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Will the mistakes of Super Bowl XLII come back?

Analysis

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 26, 2012|By Sean Leahy

The Giants hit Tom Brady nine times and sacked him five times in Super Bowl… (Bill Greene/Globe Staff )

The meeting of the Patriots and Giants in Super Bowl XLVI will be a rematch of the teams’ title-game faceoff four years earlier. The Giants spoiled the Patriots’ bid for a perfect season in that game, 17-14, in Glendale, Ariz.

And while many of the names are different, some of the problems the Patriots will face in the Giants are similar to the ones they encountered in their loss four years ago.

The Boston Globe looks at five key factors in the Patriots’ loss that day and how the teams that will suit up for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis will be different.

1. What went wrong: The Patriots couldn’t protect Tom Brady

An offensive line that surrendered just 21 sacks in the regular season (fifth best in the NFL) collapsed in the Super Bowl. The Giants’ stiff pass rush hit Brady nine times, sacked him five times and kept him off balance seemingly all game. Brady was 32-for-42 for 356 yards with two touchdown passes when the teams met in Week 17. In the Super Bowl, he was 29-for-48 for 256 yards and one scoring pass. But most significantly, Brady was rattled throughout the game as his protectors were unable to provide him a bubble to work out of.

How it’s changed: Much of the Patriots’ offensive line has been overhauled since that game, and it’s provided strong results this season. The starting five in Super Bowl XLII were LT Matt Light, LG Logan Mankins, C Dan Koppen, RG Stephen Neal, and RT Nick Kaczur, with TEs Kyle Brady and Ben Watson mixed in. Neal, Kaczur and Kyle Brady have all retired. Watson is gone, and Koppen was lost for the 2011 season in the opener due to a leg injury. Light and Mankins are still rock steady on the left side, while free agent Brian Waters stepped in at right guard this season and earned a Pro Bowl invitation. Dan Connolly moved in ably for Koppen, and first-round pick Nate Solder -- while spelling the ailing Sebastian Vollmer -- has performed well at right tackle. The unit tied for ninth-best in the NFL with 32 sacks allowed this season, and has allowed just one in the playoffs. It is up against a ferocious Giants pass rush that, while losing Michael Strahan since 2007, has added Pro Bowler Jason Pierre-Paul and his 16.5 sacks. The task of protecting Brady is just as difficult, and the Patriots must be on guard not to get bowled over the way they were in Super Bowl XLII.

2. What went wrong: Running game was a non-factor

The Giants locked down the Patriots’ running backs four years ago. Laurence Maroney, coming off his best season, was the leading rusher with 36 of the team’s 45 yards. That forced Brady to rely on his passing game -- even with the pocket seemingly always crashing around him. Kevin Faulk was most effective as a pass catcher, with seven receptions for 52 yards and just 7 yards rushing.