Giants - 2007: Reggie Torbor, Antonio Pierce, Kawika Mitchell, Torrance Daniels, Chase Blackburn, Gerris Wilkinson; 2011: Michael Boley, Kiwanuka, Blackburn, Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones, Spencer Paysinger, Jacquian Williams (Clint Sintim on injured reserve).
Mayo has been strong for New England, and Spikes’s return from a knee injury has helped solidify a run defense that was struggling down the stretch. Kiwanuka had a dozen tackles when the Giants won at Gillette Stadium during the regular season.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Patriots - 2007: Asante Samuel, Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, Ellis Hobbs, Brandon Meriweather, Randall Gay, Willie Andrews, Eugene Wilson, Ray Ventrone, Antowain Spann; 2011: Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Kyle Arrington, James Ihedigbo, Sterling Moore, Sergio Brown, Nate Jones, Antwaun Molden, Edelman (Josh Barrett, Ras-I Dowling on injured reserve).
Giants - 2007: Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, James Butler, Gibril Wilson, R.W. McQuarters, Sam Madison, Kevin Dockery, Michael Johnson; 2011: Webster, Ross, Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant, Prince Amukamara, Derrick Martin, Tyler Sash, Will Blackmon (Michael Coe, Terrell Thomas, Justin Tryon on injured reserve).
Not a single member of the Patriots’ secondary from Super Bowl XLII - starter or reserve - is with the team. Meriweather and Sanders were released out of training camp this year. New York has had some stability at the corner spot, though Amukamara missed the early part of the season with an injury suffered in camp.
SPECIALISTS
Patriots - 2007: Stephen Gostkowski (K), Chris Hanson (P), Lonie Paxton (LS); 2011: Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko (P), Danny Aiken Ainge (LS).
Giants - 2007: Lawrence Tynes (K), Jeff Feagles (P), Zak DeOssie (LS); 2011: Tynes, Steve Weatherford (P), DeOssie.
Tynes kicked the winner in overtime against San Francisco to send the Giants to the Super Bowl this year, and Gostkowski only had to watch as his Baltimore counterpart, Billy Cundiff, missed a 32-yard field goal that would have sent the AFC title game to overtime.
