November 12, 2015, Queens, NY The New York Giants take on the undefeated, on a mission, Super Bowl bound, take no prisoners New England Patriots this Sunday in the late afternoon. The Patriots are undefeated in eight games, and the Giants are a very pedestrian 5-4. One of the great coaches in NFL history used to coach the Giant; his name is Bill Parcells. Parcells is a hall-of-famer, and he is known for a very famous quote, “You are what your record says you are.”
If Parcells is correct, the Giants don’t need to show up. But history tells a different story. The Giants have beaten the Patriots the last three times they (Giants) faced them going back to 2008. You remember that game–the Super Bowl, the one where the Patriots entered the game undefeated. The one where the Patriots were destined to make history. The Patriots were 18-0 and going for an undefeated regular and post season that would have tied them with the 1972 Miami Dolphins. However, the Patriots winning streak would have been more impressive since they played more games. As it turned out, the underdog Giants beat the mighty Patriots in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.
In November of 2011, the Giants beat the Patriots 24-20. Then, in that same season, the two teams met in the Super Bowl, and the Giants beat them again. The Super Bowl was played on February 5, 2012, but it was part of the 2011 season. Four seasons later, the Patriots and Giants play again, and the Patriots are substantial favorites.
Conventional wisdom does not apply when these two teams play each other. It would seem the Patriots are a lock; however, it would not be out of the realm of reasonable possibility if the Giants won. Jason Pierre-Paul is back for his third game and is rounding into game shape. Eli Manning is having a strong year completing nearly 60% of his passes and has thrown 19 touchdowns to only 6 interceptions. The most touchdowns Manning has thrown during the regular season is 31 (2010), and just two seasons ago, he threw 27 interceptions.
Tom Brady is having a year to rival his 2007 masterpiece. It seems as though Brady is getting better as he nears 40. Coach Bill Belichick can smell “One for the Thumb,” and “The Drive for Five.” Robert Kraft would like nothing more than to win a Super Bowl this year after the “Deflate Gate” debacle. All roads point to the Patriot to beat the Giants. But sometimes roads can take some strange turns.
Professor Clifford Benton can be reached at @cliffordbenton.