Pats and Giants set for classic rematch
Posted January 23, 2012 11:21 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After an amazing run in 2008 saw the New York Giants become the first NFC wild-card team to win a Super Bowl, we’re set to be treated to a rematch of the big game in this year’s championship.
Eli Manning and the Giants will face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots for Super Bowl XLVI (46) on February 5 in Indianapolis.
The match pits arguably the best quarterback in the game, Tom Brady, against Eli Manning, the younger brother of superstar quarterback Peyton Manning.
Once covered by the enormous shadow of his brother Peyton, who is mentioned right up there with Brady when it comes to the best quarterbacks in the league, Eli has developed into a true star himself.
His Super Bowl win over Brady and the Pats in 2008 helped solidify him as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and this year’s run has only reinforced the younger Manning’s status as a big-game player.
In 2008 Manning and the Giants shocked the Patriots, undefeated at that time, by handing them their only loss of the season with a 17-14 win in Super Bowl XLII.
The Patriots would finish that season 18-1 as compared to a relatively unimpressive 14-6 for the Giants.
The road to this year’s Super Bowl was also full of intrigue, with both conference final games coming down to the wire.
The Patriots (13-3) made the final after Baltimore missed an opportunity to tie the game with a 32-yard field goal with only 11 seconds remaining.
“It went down to the end, it was a hell of a game,” said Brady after the game.
Meanwhile, the Giants took advantage of a fumbled punt in overtime to beat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17.
Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning says it was a hard-fought win.
“I’m just excited about this win, excited about having another chance to go the Super Bowl and play New England,” Manning said.
And play New England they will, as the Pats look to return to their winning ways. Once considered a dynasty by some sports insiders, the Patriots haven’t returned to the Super Bowl since their crushing 2008 defeat.
Nor have the underdog Giants, who are likely hungry to repeat their upset of the favoured Patriots on arguably the biggest stage in sports.
For the gambling types, initial odds from Vegas had the Patriots favoured by three-and-a-half points.
One thing is for certain, if the game holds the same intrigue as the 2008 match, it will certainly be a can’t miss event.
