Super Bowl 2012: New York Giants Will End Patriots' Run and Begin NFL Dynasty

The New York Giants ended the New England Patriots dynasty in 2007 with an improbable Super Bowl XLII win over the then-undefeated (18-0) Pats. Four years later at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, the Giants will put an end to the Patriots' deep playoff run and jump-start their own dynasty with their second world championship in four seasons. 

The Giants enter Super Bowl XLVI much less the underdog they were four years ago, when New England's juggernaut was prematurely crowned before kickoff, but that doesn't mean they won't have anything to prove on Feb. 5.

There is no team more deadly from an underdog spot than the New York Giants. And regardless of whether they are doubted heading into a do-or-die game, they will do their best to make themselves the underdog, talking trash and criticizing themselves on Twitter.

Incredibly, the Giants are 7-1 in their last three postseasons, 6-0 away from home, and a win next weekend would qualify them as one of the most dominant franchises in NFL history as well as the most recent dynasty. 

A lot has changed since 2007, but the most important aspects of the Giants have not. Eli Manning and his "how did that happen" wonder is still under center, and Big Blue's pass rush is still the most feared front four on the planet.

That combo has been unbeatable when New York have gotten on runs like the one they are on now. The momentum is contagious and never seems to dissipate until the hardware is in their hands. 

New York has won five straight games. That's nothing compared to New England's 10-game winning streak, which started back in November after losing to who else, the Giants. Still, New York's wins have a certain feeling about them that suggest the Giants are getting better every week.

Although both teams had iffy wins on Championship Sunday, the Giants win seemed much more the result of great all-around football and less the result of flukiness (a word that only exists for Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowls), for once. 

Manning has been converting on 3rd-and-longs, the defense has been shutting down drives before they even begin and the special teams has become the x-factor, recovering surprise onside kicks, forcing fumbles and nailing clutch field goals.

The blueprint from 2007 is back in place.

Would they become the most unlikely of dynasties, sure, but that doesn't discount their dominance over the past few postseasons, which they have completely taken over twice now.