Super Bowl XLVI Predictions - New York Giants vs New England Patriots

As a staunch New York Giants supporter I am going to try to predict what is going to happen on the Big Blue side of the ball for the Superbowl rematch against the Tom Brady led Patriots.

Offense

Eli Manning - I think due to the hot form of #10 the Giants are going to try to exploit the Pats Secondary and we'll see Manning try air it out and find one of his plethora of speedy options.

24 Completions from 39 Attempts for 288 Yards 2 td's and 1 Int

WR

Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham are a formidable trio and will look to gain ascendancy from the beginning. I can't see the Pats containing all 3 and it isn't implausible that 2 of the 3 will have 100 yard games.

Victor Cruz - 9 Receptions for 124 yards
Hakeem Nicks - 5 Receptions for 97 yards 1 TD
Mario Manningham - 3 Receptions for 52 yards 1 TD
Jake Ballard (TE) - 5 Receptions 42 yards

RB

Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have been a bit hit and miss thoughout the year and their success could ultimately decide the outcome.

Ahmad Bradshaw - 14 Carries 54 Yards
Brandon Jacobs - 9 Carries 49 Yards 1 TD

Defense

With the most fearsome and potent front four rotation in the league I'm expected Brady to get a good look at the underside of this Indy Dome. There are several legitimate threats to Tommy Boys health and they are in no order: Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, Osi Umenyoira and Rocky Bernhard. All have recorded sacks during the post-season and LB Michael Boley has dropped the QB on an impressive 2 sacks also. For the Giants to score more points than the Patriots they will need to hit Tom Brady as often and as hard as possible to try to rattle him.

JPP 1 Sack
Tuck 1 Sack
Umenyoira 1.5 Sacks
Rocky Bernhard 0.5 Sacks


Score
Giants 24 Patriots 27

I will come back next week and look at where I was wrong (hopefully the score) and analyse the game.

Until then hail to the Vintage46!

New York Giants sign WR Brandon Stokley

WTF???

The Giants passed on a proven match winner in Plaxico Burress but after the fall out with slot receiver Steve Smith and the average performances by Domenik Hixon and Victor Cruz the Giants have signed journeyman Stokley.

I understand with the looming injury to #1 receiver Hakeem Nicks and the defections of both WR Steve Smith and TE Kevin Boss that the Giants needed to sure up the position, I'm just not sure if signing a guy who caught 31 receptions for ZERO touchdowns is the man for the job.

Stokley played his first 4 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens including the 2000 Superbowl win over said Giants. In those 4 seasons he never recorded more than 24 receptions or 2 touchdowns in a season. He then spent the next 4 years with the Indianapolis Colts. Here Brandon had more success particularly with Giants QB Eli Manning's brother Peyton tossing him the pigskin. His one breakout year was in 2004 where he had 1077 yards from 68 receptions for 10 touchdowns. He production then tailed off and he spent 3 seasons with the Denver Broncos and last year with the Seattle Seahawks.

I believe Coach Coughlin will/should give Cruz and Hixon another chance.  Cruz may have hurt his chances with a deplorable dropped catch that would have been a 1st down halting the Giants opening drive.

No matter how the slot receiver goes for the Giants to succeed Eli Manning will need to share the ball around but focus on Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham.

Until then hail to GMEN!

New York Giants - PREVIEW - Receiving Corp

Well the lockout is over and the National Football League's 2011 season is on!

I'm very pumped and believe the New York Football Giants are in for a good year. To whet my appetite till the season kicks off I'm going to look at some of the strong areas for the Giants and where I see them being at season's end. I'll even come back then and reassess my predictions.

The Giants have always had a strong O-line but it's not glamorous and I'm not going to predict how many pancake blocks or sacks they concede. It's not Hollywood (or should I say Broadway?), so I'm going to stick to the 'sexy' positions. So I guess what I'm saying is that receiving is a sexy position.

2010 wasn't the greatest year for the 3 best wide receivers for Big Blue but that was due to injuries no form. Steve Smith only started 7 games out of 16, Hakeem Nicks 12 and Mario Manningham 8 started 16 played. They were the 3 focal points for QB Eli Manning and helped him reach his 1st 4000+ yardage year. If all 3 can stay on the field for the 16 games along with 3rd round pick Jerrel Jernigan, Tight End Kevin Boss and a running back out of the backfield then another record season is on the cards.

The 3 WR's compliment each other in style, Smith is a fantastic possession receiver, Nicks is big bull who reaches over defenders and Manningham is always dangerous for a 40+ yard reception.

STEVE SMITH

 MARIO MANNINGHAM

HAKEEM NICKS

 2010 NYG

I'm predicting that if all 3 receivers can stay fit they'll all catch 80+ receptions and 1000+ yards and 30 touchdowns between them. This would also see QB Eli Manning reaching his 2nd consecutive 4000+ yard season and hopefully 40+ touchdowns. Wishful thinking? Probably. At least they'll have better seasons than the Packers or Bears! I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Receiver Rating: B+

Until then hail to the Mary!