Giants vs. Patriots: Who Has the Edge in Super Bowl XLVI?

The New York Giants and New England Patriots battled through weeks of competition during the regular season (including against one another) and now prepare to compete in the biggest game of the year—the Super Bowl.

In their Week 9 meeting, the Giants pulled off a last-minute 24-20 victory behind the magic of Eli Manning and a spectacular catch from tight end Jake Ballard. As a result, the Giants were able to sneak into the playoffs and pull off a historic run in the playoffs

Meanwhile, the Patriots have won 10 straight games since their loss to the Giants and do not plan on stopping that streak in Super Bowl XLVI.

For two weeks, the storylines have been discussed and the hype has been built, but who has the edge in Super Bowl XLVI?

Giants Passing Game vs. Patriots Pass Defense

Eli Manning and the New York Giants’ passing attack had substantial success, keeping the New England Patriots defense on their heels all afternoon.

Manning passed for 250 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while guiding the Giants from behind with under a minute remaining in the game to seal a much-needed New York victory. The Giants leader was erratic for most of the game, but came into his own—as he always does—with the game on the line and picked apart the Patriots defense.

Breakout star Victor Cruz exposed a Patriots secondary and revealed that nobody in the defensive backfield for New England can keep him covered.

There’s a reason the Patriots finished 31st in pass defense.

Furthermore, the Patriots cannot get after the quarterback—they registered zero sacks in their Week 9 loss to the Giants—and that will only benefit Manning in the passing game with more time to sit in the pocket and let everything play out.

Edge: GIANTS

Giants Rushing Attack vs. Patriots Run Defense

It would be beneficial for the New York Giants to have a stellar game from their two-headed rushing attack of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs.

In Super Bowl XLII, the Giants running game allowed them to control the tempo of the game and keep Tom Brady and the New England Patriots offense off the field.

Unfortunately, the Giants rushing game is simply not as good as it was in 2008 and they’re going up against a Patriots defense that just held Baltimore Ravens superstar running back Ray Rice to 67 yards on 21 carries—good enough for a 3.2 yards-per-carry average.

Jacobs had a quality day for the Giants in their Week 9 matchup with the Patriots—rushing for 72 yards over 18 carries and a touchdown—and they will need more of that to be successful in Indianapolis.

However, right now the Patriots are on top of their game against the run and the Giants have been less than impressive since their Wild Card Round assault of the Atlanta Falcons.

Edge: PATRIOTS

Patriots Passing Game vs. Giants Pass Defense

There’s no denying how dangerous Tom Brady can be when he has the ball in his hands. His 5,235 passing yards and 36 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions and a 105.6 passer rating illustrate every bit just how special a player Brady is.

Add in a collection of the NFL’s top playmakers and you have one of the most dangerous offensive units the game has ever seen.

In Week 9, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez combined for 21 receptions, 272 yards receiving and two touchdowns. The Giants struggled to keep all three men covered, unable to match the athleticism of Gronkowski and Hernandez as the linebackers and safeties were forced to cover them.

The Patriots were successful all game with the big play, tallying five pass plays over 20 yards. Four of those were completed to Welker, who continues to be Brady’s favorite target.

However, what the Giants lack in coverage, they do make up for in pass-rushing ability. Few teams in the NFL are able to get after the quarterback like the Giants. In Week 9, the Giants recorded two sacks, but their presence in Brady’s face made it tough for the three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback to be comfortable in the pocket.

If Brady’s uncomfortable in the pocket, he can’t be quite as dominant as he usually is. That results in turnovers like the two interceptions he threw in the Patriots’ Week 9 loss to the G-Men.

Edge: EVEN

Patriots Rushing Attack vs. Giants Run Defense

The New England Patriots don’t run the football often, but when they do they are successful with it.

Success running the football enables Tom Brady more time to sit in the pocket, scan the play and get the ball to one of his playmakers. In Week 9, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 4.3 yards per carry and forced the Giants to stay on their toes.

This postseason, the Patriots are averaging just four yards per carry. The statistics aren’t impressive, but against a team like the Giants, who are suddenly struggling against the run in allowing five yards per carry, the Patriots could have an advantage that helps them to control Super Bowl XLVI much like the Giants did to them in Super Bowl XLII.

Edge: PATRIOTS

Special Teams

Some teams have these exciting, game-changing special teams units. Neither the Giants nor the Patriots boast such a thing in this Super Bowl, however.

If there’s one thing these teams do have though, it’s a clutch kicker.

Lawrence Tynes and Stephen Gostkowski aren’t names that jump off the page when you are looking for some of the NFL’s top kickers, but they have been key for their respective teams every time they have been called upon.

In the punting game, the Giants’ Steve Weatherford and the Patriots’ Zoltan Mesko had great seasons and continue to be consistent contributors.

Meanwhile in the return game, neither team presents an explosive return man or any reason to expect something game-changing in the battle for field position.

Edge: EVEN

Coaching

One head coach, Bill Belichick, is revered for his genius and ability to make the most of the talent he is given. The other, Tom Coughlin, has his job in question every week. Yet, both coaches might equally be two of the most consistent leaders at the helm for their teams and are widely responsible for the yearly success of their franchises.

Both men have Super Bowl experience and are master motivators for their teams. Belichick’s ability to make adjustments and prepare his team to play should be a concern for the Giants.

But Coughlin and his staff have shown that they, perhaps more than anyone else, can keep up with the Patriots and might even have Belichick’s number, having defeated New England in each of their last two meetings in surprising fashion.

Edge: GIANTS

The Giants Will Win If...

In order for the New York Giants to be successful, they must get in Tom Brady’s face and make it difficult for him to make good passes.

With Rob Gronkowski hobbled, the Giants’ disadvantage in coverage against him lessens and should make things at least a little easier for the linebackers. This of course will allow the front four more time to bring the pressure.

In each of the last two Giants victories over the Patriots, quarterback pressure has been the biggest factor in keeping Brady and the Patriots out of the end zone and off the field as often as possible. Look for Jason Pierre-Paul’s athleticism on the edge to give the Patriots a lot of trouble.

The Patriots Will Win If...

The New England Patriots' pass coverage was exposed by a subpar Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship and nearly lost because of it. If the Patriots wish to win their fourth Super Bowl under Bill Belichick, they will need to tighten up in pass coverage and keep Eli Manning from dominating the game.

In Week 9, the Patriots held Manning and the Giants in check for most of the game before crumbling in the final quarter and allowing New York to steal a victory away. The Pats will likely need to capitalize on their stellar ability to make interceptions, forcing Manning to make dangerous throws into coverage.

With an average Giants offensive line marred by injuries and filled by unsatisfactory talent, the Patriots should be able to create the pressure to force those throws.

In the NFC Championship Game, the San Francisco 49ers were able to hit Eli Manning 19 times. It didn’t net the Niners a win, but it is certainly something for the Patriots to build on.

Prediction

This Super Bowl, much like the New York Giants and New England Patriots’ meeting in Super Bowl XLII, has the makings of being one of the all-time greats. It’s a matchup of two elite quarterbacks, two rosters full of talent superstars and two brilliant head coaches.

With the exception of a halftime performance by Madonna that is surely going to be terrible, Super Bowl Sunday should be flawless.

In the end, however, Eli Manning and the Giants will piece together another spectacular Super Bowl performance that culminates in a Lombardi Trophy for New York. Highlighted by high-powered offenses and rugged defensive play, it will of course come down to the wire.

Just in time for some Manning magic.

Giants 27, Patriots 24