots and New York Giants' three-game "series" that all began in the epic Super Bowl four years ago. 

Why? 

Let's get to the two major reasons.

The Pats and Giants Are More Evenly Matched Now than Ever Before

This is easy. Eli Manning and Tom Brady are playing at an extremely high level. Don't worry about No. 12's bad effort against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game. He'll rebound on Super Bowl Sunday. It's hard to bet against him.  

Each team has three viable pass-catchers that are explosive in their own way. Heading into Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots had pieced together the best aerial season in the history of the NFL. However, a big portion of their offense came via the deep ball to Randy Moss. They're much more consistent now and can methodically move the ball down the field and sustain drives. 

The Giants offense wasn't bad in 2008, but they can certainly stick with New England offensively now. Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are dangerous down the field and can gain major yardage on easy underneath throws from Manning. 

Both teams' defenses weren't statistically great during the year, but have drastically improved during the postseason. 

For as great as the regular-season meeting was in 2011, New England was battling through some rare offensive deficiencies at the time and the Giants played without Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw.

The Patriots and Giants would both be considered pass-first clubs, but have demonstrated their offensive balance over the last month. 

BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a powerful, red-zone runner who can wear down a defense and Danny Woodhead is ideal on draws and screen plays.

The Giants running backs have been even more reliable, especially Bradshaw. 

When you stack up these two clubs, you'll realize they're evenly matched. 

No Overconfidence from the Patriots and the Giants Still Feel Like Underdogs

The Patriots had all the swagger, all the confidence, all the offensive explosiveness and a formidable defense before the Super Bowl XLII. 

Heck, at 18-0, they had the right to be. 

Maybe they went into that matchup the wrong way—thinking they were a lock to win. They overlooked Manning's effectiveness and resiliency and certainly underestimated what the G-Men were capable of on defense. 

Five sacks, a forced fumble, a legendary catch by David Tyree, a dropped interception by Asante Samuel and a Plaxico Burress touchdown, and the mighty, formerly undefeated Patriots were stunned.

Even before their Week 7 battle this year, the Pats were almost forced into overconfidence. They had won 31 straight regular-season home games in which Brady started. 

Something tells me Brady and Co. aren't going into this showdown overconfident at all.

For the Giants, they were the clear-cut underdogs in the 2008 Super Bowl and weren't favored in the regular-season meeting in 2011. 

They crept into the playoffs and, once again, have been winning games they "shouldn't" on the road. 

After their triumph over the 49ers in San Francisco, they opened as three-point underdogs to the Patriots.

Really? 

The Patriots are looking for revenge and the Giants are still trying to legitimize themselves.

You think there's enough motivation on both sides heading into Super Bowl XLVI?

I do.   

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