Well I figured that I would get my Super Bowl article out of the way first, so that it can be buried here at DeathRattleSports over the next week, leading up to the "most hyped American sporting event". Yes this is officially called Super Bowl XLII (that's 42 for those roman numerally challenged), but for those of us who have been around for a while, the first 2 games played (Green Bay against the Kansas City Chiefs and then the Oakland Raiders the following year) were officially called the NFL-AFL Championship game, which would make the Baltimore Colts against the New York Jets the first Super Bowl, but hey, that's another story for Deathrattle, right, go for it GDK.

Second factor is the AFC versus the NFC thing. Let's face it, this matchup is/has been about as equal as the AL/NL all star game and the NBA's Western Conference over the East. The AFC has won the past 4, 6 of the last 7 and 8 of the last 10 now that is not a trend that is called dominance. The 2 NFC wins came over the "wild-card" entry Tennessee Titans by the St. Louis Rams and then the Oakland Raiders (11-5) regular season (not what you would call a Power team) losing to Tampa Bay. No, a team that is 1 win away from the title of "Greatest NFL Team of All-Time" is NOT going to let this game against them. If it does happen, and the Giants win, it will be the GREATEST UPSET in Super Bowl History, take that Joe "Willie" Namath.

Third, who plays/coaches better in the "big game" other than Brady and Belichick? In NFL History only Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi (isn't he remembered for something?) who were 9-1 (.900) have a better winning percentage than the B & B boys record of 14-2 (.875). This would give the duo 4 Super Bowl championships in 7 years, missing by 1 year the 4 titles in 6 years by Chuck Knoll and Terry Bradshaw; it would also match those 2 as the only quarterback/coach combo to win 4 Super Bowl championships. Also only Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw have won 4 Super Bowls as the starting quarterback, so we are talking very rarified air that Tom Brady is a step away from here guys.

Finally, any momentum that the Giants had built up over the past 3 weeks by being the valiant road warriors will have faded away by the time kick-off time arrives. Not to mention the fact that these Giants are about to face the biggest opponent yet. No not the Patriots, but the Media Hype that they are about to be thrust into. How well do you think that Tom "Mr. Personality" Coughlin will be able to handle that onslaught? According to the record books, the match-up of coaches with and without experience in this game is 12-6 in favor of those who had the experience and 10 years since such an upset occurred, not happening this year either. The Giants did not need the extra week to prepare, no they needed to game to happen the very next Sunday in order to keep riding that horse called momentum to the finish line.

Let me close by saying that I do expect a good close game for the Super Bowl, no way the 13 point spread that the bookies have set the line at. Face it, in week 17 the Patriots only won by a field goal to push their record to 16-0, and with the Giants riding that streak of theirs, how in the world can the Pats be installed as a 13 point favorite? No way. I see the Patriots winning by a 35-28/31 score. After the game is over it will then be time to bring out the 1985 Bears for the argument as to the "Greatest" NFL team of All-Time.

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