Photo: AP Images
- Troy BallardWe are now only a few hours away from kickoff of Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Here are some quick thoughts for the game:
Rob Gronkowski - Against the Ravens, Gronk suffered a high ankle sprain, and the injury has carried over to this Sunday. Despite the smoke and mirrors that Bill Belichick is trying to pull -- the kid is hurt.
Considering that he is one of the biggest keys to the Patriots' offensive success, this injury could end up being a huge game changer. The Patriots had better hope that Gronk can play through the pain, or plan on Aaron Hernandez stepping it up as his replacement.
The Giants Running Game - New York's running game has been underwhelming all season, but they need to have a major turn around in the Super Bowl. Both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs are going to have to flip on an extra gear to keep the ball moving and Tom Brady on the sideline.
The Pats' run defense has played well this postseason, making things even more difficult for New York.
Can New York Cover Wes Welker? - It doesn't really make a ton of sense how Wes Welker continues to dominate in the NFL, but he does. Brady seems to throw him open more often than not, and he is usually finds himself totally open for big gains.
With Gronk hurting, Brady is going to be looking Welker's way more often than ever. The Giants' secondary has a tendency to blow coverages, but they have to contain Welker.
JPP vs. Brady - Jason Pierre-Paul is an absolute monster. He can't be blocked. He has been getting to the quarterback all season, and may very well be the best defensive end in football. In the Super Bowl, he gets his re-match against Brady.
Brady has excellent pocket presence, and with that, it makes JPP's job quite a bit tougher. This is going to be an awesome matchup to watch, and could decide the game for the Giants on defense.
In The Dome - The Super Bowl is being played in Indianapolis in Lucas Oil Stadium, which is a covered dome. Meaning that weather and wind will not be a factor. The biggest impact? The kicking game.
There will be no excuses for missed field goals, and it comes down to the kicker's mental capacity.
Victor Cruz - The Patriots' defense seems to be made of a group of rag-tag defenders, and every game it's amazing they can even stop the opposing offense. Giants' wide receiver Victor Cruz has been killing secondaries all season, and he could have a huge impact throughout the game.
I don't know if there is a single player in New England that can keep Cruz under control, and he should be able to breakout on big catches and runs.
Brady's Revenge - New York spoiled Tom Terrific's perfect season back in '08, and now he has a second chance at beating the Giants. Brady barley loses in the first place, but he never loses the same game twice.
Brady will be playing for more than just a Super Bowl win, he's playing for revenge.
Manning Syndrome - Eli Manning is out to prove he is not only elite, but also get one more Super Bowl ring than his older bro. There's no doubt he has had a great season up until this point, but can he continue playing at that level in the biggest game of the year?
My money is he can, but this game is going to come down to defense for both teams. Manning can't afford to turn the ball over, and he has to make big throws when he needs to.
Post-Game - Check back for our post-game Super Bowl thoughts after the game!
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