Genesee Sun

Garland's Glance: Super Sunday Predictions

This weekend after what seemed to be a rapid NFL season we have a Super Bowl with the familiar feel to it. Just four short years ago Eli Manning led his New York Giants to a most surprising upset victory over the New England Patriots who were looking to finish a perfect season, in what I think was one of the three best super Bowls of all time. Now it is Super Bowl XLVI and the Giants are again in that familiar underdog role to the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick led patriots. In this column as I have for every round of the playoffs I will give you the keys to victory for both teams and then make my prediction on who will win the Super Bowl.

First the keys to victory for New England I feel there are two or three major keys to victory for them. The first one may be determined before the game even kicks off and that is, the health of Western New York native tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski who has been the focal point of the patriots’ offense along with fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez suffered what his father told a Buffalo television station, is a high ankle sprain. If Gronkowski cannot go in the Super Bowl that would drastically change the patriots’ offense do to the fact that the Giants will only have to worry about covering one tight end. Therefore they would be able to double Wes Welker the patriot’s number one and only real wide receiving threat forcing players like Dion branch to step up, but if Gronkowski plays and is reasonably close to normal ability him and Hernandez will be a matchup nightmare for the Giants. The second key for the patriots is a must be able to run the ball they did an OK job of that in their last game against the Ravens, but they must do even better versus the Giants. Otherwise the Giants front four will be able to develop a pass rush and disrupt Tom Brady all day. The third key and perhaps toughest and most dangerous to the patriots chances of winning is can their secondary which is been suspect at best shut down a receiving corps, that at least this columnist thinks is the best in the NFL from receivers 1 through 3.

Now on to the keys to victory for the New York Giants. The first one being Eli Manning he must continue to perform at the level it has players and coaches alike calling him one of the most clutch quarterbacks not just of the season but of all time. Manning this year has more fourth-quarter touchdown passes in any player in NFL history. If he can lead the Giants to victory over New England one more time like he did in Super Bowl XLII,  he will not only put himself on the fast-track to Canton will also step out of the shadow of his brother Peyton and show he is the better quarterback of the two. You may say how can you say that I sent Peyton may have the stats edge but football is all about winning the rings and Eli would have 2 to Peyton's 1.The other two keys at least as I see it for the Giants come on defense defensive line must take a page out of the book of the Super Bowl XLII championship team and while they may not sack Brady on every play they must hit him and make him feel like his body has been surgically implanted in the turf. The last key to them winning is the Giants secondary and also for them the linebacking corps must contain the high-octane offense of New England if they let it get into a rhythm it may be a long day for the Giants. Now my prediction I see history repeating itself score may be different as I have it the Giants 31 New England 21 but the MVP will be the same Eli Manning and I see him passing for around 3 touchdowns and 280 yards.

In closing this is how I see super Sunday playing out with the Giants winning and Eli Manning proven once and for all he is truly an elite quarterback well I would like to say I was going to the game I unlike some members of my family will not be, so like most of you I will be spending at a Super Bowl party.  With that in mind that I ask you the Suns loyal readers. When you're at these parties please be responsible and if you run into someone who has not read my column or ever been on the GeneseeSun,com tell them to give us a look. I invite you to leave your comments and criticism and or Super Bowl predictions below as always if you should have an idea for a column for me please feel free to contact me and share your idea, have a super super Sunday.