In my heart, I want the Giants to win. I really do like Eli Manning and I really don’t like the New England Patriots. I give that organization a ton of credit, they are by far the best run franchise in football. But I don’t like them.

On paper the Giants look to match up well. They rush the passer better than anyone, they are hot on the offensive end right now and they have historically been able to give Bill Belichick and his boys problems. I really am tempted to go with the G-Men.

But, I just can’t. Tom Brady is too motivated, too talented and too vindictive to lose to the Giants in the another Super Bowl. I don’t care what the Giants can do on offense or defense, unless they knock Brady out of the game I see him being able to pull it out.

Here’s where I’ll get a little crazy. I could see a scenario where the Patriots blow the Giants out. I’m not saying it’s likely but New England has the firepower and motivation to make it happen. For as much as Brady and Belichick said revenge wasn’t an issue, and it may not be for the team at large, it is for then. Belichick isn’t going to get out-coached nor will Brady get out-played. If they catch the Giants flat-footed they could easily jump out a few scores early and put the Giants backs to the wall.

I don’t think that’s likely though, I think we’ll see a very good game that will come down to the wire with both quarterbacks playing admirably. In some ways I could see it being similar to the Cardinals-Steelers Super Bowl where Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger both seemed poised to lead the game-winning drive (and basically did, though Big Ben did it last).

I just think Brady, through sheer force of will, finds a way to get his fourth ring. I have to go with the Patriots in a nail-biter.

Patriots 35, Giants 31

No coaches, no players. It’s almost like the NFL has forgotten the reason for this event is championship football…

But no bother, we remember. So let’s kick off today’s coverage with a question for our readers. Who do you think wins today? Josh and I will both make our predictions later today. What’s yours?

We no longer control our own destiny after yesterday’s drubbing at home by the Chargers.  We must beat the Raiders at home, and the Eagles must beat the Cowboys at home, for us to be able to crawl in (like a dog that just got hit by a car that slowly crawls back to his front door) to the playoffs. 

To be able to properly express my feelings right now, I would need a punching bag, some tape, and a few hours.  I know you can’t see that, but just imagine it;  dejected, downtrodden, broken. 

Some thoughts from the event yesterday that some called a football game….

• Jeff Garcia, I can not wait until you are not our QB next year.  This will be a glorious day in my life.  Just as I wasn’t able to express before how upset I am right now, I can’t really express my jubiliation at the end of the Jeff Garcia era in Tampa.  21 of 32 for 224 and 1 TD to go along with two ill-time INT’s this week.   He looked liked the version of Jeff Garcia that makes me want to stab myself in the eye with the oldest, most rusty screwdriver I can find in my garage.   Check downs were the main target.  The few bombs that he tried to throw (one of which would have changed the course of the game) were long.   Most of the balls over the 10 yard mark were behind guys.  Horrible.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
• After a couple early drops, Antonio Bryant had a solid game.  He could have had about 120 more yards if Jeff wasn’t 4 yards long on two go routes.  Bryant finished the day with 6 catches for 127 yards and a TD. 
• It seemed like the Chargers started every drive at about the 50.  If it wasn’t a shitty punt after a shitty drive, it was a nice return by Darren Sproles. 
• Nate Kaeding is the man.  57 yard field goal to end the first half, after a good runback by Sproles and unwatchable defense.  28 seconds it took to get in field goal range and tack on 3 more points. 
• Phillip Buchanon, you got abused all day.  Enough said. 
• Phillip Rivers was carving us up like a Christmas ham with Bobby Flay at the helm.  He finished some a gaudy 21/31 for 287 yards and 4 TD’s.    The SD receivers (Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers) will pose quite a threat for teams in the playoffs if they can get in with a win vs Denver next week.