The Giants are on the verge of their eighth World Championship. Here are five ways to make that dream a reality and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to New York.
1. Hit the Golden Boy – This is obvious. The more pressure Tom Brady faces, the harder it’s going to be for the Pats’ offense to get going. Brady doesn’t like getting hit. Period. Like JPP said, when the defensive line knocked him down in their regular season matchup, it changed the way Mr. Bundchen played the game. However, New England will likely try to keep the passes short and utilize their tight ends to minimize the impact of the Hydra. Forget about sacks. If Tom Brady is on his ass throughout the game, it bodes well for the Giants.
2. Don’t count out Gronk – This kid is crazy. They’re going to shoot him up with so many drugs and the adrenaline is going to be surging. There’s no way he’s not playing, and playing well. He’s going to get his catches but the important thing is to make sure he’s tackled and can’t run wild after the catch.
3. Protect Eli – The offensive line allowed far too much penetration in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. Sure, they were playing against an incredible defense, but there’s only so many times Eli Manning can get hit. These guys have been a huge question mark all season and the biggest reason the Giants have lost games. They have to work together to give their QB time to make plays down the field and allow the offense to…
4. Remember the run – It’s tempting to just air the ball out against the Patriots and their secondary. I’m sure the Giants will take their shots. However, even if Bradshaw and Jacobs can’t get much going, they need to keep pounding and wear down New England. Having a running game will keep the Pats from focusing entirely on the Giants’ receivers and a well-timed play-action can only happen if there’s a legit possibility they’re going to run.
5. Defense wins Championships – We all know that both offenses are great. However, whichever defense can slow the other team down and make stops is going to win. You can never overlook defense. When these teams played in the regular season, it was tied 0-0 at halftime. This game might not be the high-scoring shootout everyone is expecting. The right defensive stop at a key point could be the difference between hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and going home empty-handed.
Rainman Suite 