Super Bowl deja vu
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/ Richard O’Hagan / 24 January 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
Lawrence Tynes kicks the Giants into the Super Bowl
The Patriots' had one of the worst regular season defences and whilst it has improved during their play-off run it is nowhere near the force that the 49ers' is
With the NFL season showdown upon us, Richard O'Hagan reviews last weekend's Conference finals and wonders whether New York can upset New England in the 2012 Super Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens 20-23 New England Patriots
Baltimore's dream ended in one dramatic moment, as kicker Billy Cundiff dragged a 32-yard field goal attempt wide, handing the game to the Patriots.
It was rough on the Ravens, who pushed their opponents far harder than anyone expected and who would have been worthy winners. Their defence stifled New England's attacking options, making it hard for Tom Brady to throw the short yardage passes he uses to keep their offence on the move. In fact, Brady himself was outplayed (in his own words, "I sucked pretty bad today") by his opposing quarterback, Joe Flacco, and you don't see that happen very often, even when the Pats lose.
Baltimore will point to a contentious call that denied Lee Evans a touchdown during that fatal final drive, but in truth they were lucky to get a call in their favour when Torry Smith was given a touchdown when he clearly stepped out of bounds at the four yard line. The game itself will be hoping for better officiating at the Super Bowl.
In that game, New England are going to have to be much sharper on offence, particularly as they will be up against a defence the equal of Baltimore's. That means that not only will Brady have to be much better than he showed in this game, but the play-calling will need to be smarter. Brady must try to stretch the field more often in order to open up the very passes under the secondary that he found so hard to make in this game.
Defensively New England didn't do much wrong, with nose tackle Vince Wilfork having a massive game and wide receiver Julius Edelman filling a gap in the secondary with aplomb. It is not often that you say that it is the offensive side of the Patriots that needs to step up, but that is what they must do. That said, they are still [1.66] to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
New York Giants 20-17 San Francisco 49ers
Lawrence Tynes of the Giants succeeded where Cundiff failed, slotting a 31-yard field goal in the eighth minute of overtime to set up a repeat of Super Bowl XLII.
In truth, this was a game which neither offence deserved to win and neither defence deserved to lose. San Francisco failed to convert a third down in the entire game, but stayed ahead thanks to two glorious touchdowns from speedy tight end Vernon Davis.
New York -- who have been backed at [160.0] to win the Super Bowl -- managed only four first downs in the entire second-half but were able to make the most of the chances that they had, including two howling errors from 49ers' inexperienced kick returner Kyle Williams which led to the game-tying touchdown and Tynes' winner.
The Giants, of course, won that 2007 Super Bowl, thanks to their defence stifling Brady and David Tyree's infamous 'helmet catch'. They were huge underdogs that day, but you have to fancy their chances against the current Patriots side. Tyree may be long gone, but they now have three speedy wide receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and the find of the season Victor Cruz, plus the powerful running of Ahmad Bradshaw.
The Patriots' had one of the worst regular season defences and whilst it has improved during their play-off run it is nowhere near the force that the 49ers' is. Similarly, their own defence is tough and athletic, led by the man many regard as the second best player the NFL has on that side of the ball, Jason Pierre-Paul. All of which makes their odds of 2.48 look very generous.
