Both are key elements in making Brady play human and beating the Patriots. The Jets do it. Rob Ryan, in beating Brady with the Browns last season and giving him all he could handle with the Cowboys this season, did it. The Ravens did it in the AFC Championship game, and every time they play Brady.
Offensively, the Giants have the type of elite quarterback in Eli Manning, and a plethora of weapons — Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, Jake Ballard, Travis Beckum and Ahmad Bradshaw — to pressure the Patriots’ defense in all three areas of the field — short, medium, and long — especially in the secondary, where the Patriots have below-average talent, outside of safety Patrick Chung.
It’s exactly the type of offensive formula some have been pointing to as the death knell for the Patriots.
No one throws more deep passes than the Giants. The only Patriots’ opponent this season to come close to rivaling the Giants with skill players was the Steelers, who marched up and down the field when they beat the Patriots, 25-17, at Pittsburgh in Week 8.
A lot can go wrong in this game for the Patriots. They could get run off the field by the Giants — which is exactly what happened to the defending Super Bowl champion Packers, a team very similar in makeup to the Patriots.
And the Giants did that on the road.
But I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think the Patriots are going to find a way to win.
Why?
When two good football teams match up, look closer to the ball — not away from it — to find the winner.
I think the Patriots will dominate both sides of the line. It’s been building to this.
We’ve heard all week how good the Giants’ defensive line has been playing, and how deep it is.
Both are true.
