Super Bowl 2012: Sunday Six-Pack of Thoughts on the Patriots vs. Giants Showdown

If there's any morsel of New England Patriots, New York Giants, Super Bowl or other minutiae that hasn't been discussed here or anywhere else, I challenge readers to bring it to me.

But with last-minute thoughts the theme of the day, here are just a few from this perspective with just hours to go until kickoff.

1. Tiquan Underwood's release

That was an interesting way to start the final 24 hours leading up to Super Bowl XLVI. The New England Patriots announced the release of wide receiver Tiquan Underwood of high-top fade fame, who went as far as to shave the logo into the back of his head.

The emotional reaction to this was disappointment and sadness over Underwood being cut just hours before the biggest game of his life. With a few minutes to soak it in, it became clear that the move was a business move, as it usually is for the Patriots. The team probably felt a need for added depth along the defensive line and felt they had enough depth at wide receiver.

In addition, cutting him any earlier in the week might have allowed him to sign with the Giants.

2. Danny Woodhead is the X-factor to watch

There are always a larger number of X-factors in any given game, but the one to watch most closely is Patriots running back Danny Woodhead. He only had a few chances to make plays, but he made them count with 34 yards on three receptions and 26 yards on seven carries.

Woodhead was able to find some holes in the defense in the last meeting, despite a low YPA on the ground. He could have some success when matched up with the Giants linebackers.

He did, however, have a very costly fumble against the Ravens on a kick return in the AFC Championship Game. If he's going to effect the game in an X-factor role, it's hopefully not in that manner.

3. Opposites attract

When it comes to the media approach of the two teams, the Patriots and Giants couldn't be any further apart. The Giants have spent much of their week giving the Patriots one sound byte after another, sprinkled with website gaffes, guarantees and anything else you can imagine.

This was hammered home with Chris Canty's Sunday morning Twitter prediction.

He'd be benched for the first drive, maybe even first quarter, if he were playing for the Patriots.

Bill Belichick has long since mastered the art of getting his team to say all the right things, and it came out perfectly all week long. 

Speaking of which, it's hard not to notice Belichick's relaxed approach to the media sessions this week. These are usually a nuisance for him, but he embraced it all with a smile. He doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves for his dry wit and wisecracks, but with the national spotlight on him, Belichick stepped up and gave New England media a week to remember.

One thing that the two teams share, though, is confidence. 

4. Who is the favorite?

The spread once read 3.5, but has slowly moved to 2.5. The reason is quite obvious: A majority of people think the Giants will win. In fact, 65 percent of all betting money is on the Giants to win, according to Reuters. 

Beyond that, a recent ESPN prediction roundup shows 43 out of 92 counted predictions for the Patriots (46.7), with 49 predicting a Giants win (53.2). This includes the entire ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown crew picking the Giants. 

Thus, as much as the Giants would love to play the "nobody believes in us" card, it looks like that may be a fallacy.

5. Super Bowl fun facts

Just a few random notes I picked up along the course of the week:

• The salary cap era has done quite a lot for parity in the NFL. Eight of the past 14 Super Bowls (57.1 percent) have been decided by seven or fewer points. Only seven of the previous 31 Super Bowls before '97 (22.6 percent) were decided by seven or fewer points.
• According to Scott Kacsmar of Cold, Hard Football Facts, "21 of the 45 Super Bowls (46.7 percent) have featured a fourth quarter comeback opportunity for at least one team. That means only 13 of the first 37 (35.1 percent) featured one."
• According to Kerry Byrne of Cold, Hard Football Facts, whoever wins will have the highest defensive passer rating of any Super Bowl champion in NFL history (86.1).
• Teams with a positive differential in turnovers are 33-3 all-time in the Super Bowl.
• Super Bowl XLVI marks the third time two quarterbacks have faced off in a rematch: Troy Aikman vs. Jim Kelly, Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII; Roger Staubach vs. Terry Bradshaw, Super Bowls X and XIII. The winning quarterback won both matchups in the previous meetings.

6. Patriots run defense could be the key

As much as the national media wants to push the key matchup of the Patriots offensive line vs. the Giants defensive line, the battle in the trenches on the other side of the ball could have an equal impact on the outcome of the war.

Greg Bedard of The Boston Globe pulled off a great interview with Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. The Redskins beat the Giants twice in the regular season, and if anyone has the skinny on slowing down their offense, it's him.

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Haslett said the first thing you have to stop is the two-headed running attack of the quick Bradshaw and the powerful Brandon Jacobs. "I think that’s kind of what they rely on,’’ Haslett said. “I think that’s what makes them go. They’ll start Jacobs, but Bradshaw is the guy, in my eyes. He’s one of the best blocking backs in the league. He’s got great acceleration, he’s fast, he’s really good on screens. I think he’s outstanding."

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The two have played particularly well in the postseason thus far, putting up numbers well above their season average across the board.

As well as Eli Manning has played down the stretch this year, he's gotten a bit of help from an improved rushing attack that no one seems to want to talk about.

New England's run defense stumbled into the playoffs by allowing some big numbers over their last four games (639 rushing yards, 5.7 yards per carry). However, they have stiffened their run defense a bit in the postseason, allowing just 3.7 YPA against the Broncos and Ravens, two teams known for their big-time rush attacks.

Which team emerges victorious could hinge heavily on the Giants ability to run the ball, and the Patriots ability to stop it.

Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda and Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter.