|
Patriots Are Beatable, Giants Need to Play Their Best
Crunch time. It's just three days to Super Bowl XLII. In anticipation of the big game, we're expanding our usual 5 Questions feature to a big 10 Questions! And joining us to analyze the big topics is ETVal from SB Nation's New York Giants blog, Big Blue View.
Here are the first five questions. We'll have the last five tomorrow.
tommasse: What did you see in Week 17 that gives you the most hope heading into Sunday?
ETVal: The fact that the Giants nearly won, but did not play what I would consider a perfect game. There was a huge defensive breakdown on a long touchdown to Randy Moss. There was a critical turnover late in the game and a couple of poor offensive possessions. Even throughout this playoff run I don't think the Giants have played a game, from beginning to end, that is as good as what they are capable of. I'm hoping THAT game comes on Sunday.
tommasse: What did you see in the AFC Championship game that discourages you the most heading into Sunday?
ETVal: I saw the Patriots win even when I didn't think Tom Brady was very good.
tommasse: What did you see in the AFC Championship game that gives you the most hope heading into Sunday?
ETVal: One, I saw that Brady wasn't very good in a critical game. He's not a machine. Two, I saw that in no way do I think the Patriots have a great defense. Good yes, great no. You can move the ball against that group, which means you will have opportunities. It's a question of capitalizing, which the Chargers did not do.
tommasse: What did you see in the NFC Championship game that discourages you the most heading into Sunday?
ETVal: Other than two missed field goals, not a thing. I am always nervous about the Giants' placekicking. Lawrence Tynes is good, but not great. Also, the Giants use a rookie snapper, Jay Alford, and he can be erratic.
tommasse: What did you see in the NFC Championship game that gives you the most hope heading into Sunday?
ETVal: The grit this team displayed. That has been missing in previous years, but this team has no quit. It plays extremely hard, plays with courage and sticks together. To win in Dallas, then go to Green Bay and win in those conditions was extraordinary. I don't know if the Giants will win Sunday, but you have to realize they can -- and that they will not be intimidated.
Thanks to ETVal. We'll hear more from him tomorrow. Make sure you drop by Big Blue View for my answers to ETVal's first five questions. Comment below.