Super Bowl 2012: 5 Things the Giants Must Do to Beat the Patriots

Tom Brady has been one of the most feared quarterbacks in the NFL for a while now, and he is arguably the most accomplished quarterback in NFL history. His three Super Bowl rings are evidence of his brilliance behind the center.

However, Brady hasn't done it alone, as he has an excellent coach in Bill Belichick, and plenty of talent around him. That talent almost carried him and his team to a perfect undefeated season in 2007 before Eli Manning and the New York Giants came up with the huge upset in Super Bowl XLII.

Here are five things the Giants must do to ensure that Tom Brady doesn't get his revenge and capture his fourth Super Bowl ring.

5. Run the Ball Successfully

While Eli Manning has gotten a lot of praise for his ability to manage games (especially in the fourth quarter), the Giants' backfield has been overlooked. In the Giants' three playoff games thus far, Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have carried the rock 74 times for 327 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 109 yards per game.

Though the Giants are a pass-first football team, rushing has been a key component to their success. In wins this season, they carried the ball 321 times for 1,135 yards, averaging 95 yards a game—while in losses, they carried the ball 151 times for 530 yards, averaging a mere 76 yards per game. 

4. Protect Eli Manning

In the NFC Championship Game, Eli showed his toughness after being sacked six times and being knocked down more times than you can count on your fingers and toes combined. The Giants' offensive line cannot allow that to happen against the Patriots. 

Eli has shown that, with time, he can be very dangerous in the playoffs...especially late in games! If the offensive line can't protect him and give him time to read the defense, the Giants' offense could have a hard time moving the ball—which will open up the door for Tom Brady and the potent New England Patriot offense. 

3. Keep a Defender on Rob Gronkowski at All Times

At 6'6”, Rob Gronkowski is six inches taller than all of New York's cornerbacks, and four inches taller than all of their safeties. Gronkowski has reeled in 17 TD catches this season, which is the most by a tight end in NFL history. He is a go-to guy for Tom Brady and has accumulated more receiving yards than most starting wide receivers in the NFL. 

Though it will be extremely difficult, the Giants must do all they can to contain Gronkowski, even if they have to put a linebacker on him. 

2. Win the Turnover Battle

In every football game at every level of football, the team that wins the turnover battle has an added advantage and usually ends up winning the game. This was the case when the Giants defeated the Patriots in the regular season earlier this year, just as it was the case in four of the last five Super Bowls. 

1. Get Pressure on Tom Brady

Tom Brady is the last guy to whom you want to give time to scan the field and go through his progressions—especially with the threats he has in the receiving corps. The main reason why the Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII was because of the dominance of their defensive line. It will be interesting to see how the Patriots' offensive line will hold up against a Giants front four that has generated 30.5 sacks alone this season.

All in all, this will be an interesting game, just as it was when these two teams met in the Super Bowl a few years ago. Will the underdog Giants prevail once more against a very loaded Patriots team? Or will Tom Brady add another Super Bowl ring to his already iced-out hand? Can't wait to find out!

We'll see what happens in eight days from now on Super Bowl Sunday!