Perfection Battles Perserverance

Patriots will achieve perfection

By Dennis Waszak Jr., AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE—So, you think it’s easy explaining, without hesitation or reservation, why the New England Patriots will complete a perfect season and win the Super Bowl?

Well, you’re right. It is.

Does anyone honestly believe Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriots franchise will allow themselves to be associated with one of the greatest upsets in sports history? Think about it.

It’s not going to happen.

“I told everyone that whatever you may think may be important this next week, it’s really not that important,” Brady said upon arriving in Arizona, “because this week will have an impact on the rest of your life.”

The Patriots have come too far to fail in their quest to join the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only NFL teams to go undefeated from start to finish. Belichick, a master strategist, has had two weeks to put together the mother of all game plans and join Pittsburgh’s Chuck Noll as the only coaches to win four Super Bowls.

“He’s a guy who doesn’t overlook any detail,” safety Rodney Harrison said. “That’s Bill Belichick. He just pays attention to every single aspect or detail about this football team. And that’s the thing that really separates Bill Belichick from others.”

That means the Giants are in trouble.

Sure, New York gave New England a major scare in Week 17 and nearly pulled off an upset. But almost doesn’t cut it. Eli Manning had a terrific game, and the Giants’ defensive line pressured, hit and forced Brady to make decisions faster than he prefers.

It still wasn’t good enough, and the Patriots now know what to expect.

“We are all going to do our best to hopefully make this one of the weeks that we remember for all of the great reasons and not a week we would like to forget,” Brady said.

He’ll make sure of it. He’s got the looks the ladies love, and he’s got everything anyone could ever want in a quarterback. Just ask Moss.

“We are talking about the MVP,” he said, “and in my eyes, the greatest quarterback to ever play this game.”

Brady is the ultimate leader: cool, calm and collected. He also has had perhaps the best season in NFL history by a quarterback, setting records with 50 touchdown passes — and five more in the playoffs — and leading the Patriots to a league mark for points. He’s been helped by a massive and talented offensive line that has allowed just 24 sacks, a career-low for Brady.

One of those sacks came against the Giants, who have the league’s top pass rush, but starting right guard Stephen Neal and right tackle Nick Kaczur didn’t play in that game because of injuries. They’re back, so Brady’s bunch of brawny and bearded linemen are all together.

Many believe the one way to beat Brady is to fluster him and make him to stray from the game plan. It didn’t work for the Giants a month ago, and it didn’t work 17 other weeks.

Even when Brady is forced to change things up on the fly, he always seems to make the right call. Moss, who caught an NFL-record 23 TDs, has only two catches in the postseason. No problem. Instead, Brady has found Wes Welker, who had 112 receptions in the regular season and 16 more in the playoffs.

Throw in Donte’ Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney and Benjamin Watson, as well running backs Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk, and Brady has too many targets for the Giants to stop on a consistent basis.

The Achilles’ heel of the Patriots’ offense was supposed to be the running game, but Maroney has stepped it up by rushing for 244 yards in the postseason.

“When you have a physical defense like they do, you go downhill, and hopefully they get tired of tackling,” Maroney said.

The Patriots’ previous Super Bowl championship teams — in 2001, ‘03 and ‘04 — were powered by strong, stifling defenses and solid and efficient offenses. The roles are reversed this year, but don’t overlook New England’s defense.

The Patriots led the league in pass defense with a playmaking secondary in Harrison, Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs and James Sanders. Manning had a good day against these guys, throwing for 251 yards and four touchdowns, but also was picked off by Hobbs on a crucial play late in the fourth quarter.

Sure, the linebackers are an aging group with Junior Seau (39), Mike Vrabel (32), Tedy Bruschi (34) and Adalius Thomas (30), but they’ve got seven Super Bowl rings among them. With Brady’s ability to chew up time with long, sustained drives, these old-timers usually don’t have to worry about getting tired because they’re on the field too long.

The Patriots also have the better kicker. It’s not Adam Vinatieri anymore, but Stephen Gostkowski has become New England’s Mr. Clutch in his second season with the Patriots. Gostkowski, 22-of-26 on field-goal attempts, set an NFL record by kicking 74 extra points during the regular season and has added seven more in the playoffs.

“He has a good temperament for the game,” Belichick said. “He has a good degree of confidence, but certainly not overbearing.”

Speaking of going overboard, those black suits the Giants wore on the plane to Arizona, representing a funeral for the Patriots? Keep dreaming.

“A look is just a look,” Harrison said. “You’ve still got to execute, and you’ve still got to make plays in between the lines. Talking isn’t going to get it done. You’d better strap up, and you’ve got to get ready to play. It’s 60 minutes.”

Still, chatty wide receiver Plaxico Burress guaranteed a Giants victory — 23-17. The last few times players made such a bold claim — Pittsburgh’s Anthony Smith in Week 13, and San Diego’s Igor Olshansky before the AFC championship — they were embarrassed by Brady and the Patriots.

Hey, Plax, remember this: There’s only one Joe Namath.

And there’s only one pick for this game: Patriots 38, Giants 24.

New York will pull off the upset

By Tom Canavan, AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE—The Amazin’ Mets over Earl Weaver and the Orioles in 1969. Joe Namath and the Jets delivering on a guarantee against the Colts in Super Bowl III.

The USA hockey team and its miracle against the Russians at Lake Placid. Villanova’s perfect game to win the NCAA basketball championship against Patrick Ewing and Georgetown after losing twice in the regular season.

Even the New England Patriots canceling the “Greatest show on turf” in 2002.

Get the picture.

The history of sports is filled with unbelievable upsets by teams that seemingly didn’t have a chance in you know what.

The New York Giants are next. Forget Tom Brady and the Patriots’ quest for perfection.

It ends Sunday in the Super Bowl.

The Giants (13-6) KNOW they can play with the Patriots (18-0). They learned that a month ago in the final game of the regular season in a 38-35 loss.

Sure, New York scored a late touchdown to make the game close, but it also had a 12-point third-quarter lead in a game that meant everything to New England and nothing to the Giants.

“We’re confident,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “We believe in our abilities. We are playing the best football team ever to play in the NFL. When we say that we believe in ourselves, it is going to come off cocky, but what do you expect us to say? Did we come down here just to enjoy the festival? We came down here to win a football game.”

Although there is no doubt the Giants must play their best to win, they’ve done just that recently against Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay.

Start with the offense and Eli Manning.

Peyton’s little brother has lived up to those lofty expectations in the last four games, throwing eight touchdowns and one interception, including four touchdowns and an interception in the loss to New England.

That’s only half his game. Watch him before each snap. His work studying opposing defenses has allowed him to change passing plays to runs, and runs to passes and help New York average almost 300 yards in offense this postseason.

New York also is plus-5 in postseason turnovers, which is significant. Teams that win the turnover battle in the playoffs win 85 percent of the games.

The running game also will have a new dimension for the Patriots.

In the Dec. 29 game, rookie Ahmad Bradshaw sat out with a calf injury, taking away the outside part of the running game.

Without Bradshaw, New York rushed for 79 yards on 19 carries against New England, a 4.2 yard average. Big Brandon Jacobs gained 67 yards on 15 carries, a 4.5 yard average.

New England’s secondary also struggled against the Giants receivers.

Plaxico Burress, who guaranteed a 23-17 win earlier this week, caught four passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie tight end Kevin Boss had four catches for 50 yards and a TD. Amani Toomer averaged 10 yards on his four catches. Rookie Steve Smith, finally getting into a groove after season-long injuries, had three catches for 29 yards.

The one concern is Burress. Bothered all year by a sprained right ankle, he has had swelling in his left knee this week. He has not missed a game this season, however, and he usually backs up his words with his play.

The offensive line has been solid. It allowed one sack and two quarterback hits against the Patriots.

Starting left guard Rich Seubert sprained a knee against Green Bay in the NFC title game, but he returned to practice Thursday and should be ready to go.

Bottom line, the Giants should be able to put up points Sunday.

But can they slow down the Patriots?

There is no reason to believe they can’t, especially with the defensive line hitting every quarterback in sight and the secondary finally healthy.

The line led by Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora is the key to the game. It must hit Brady or force the Pats to keep six and seven players in to protect him, thus reducing his receiving options.

Hitting Brady also will test the ankle that he injured against San Diego in AFC title game, and perhaps prevent him from having another big game against New York.

Brady completed 32 of 42 for 356 yards and two touchdowns in December as New England controlled the ball for 36:18.

That can’t happen Sunday.

It might not with the Giants secondary healthy with starting cornerback Sam Madison (abdominal muscle) and backup CB Kevin Dockery (hip) back. After all, the Patriots go-ahead 65-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Randy Moss came on a play in which Madison aggravated his stomach injury.

In the three playoff games, the Giants have recorded three sacks and 23 quarterback hits. The team also has limited opponents to 83.7 yards rushing in the postseason. And Patriots halfback Laurence Maroney did nothing against New York last time, gaining 46 yards on 19 carries.

Plus, give the Giants a special teams edge. Domenik Hixon returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown against the Patriots, and Jeff Feagles will give New York field position with his directional punter.

Here’s the final reason the Giants win. It’s the Gisele factor.

Brady’s supermodel girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen, is expected at the game, and we all know what happens when high-profile girlfriends are in the stands.

Just ask Tony Romo.

Now the Giants are ready to beat the Patriots and win the Super Bowl.

“We are setting our own history,” Strahan said. “We have guys here who are hungry to win, guys who want to be champions, guys who worked hard to be champions, guys who want that ring, and guys who are willing to do what it takes to get it.”

Enough said: Giants 31, Patriots 28.