Stat pack
rushing yards
passing yards
total yards
Rushing yards allowed
passing yards allowed
total yards allowed
Patriots
Giants
110.2 (20th)
89.2 (32nd)
317.8 (2nd)
295.9 (5th)
428.0 (2nd)
385.1 (8th)
117.1 (17th)
121.2 (19th)
293.9 (31st)
255.1 (29th)
411.1 (31st)
376.4 (27th)
AFC champ New England Patriots (15-3)
Coach: Bill Belichick (139-53, 16-5 playoffs)
Super Bowl history: 3-3; XX — lost to Bears 46-10; XXXI — lost to Packers 35-21; XXXVI — defeated Rams 20-17; XXXVIII — defeated Panthers 32-29; XXXIX — defeated Eagles 24-21; XLII — lost to Giants 17-14
NFC champ New York Giants (12-7)
Coach: Tom Coughlin (74-54, 7-3 playoffs)
Super Bowl history: 3-1; XXI — defeated Broncos 39-20; XXV — defeated Bills 20-19; XXXV — lost to Ravens 34-7; XLII — defeated Patriots 17-14
POINTS per game
Patriots Scored — 32.1 (3rd) Allowed — 21.4 (15th) Giants Scored — 24.6 (9th) Allowed — 25.0 (25th)
Three big questions
1. Does the Giants' defense have an answer for the Patriots' dynamic tight end duo?
2. Can the Giants' Eli Manning — the best postseason QB in his family — rise to the occasion again?
3. How much will the New England no-huddle offense neutralize the Giants' ferocious pass rush?
Three players to watch
Vince Wilfork, Patriots defensive tackle
You might look at New England's defense, ranked 31st during the regular season, and make assumptions about its personnel. But watching Wilfork during the past few games has provided a reminder that he remains one of the best in the business. There's a reason he was voted to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. He single-handedly destroys offensive lines.
Victor Cruz, Giants receiver
For a guy who came close to being cut in 2010, Cruz has proved he can do more than salsa dance (which he does quite well, thank you). He's as crafty a receiver as you'll see, particularly when lined up in the slot and working against zones. That's where he did much of his damage in the NFC title game, in which he caught 10 passes for 142 yards.
Aaron Hernandez, Patriots tight end
Hernandez is half of what has become the league's most fearsome tight end tandem (with Rob Gronkowski). But who knew he could play tailback, too? The former Gator has provided a wrinkle for the Patriots' offense, rushing eight times for 70 yards in the postseason. It adds another dimension to an already prolific offense.
Probable starters
Patriots OFFENSE
WR: Wes Welker 83
LT: Matt Light 72
LG: Logan Mankins 70
C: Dan Connolly 63
RG: Brian Waters 54
RT: Nate Solder 77
TE: Rob Gronkowski 87
WR: Deion Branch 84
QB: Tom Brady 12
RB: Danny Woodhead 39
TE: Aaron Hernandez 81
Patriots defense
DE: 75 Vince Wilfork
NT: Kyle Love 74
DE: Brandon Deaderick 71
LB: Mark Anderson 95
LB: Jerod Mayo 51
LB: Brandon Spikes 55
LB: Rob Ninkovich 50
CB: Devin McCourty 32
CB: Kyle Arrington 24
FS: 25 Patrick Chung 25
SS: James Ihedigbo 44
Special teams
PK: Stephen Gostkowski 3
KO: Stephen Gostkowski 3
P: Zoltan Mesko 14
PR: Julian Edelman 11
KR: Danny Woodhead 39
Giants offense
WR: Victor Cruz 80
LT: David Diehl 66
LG: Kevin Boothe 77
C: David Baas 64
RG: Chris Snee 76
RT: Kareem McKenzie 67
TE: Jake Ballard 85
WR: Hakeem Nicks 88
QB: Eli Manning 10
FB: Henry Hynoski 45
RB: Ahmad Bradshaw 44
Giants defense
DE: Justin Tuck 91
DT: Linval Joseph 97
DT: Chris Canty 99
DE: Jason Pierre-Paul 90
LB: Chase Blackburn 93
LB: Michael Boley 59
CB: Corey Webster 23
CB: Aaron Ross 31
FS: Antrel Rolle 26
SS: Deon Grant 34
S: Kenny Phillips 21
Special teams
PK: Lawrence Tynes 9
KO: Lawrence Tynes 9
P: Steve Weatherford 5
PR: Will Blackmon 36
KR: Jerrel Jernigan 12
Injury report
Giants — Probable: RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), WR Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), S Tyler Sash (foot), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee), CB Corey Webster (hamstring), LB Jacquian Williams (foot).
Patriots — Questionable: T Marcus Cannon (ankle), S Patrick Chung (knee), LB Dane Fletcher (thumb), TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle), DT Kyle Love (ankle), G Logan Mankins (knee), LB Rob Ninkovich (hip), LB Brandon Spikes (knee), T Sebastian Vollmer (flu, back, foot), WR Wes Welker (knee), LB Tracy White (abdomen). Probable: WR Deion Branch (knee), C Dan Connolly (groin), S James Ihedigbo (shoulder), T Matt Light (flu), WR Matthew Slater (shoulder).
The Giants win if …
Their receivers consistently win their matchups against the porous New England secondary. The Giants kept the 49ers on their heels in the NFC title game, and they look to do the same against the Patriots. Also critical is the Giants' ability to make Patriots QB Tom Brady throw prematurely with their pass rush.
The Patriots win if …
They can keep the ball away from the Giants' offense. Though the Patriots often invoke thoughts of quick-strike scoring plays, they often embark on long scoring drives using short passes to their tight ends and receiver Wes Welker. If QB Tom Brady can play more efficiently than he did in the AFC title game — he had two interceptions and was sacked five times — it might be tough for the Giants to get enough possessions to win.
Our take
We lean toward the Giants when determining the more complete team. The Patriots' biggest advantage in most of their games is quarterback Tom Brady, owner of three Super Bowl rings. But as was the case in the Giants' run to the Super Bowl title for the 2007 season, QB Eli Manning seems to play at a different level in the postseason. This season he was among the elite passers during the regular season, too. Though the Patriots have overcome their shortcomings on defense, their unreliable secondary might be overmatched. Giants receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz will make their share of plays, and if New York's defensive front has a big night, the Patriots will struggle to trade scores.
Prediction: Giants 29, Patriots 27
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