Mixed Feelings about Tonight

by Chris Kole on Jan 23, 2012 12:11 AM EST

#1: Super Bowl Baby. Happy to see this much maligned team overcome all it's flaws and bad play to get to the Super Bowl, and finally get that playoff monkey off it's back.

#2: 49ers lost uggg. Hate to see us facing a balanced team in SB. They are a better match-up than if we were facing the Saints or Packers, but they aren't necessarily a "great" match-up for the patriots.

#3: Those Damned Football Gods! Hate to see the Giants (of all teams to potentially lose to) in the SB. It's a team I don't HATE like the Jets, but I admit a strongly dislike their QB Eli Manning and for Brady to potentially be 0-2 IN SBs against him would be beyond awful.

#4: Final stop on Revenge Tour? Although I would hate to lose to those Giants, I would also love to beat (of all teams to potentially beat) those Giants. Complete our revenge get Brady his 4th ring, get BB his 6th ring, coach and QB go down as GOAT, and call it a successful season.

#5: Confident in our chances. They are not particularly dominant on either side of the ball. We have the ability on D to hold them under 30 and have the ability on O to score 30, BUT WE NEED TO PLAY GREAT, OPPORTUNISTIC, COMPLIMENTARY, MISTAKE FREE FOOTBALL for both of those things to happen (this was probably our MO in 2010 not so much in 2011). We have also faced this team before and BB has 2 weeks to prepare for a team he already faced (and lost to, which is an important factor also).

#6: The Offense? We can't seem to score 30 pts on the really good teams we've faced all season. If they have a competent QB (can take a snap without fumbling, won't blindly throw Hail Mary passes, and careless red zone picks) and a good defense we are in trouble. Branch is contributing little when the Defense plays tight, and he's our no. 2 WR and is on the field a lot! And we put Edelman (STer) as our outside WR? And used Matthew Slater (STer) as our deep guy? That did more harm then good (2 ints). Seriously enough with Slater on the other 2 phases of the game it never ends well.

#7: Dear Patriots coaching staff, if ANY GAME would be the game to give Ocho a decent amount of snaps THIS IS IT!!! He got open on the Giants CBs before, he can do it again. But in all honesty I don't even know where he stands with the pats/Brady right now. He probably hasn't earned his trust, he hasn't gotten any significant snaps in a while, and the pats do not really show any desire to give him those snaps anyway. If they are giving Edelman and Underwood more snaps than you on a consistent basis, then you might be done.

#8: DON'T LOSE THE SB!!! It's sets your Franchise back for at least a couple years. Sometimes they just never recover. Look at our past 5 SB losers.

2010 - Steelers Tebow'd in the playoffs the following year

2009 -Colts: Sucked in 2010, Manning was a pick machine for a small stretch, then was bounced by the Jets on a last second drive. Next year, 2-14. Nuff said

2008 - Cardinals: Following year they made the playoffs, won a playoff game but got beat so bad by the Saints that their star QB retired. Combined record the following 2 years. 13-19 with John Skelton leading them at QB. John Skelton...

2007- Patriots: Brady went down WEEK 1 the next season, and they missed the playoffs as a result. Following year had a mentally weak team, couldn't win on the road all year, lost their star WR in a meaningless game in WEEK 17, and got blown out at home as a result. 2010 got the #1 seed only to be one and doned by their hated rivals at home whom they blew out only a few weeks prior.

2006 Bears: Finished last in the NFC North the following year. Went 9-7and missed the playoffs in 2008, then switch their record in 09 after trading for a pro bowl QB who would go on to throw 26 ints that year. That's THREE STRAIGHT YEARS OF MISSING THE PLAYOFFS AFTER BEING A SUPER BOWL TEAM.

2002-Raiders. Have the Raiders even sniffed a playoff game ever since?

#9: I just wanna savor this moment. This may be one of the last times we are in the big game since Brady is edging closer and closer toward the end, and BB long term status is up in the air.. So let's just appreciate this moment Pats fans and now that we sure are lucky to be in the situation we are in.

The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SBNation.

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Comments

Giants are far from balanced

They looked good now, but people tend to forget that they were the worst rushing offense in the league this year, 27th in yards and 29th in pass defense. Sure their defense is better in the postseason, but same can be said of the pats.

by lololol on Jan 23, 2012 12:21 AM EST reply actions

They've been running way better in postseason.

Shawn Johnson... she's a nice lady

by Noah Lot on Jan 23, 2012 1:06 AM EST up reply actions

So has the pats. Basically these are two teams that looked bad in regular season for a while and looked improved in the postseason.

by lololol on Jan 23, 2012 1:26 AM EST up reply actions

Kyle Williams

is also clearly their best player.

Can I Scream?

Follow @FoxMcCloud86

by Adam Fox on Jan 23, 2012 1:30 AM EST up reply actions

yes , yes he is .

dont forget the Packers WRs/RBs, Mark Sanchez and the entire Falcon O.

Giants are very “lucky”

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'zz SUCK!! Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams,...Maybe .. Sadly this has been modified.

by Troy O on Jan 24, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

Giants run gm. has been a lot better the past 7 weeks..

and over the past 5 games the D is giving up 13.4 pts a game. vs high powered Os like the Falcons ,Cowboys and the Packers.

I think both teams have looked alot different of late just the Giants have done it vs the more impressive opponent.

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'zz SUCK!! Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams,...Maybe .. Sadly this has been modified.

by Troy O on Jan 24, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

Cannot Agree More with #3 Reason

I don’t hate the Giants – but something about Eli Manning makes me hate him. I really think it’s the entire Manning clan. Archie feels like he’s some football god or even NFL team owner, but he was just a decent player. Peyton in the NFL is just like in college – great games except when it really matters. Granted, Peyton won a ring, but it was against a surprising Bears team that was clearly outmatched (led by Grossman!). Eli did beat the Pats, but the way he disrespected San Diego still is nasty. And now Archie is speaking his mind about what Indy should do with their draft picks! Really? All I can say is – Go Pats! Time for revenge!

by DoctorU2 on Jan 23, 2012 2:01 AM EST reply actions

That's probably the way the rest of the nation

feels about the Pats.

by tossin on Jan 23, 2012 2:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Don't be a Hank!

Beating the Giants would complete the 2011/2012 Redemption Tour as noted by Richard Hill.

As far as hating the Giants, I think it’s tough for a lot of New Englanders who have a legacy of Giants fanhood that might go back before the Pats existed. I know my father was always a Takenton/Giants fan, and that kind of carried over to me. Especially during the lean pre-Grogan and Pre-Kraft days. Although SB 42 did a lot to destroy that.

by NE Habs Fan on Jan 23, 2012 10:04 AM EST reply actions

Giants are playing tough football...

but keep in mind this is a team that was at one point 7-7 and lost to the Redskins (!) twice. They are playing their best football right now, but they are far from invincible.

"If you know how to cheat, start now." - Earl Weaver

by rebop on Jan 23, 2012 1:12 PM EST reply actions

At least we're thinking of them as a big challenge this time

Instead of them appearing to be a 95 pound weakling standing in the way of perfection just waiting to be bowled over. This way we can maintain a bit of the underdog mentality.

At least this time we won’t be watching Maroney’s happy feet or letting the rush get there as we wait for Moss to get 40 yards down the field.

by Aluminum Penguin on Jan 23, 2012 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

#5

is critical, I think. Both teams are different (and healthier) than their last matchup, but the Giants are fundamentally the same team. The Pats really stunk it up against them, failing to read and adjust. They won’t make the same mistakes again.