When Tom Brady and the New England Patriots faced the New York Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl, they were heavy favorites. The Patriots were undefeated at 18-0, the first team in history to win 18 games in a season. The Giants squeaked into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Giants then went on to shock the Patriots 17-14 thanks to a swarming defense that consistently pressured and hit Brady.
This year, the Patriots are favorites again. They went 15-3 during the season while the Giants squeaked into the playoffs as a Wild Card. Like in 2008, the Patriots are there because of a high-scoring offense. The Internet is abuzz with a sense of déjà vu, with people wondering if Eli Manning and the Giants can shock the world again.
The Patriots had one of the best offenses in the NFL this year, led by Brady’s passing game, but they have been exposed as vulnerable to a good pass rush. The Giants were a streaky team. People pronounced them dead after a four-game losing streak left them with a 6-6 record. The Giants then got healthy and their defense returned to form, leading to a 6-1 record down the stretch (including the playoffs).
The Giants’ defense has been dominant down the stretch and Eli Manning has been outstanding all year long. Back in November, the Giants beat the Patriots in New England 24-20. Despite all of that and the fact that the Patriots lucked into the Super Bowl by beating a bad Broncos team and getting a fluke win over the Ravens, the Patriots are 3 point favorites in the matchup. My money is on the Giants.