This Sunday, the New York Giants will have their hands full against the undefeated New England Patriots, a team that features eight Pro Bowlers and several future Hall of Fame players. The Patriots boast the league's top-rated offense, fourth-rated defense and veteran experience from their three previous Super-Bowl appearances this decade, while the Giants are looking for another upset to culminate a magic carpet ride through the postseason. Below is a look at the key matchups that could potentially decide the Super Bowl.
DE Osi Umenyiora vs. LT Matt Light: The strength of the Giants' defense lies in their pass rush, which accounted for a league-leading 53 sacks in 2007. Umenyiora, the team's lone Pro Bowler, had 13 of his own, and the team will need him to consistently pressure quarterback Tom Brady throughout the game on Sunday.
Despite his aura of perfection, Brady has shown that - like any QB - he gets rattled and loses his accuracy when he doesn't have ample time to set his feet and survey the field. Light, a Pro Bowler as well, uses his superior technique to make up for what he lacks in physical dominance. While he should have a tough time handling Umenyiora's speed off the edge, Osi's recent comments calling Light a dirty player should provide ample motivation. Edge: Pats
WR Plaxico Burress vs. CB Asante Samuel: At 6-foot-5, Burress is one of the most physically imposing wide receivers in the NFL and has always been Eli Manning's go-to guy. During the NFC Championship game, he thoroughly dominated the Packers' Al Harris to the tune of 11 catches for 154 yards.
While Samuel is one of the best cornerbacks in the league at intercepting passes, compiling 16 picks the past two seasons, he will have to employ a more conservative, shut-down style of play against Burress. Samuel has plenty of speed to run with Plaxico, but he'll have to anticipate the Giants vaunted stop-fade route and prevent Burress from getting in the end zone, like he did twice during the teams' Week 17 matchup. Edge: Giants
WR Wes Welker vs. CB Corey Webster/Sam Madison: While Brady and wide receiver Randy Moss stole most of the headlines this season, Welker quietly put together a career year, catching 112 passes for 1,175 yards with eight touchdowns. Welker, who mostly lines up in the slot, is one of the shiftiest wide receivers in the NFL and is almost impossible to cover on short routes. Whoever is assigned the task of tracking Welker, whether it's Webster or Madison, will have to get physical and take the wide receiver out of his comfort zone. For the Patriots, Welker's play could be especially critical this week. Moss has been MIA the last two weeks. Edge: Pats
DT Vince Wilfork vs. RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw: In order to take some of the pressure off of QB Eli Manning and keep the potent Patriot offense off the field, the Giants must run the football effectively. Fortunately for them, they have the blossoming two-headed rushing attack of Brandon Jacobs and rookie Ahmad Bradshaw. A seventh-round pick in last April's draft, Bradshaw has come on strong lately, doing his best Tiki Barber imitation as he jukes and slashes through defensive front sevens.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-4, 264-pound Jacobs is one of the most difficult players to bring down in the NFL. Wilfork is no small man himself, and his job will be to clog the middle while veteran linebackers like Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas cover the outside. Edge: Giants
K Stephen Gostkowski vs. K Lawrence Tynes: The game could very conceivably be decided by a field goal, and neither team is exactly sporting an Adam Vinatieri-type kicker. If the game does come down to a final kick, it is guaranteed that neither team will be able to watch it. Edge: Pats
