Durzblog

Manning, Defense bring Big Blue 3rd title -- 17-14

All the pent up hatred for the Pats has almost seemed worth it, it made the Giants historic win all that much sweeter. To say that this playoff run was astonishing would be the understatement of the year. Six weeks ago this team was down 14-0 at Ralph Wilson stadium with a post season bid seriously in jeopardy. Eli Manning was a bum that most would have traded for JP Lossman and Tom Coughlin was likely finishing up his tenure with the Giants. This club was 3-5 at home this season (wins coming over some pretty bad teams -- Eagles, Jets and San Fran) -- as a season ticket holder I can't say that is how I saw this season going down!

The biggest grin I had all day was not thinking about Brady and his perfect season ending or Belichick and his smug arrogance taking a hit, rather it was for Tiki Barber. Hey Tiki, you think Eli as a leader is a big joke now?? Nice call -- Super Bowl MVP.

The Giants ended the season 8-9 last year with Barber and are the Champions without him.


Manning, Strahan, Burress, Coughlin, Tyree...these names will live on forever as legends of New York sports like Messier, Brosius, Clyde, Namath. Its a tough place to lose, but its the best place to win. As for the game and the effort of the G-men, Tom Coughlin said it best, "“Every team is beatable, you know."

That's why they play the game

not to be a jerk, because if forced to bet I would have gone with the Pats, but here is a great list of predictions from the nflnetwork.com:

"ESPN and NFL Network on-air personalities offer their predictions for Super Bowl XLII. Of the 30 ESPN picks, 25 chose the New England Patriots, while just five selected the New York Giants..."

PICKING NEW ENGLAND
Raul Allegre, ESPN Deportes NFL analyst and former New York Giants kicker
Patriots 31-21. I just don't see the Giants defense being able to stop the Patriots’ offense. Nobody is better at controlling time of possession than the Patriots and their arsenal is just too tough.

Russell Baxter, ESPN NFL research coordinator
Patriots 38-19. Thirty eight has been the Patriots’ magic number all year and 19 would be fitting since this would give them an undefeated 19-0 record.

Skip Bayless, ESPN First Take and 1st and 10 commentator
Patriots 38-17. Plaxico Burress lost this game for the Giants before it was played by saying the Giants receivers may be better than New England’s and by predicting the Giants would win by scoring 23 points and holding Tom Brady’s offense to a mere 17. Big mistake.

Ray Buchanan, ESPN 1st and 10 analyst
Patriots 28-24. Eli being hot will keep this game close and I don’t think the Patriots defense will be able to slow down the Giants offense.

Colin Cowherd, host of ESPN Radio’s The Herd
Patriots 31-17. It'll be close early but then the Patriots will do something in the 3rd quarter to pull away -- whether it's creating a turnover or converting on a big third down play. Tom Brady will be named the game MVP.

Jay Crawford, ESPN First Take and 1st and 10 co-host
Patriots 38-21. Not going to stop the Patriots offense. The difference in the game is that New England has been there, done that, while the Giants are taking video of everything like it’s a trip to Disney.

Hank Goldberg, ESPN Correspondent
Patriots 30-27. They always win by three points. Just look at their last three Super Bowls.

Mike Golic, NFL Live analyst and co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning
Patriots 31-24. Their versatility will be the key. They always find a way to get it done and they will again this time.

Jemele Hill, ESPN.com Page 2 writer and 1st and 10 commentator
Patriots 38-31. Tom Brady goes to quarterback immortal.

Gary Horton, ESPN Scouts Inc. Insider
Patriots 31-20. With two weeks to prepare for Bill Belichick - and with field conditions being perfect - as much as I respect the Giants, they can't keep up with the Patriots. Tom Brady will find 4-5 match-ups that he will exploit.

Tom Jackson, ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst
Patriots 31-21. Hard to imagine the most prolific offense in NFL history coming all this way and not winning. There is also something to be said for the Patriots’ experience, being in this position before and winning three times.

Ron Jaworski, ESPN Monday Night Football and NFL Matchup analyst
Patriots 41-21. The key will be the Patriots three down linemen -- Seymour, Wilfork and Warren -- who will be able to collapse on Eli, forcing him backward which is not his strength.

Keyshawn Johnson, ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst
Patriots 35-17. New England has had two weeks to prepare for this game, and the lights might be too bright for Eli.

Erik Kuselias, ESPN Radio host
Patriots 34-20. This game was over when Brady took off the boot and squeezed into a cleat…too much offense.

Steve Levy, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
Patriots 34-21. The Giants won their Super Bowl in Green Bay.

Steve Mariucci, NFL Network
I think the Patriots have the best chance to win. If I predict the Giants to win, it’s because I’m saying there is a possibility for an upset. So all that being said, I think the Patriots are going to win, but I also think the Giants can pull off an upset.

Chris Mortensen, ESPN NFL Insider
Patriots 41-31. Perfect climate, perfect game, perfect season for Tom Brady.

Sal Paolantonio, ESPN Correspondent
Patriots 31-24. Giants defense still won't have an answer for Tom Brady.

Sean Salisbury, ESPN NFL Live analyst
Patriots 34-17. The weather is not a factor and on a fast track and with all those weapons, I don’t think the Patriots can be beat.

Mark Schlereth, ESPN NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion
Patriots 31-27. The Patriots do the best job in the NFL adjusting. They are chameleon-like in who they are and what they do. They can totally reinvent themselves during the course of a ballgame on the offense and defensive sides of the ball.

Stuart Scott, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
Patriots 34-20. The Giants will play them tough for a half, but the Patriots passing game is built for a dry, fast field.

Emmitt Smith, ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion
Patriots 35-24. The bye week hurt the Giants by taking away their momentum. Belichick is a genius at breaking down tape and he had a second week to prepare.

Mike Tirico, ESPN Monday Night Football play by play commentator
Patriots 32-23. Too much offense, too much experience, too much to deny the perfect ending.

Marcellus Wiley, ESPN NFL Live analyst
Patriots 38-23. They have had a perfect season. Why bet against them now?

Trey Wingo, ESPN NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime host
Patriots 41-27. No weather problems, perfect fast track. They are going to unleash the full arsenal. I can’t see the Giants stopping the Patriots, If the Giants don’t score 30, they will get blown out.

Steve Young, ESPN Monday Night Countdown analyst and three-time Super Bowl champion Patriots 42-10. Eli Manning is not a Hall of Fame quarterback yet. Brady will get the upper hand.

PICKING NEW YORK
Lomas Brown, ESPN 1st and 10 analyst
Giants 27-24. Giants win the first overtime game in Super Bowl history.

Mike Ditka, ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown analyst
Giants 31-28. I haven't picked the Patriots all year, so why should I start now?

Mike Greenberg, co-host of ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning and SportsCenter anchor
Giants 24-23. Just a little magic the Giants have working now. Call it a funny feeling.

Merril Hoge, ESPN NFL Live and NFL PrimeTime analyst
Giants 31-30. The Giants’ defensive scheme matches well with Brady and the Patriots because they attack the quarterback and challenge the wide receivers.

Shaun King, ESPN NFL Live analyst
Giants 34-26. Confidence.

Rod Woodson, NFL Network
I think it’s going to be a close game. My head is telling me New England because their offense is so explosive, but my gut is telling me the Giants because of their running game, defense and special teams is solid. Eli is playing outstanding…I think it’s going to be the biggest upset in Super Bowl history – Giants.