Revenge of the “Great” Leverages Aspirations of the “Good”

Make no mistake about it. Tom Brady is out for blood. His exterior might be trained to not exude any level of intent – but trust me, his internal demeanor is burning like the flames of Satan’s backyard.

The New England Patriots and the New York Giants will faceoff this Sunday in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI (46) – but this matchup is anything but “new.”

The Pats and G-Men have had many recent battles, highlighted by a Super Bowl Matchup no more than 4 years ago in Super Bowl XLII (42), as well as a regular season matchup this season.

Four years ago in the season’s pinnacle, not only did New York get over in the end with an Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress touchdown connection that ended up being the game winner, but in the same swoop, the Giants also ended the Patriots’ run at a perfect 19-0 season.

This year, Eli did it again to the Pats with a late game, lead-taking, back-shoulder-fade touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ballard with 15 seconds remaining. This is all the more fuel Brady and his teammates need to drive their juggernaut, offensive sports car to victory this time around.

One would be remiss if, while picking New England, didn’t make a point to note how Eli is coming of age, and how some are obviously undervaluing his potential impression on not only this game, but proactively, his now obtainable hall of fame career.

Manning has an 11/1 touchdown/interception ratio in his last 4 games. But Tom Brady happens to have a better passer rating than Eli in not only this regular season, but these playoffs as well.

The pass defense ranking of the Giants this regular season is 29th, which is not much to argue when comparing them to the 31st regular season ranking of New England’s, a pass defense who has been openly ostracized throughout these playoffs, much more than the Giants have been when comparing the overall similarity between the two.

I’ll take Brady versus a 29th ranked defense over Eli versus a 31st ranked defense. And even though the Giants have a total of 20 sacks in their last 5 games, I see the offensive line of the Pats stepping up and protecting their present day version of Joe Montana.

But let us not forget the advantage the recieving core of the Giants has over that of the Patriots. Let’s consider: Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe; versus: Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad “Ochocinco” (uhhh…), Aaron Hernandez, and Rob Gronkowski in a high ankle-sprained boot. Any real bet would take the former before the latter. Vegas even has the odds of an Ochocinco single catch in the game versus a missed extra point near even money.

The deck is also stacked against New England in the running game. Even a random observer would take Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw over Benjarvis Green-Ellis and …… Danny Woodhead? Kevin Faulk? Stevan Ridley?

This disadvantage is where Tom Brady makes the difference and where first-ballot hall of famers make their mark. Even when they are sitting on 15 and the dealer is showing 19, they hit, and they pull a random 5 out of their back pocket and score big. Intangibles seem to always make the ultimate difference on the biggest of stages.

The trump card in the mix has to be coaching. History and a hand full of rings tells us Bill Bellichek has done wonders with extra time to prepare. Don’t sleep on this palpable advantage the Pats hold no matter what your Super Bowl party hacks have to say.

The joker in the whole cauldron is undoubtedly Peyton’s effect on the whole ordeal. It seems his dilemma is almost challenging the front seat, as the actual game itself rides shotgun. Unrightfully so.

Is Peyton stealing some thunder from his brother? Does the fact that this season’s penultimate contest is taking place in the stadium that Peyton built have some cosmic effect on the outcome? I suppose only shamans and exorcists know for sure.

All of this considered, once Sunday rolls around, and after all of the fanfare has finally come to a simmer, “dopey versus slick, country boy versus the city boy, $100 haircut versus $1,000 haircut” will become the singular forefront.

It will be a battle of quarterbacks. Of course.

It will be a test of one who is ahead, head-to-head, but behind all-time; versus one who is ahead, all-time, but behind head-to-head. This is the storyline, as it should be to the bitter end whenever it shows itself throughout the history of the final say.

So go right ahead – make your bet on whether or not some American Idol winner will foul up the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner. Make your bet on whether or not a steaker will make his or her way onto the field during the game. Make your bet on whether or not Madonna will show her boob during the halftime show.

Just know none of that matters. Aside from all the circus, all the production, all the distraction; remember what does matter and what the game is all about at its core. Remember who wins and who loses, even in the preseason, and why.

Because that simplicity is what will ultimately will decide a champion – football team that plays better on this particular day versus football team that plays worse – nothing more, nothing less.

New England 28 – New York 24.

Stay drunk and full.