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Giants-Patriots Super Bowl Then And Now: Offensive Lineup

Will Robinson |
January 30, 2012 | 4:42 p.m. PST

Associate Sports Editor

Eli Manning looks to bring another Lombardi Trophy to New York. (Ted Kerwin/Creative Commons)
Eli Manning looks to bring another Lombardi Trophy to New York. (Ted Kerwin/Creative Commons)
Super Bowl XLVI will be the most-watched Super Bowl in history for a multitude of reasons. One, it features two marquee quarterbacking names: Manning and Brady. Two, every season for the past decade or so, the TV ratings have always gone up; it's not a question of "will they rise," but rather "by how much?"

But the most compelling reason of all is reason number three: It's a rematch. Back in the 2007 season – for those that lived under a rock – Tom Brady's undefeated New England Patriots fell to the heavy underdog New York Giants, 17-14, in what was the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. 

Now, the New England Patriots are playing for a strong cause: revenge. They have another shot at the team that booked their unfortunate place in history as the only team to finish the regular season undefeated and not win the Super Bowl. And since a quarterback who already plays with a chip on his shoulder (from being the seventh QB selected in his draft class) leads the Patriots, the motivation and drive will be incalculable.

But how do the teams stack up? Is Brady's bunch (sorry) better this time around than Eli Manning's crew? Here is Neon Tommy’s official 2007-2011 Giants-Patriots Comparison.

Quarterbacks

Then – Tom Brady (NE) vs. Eli Manning (NYG)

In 2007, Tom Brady compiled the most impressive single-season passing effort in NFL history, reaching 50 touchdown passes with just eight interceptions and 4,806 yards and a killer 68.9-percent completion percentage. He was the man. Yet in the Super Bowl, he was not himself. It's hard to stand in the pocket when giant defensive ends are trying to decapitate you, and he had one of the worst outings of that season.

Manning, however, had a tumultuous season. He threw 20 interceptions during the regular season and was very inconsistent. Come the playoffs, a different Eli prevailed, looking very "clutch," as it were. When it mattered most, he even outplayed Brady, a future Hall of Famer in his prime, in the Super Bowl.  

Tom Brady continues to cut through defenses. (Keith Allison/Creative Commons)
Tom Brady continues to cut through defenses. (Keith Allison/Creative Commons)
Now – Brady vs. Manning

The 2011 NFL season was the year of the quarterback. Brady threw for 5,235 yards and 39 TDs and was still not a top-two MVP candidate. Brady thrashed defenses. In the first game of the playoffs, Brady had a transcendent performance against the Denver Broncos, throwing six touchdowns and 363 yards. He struggled against Baltimore the following week, but with a couple weeks off, he should be back to normal.

The Giants barely made the playoffs, going 9-7 and won their last regular season game to make the cut. Lost in that, though, was Manning's best statistical season to date. Manning also orchestrated a few impressive game-winning drives, including a one-minute drill to beat the Patriots in Foxborough. The case could be made that Manning is the hottest quarterback slinging passes.

Running backs

Then – Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk (NE) vs. Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG)

The Pats pass game was so good that the running backs were marginalized. Maroney had 180 rush attempts and 800 yards rushing while Faulk had 109 touches for 648 yards. The team could not get a run game going in the Super Bowl, and that put more pressure on Brady to do more.

Brandon Jacobs was near the height of his powers in 2007, going for 1,000 yards at a very good five yards a clip. He would beat up defenders like they stole his lunch (which was entirely possible. The dude looks like he likes to eat). Ward received more touches than Bradshaw did during the season, but Bradshaw was the most effective back in the playoffs and ran the best in SBXLII. 

Now – BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead (NE) vs. Jacobs and Bradshaw (NYG)

Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (Matthew D. Britt/Creative Commons)
Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (Matthew D. Britt/Creative Commons)

The three-headed monster of Green-Ellis, Ridley and Woodhead give New England a semblance of a run game, because they realized Maroney was about as necessary as another Liam Neeson movie where he beats up a ton of people (well, actually...). Each back brings something unique to the backfield that can keep defenses on its heels. It was also seen in the Broncos game that tight end Aaron Hernandez was used sparingly but very effectively as a running back. That wrinkle could come up again on Super Sunday. 

Bradshaw and Jacobs had a very split timeshare, but the former made more of his time. Though the Giants primarily passed the ball, Bradshaw has been critical in the postseason. Bradshaw set up a killer Giants touchdown at the end of the first half with a spectacular 24-yard run, weaving in and out of the Packers defense. Jacobs can still do work in short time, especially when throwing equipment. The pair could help Manning out if they aren't stifled by New England's front seven. 

Receivers

Then – Randy Moss and Wes Welker (NE) vs. Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer (NYG)

Each team had a deep threat and slot man to work with but no strong tight end. Unquestionably, the Patriots had the better receivers in Moss and Welker. Moss had one of his best seasons ever, catching 98 balls and going for 1,493 yards and an NFL record 23 touchdowns. He was straight cash, homey. Welker was damn good himself, as he picked up his first 100-catch, 1,000-yard season. 

Burress was the consummate tall "throw me a jump ball in the red zone" receiver that the Giants worked often. Toomer was a wily veteran who was near the end of his career. The key receiver was, of course, David Tyree, whose last-ever NFL catch was one of the best in Super Bowl history. Pats fans either A) refused to click on that link or B) clicked it and then started cursing out Tyree's luck. Anyway… 

Now – Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez (NE) vs. Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham (NYG)

Wes Welker follows a block from Matt Light (Jack Newton/Creative Commons)
Wes Welker follows a block from Matt Light (Jack Newton/Creative Commons)

Welker had another great season, but the keys to the whole New England passing game are Gronkowski and Hernandez. Gronk had the greatest season for a receiving tight end, finally taking the crown away from Antonio Gates as the most dominant tight end in the game. He seems like a mild-mannered guy off the field, but his dating life would point in a different direction. Hernandez isn't a bum himself – he almost broke 1,000 yards despite missing two games. All three will be hard to contain simultaneously.

As good as the two New England tight ends are, the trio of receivers on the other sideline are very good themselves. Cruz and Nicks are great deep threats, each coming up big in one playoff game this year. Nicks broke out in 2010 while 2011 was all Cruz's year. Manningham should not be forgotten – he has the skills to be a number two receiver somewhere, and he plays well of the slot for the Giants.

Offensive Line

Then – Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Steve Neal and Nick Kaczur (NE) vs. David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie (NYG)

Both lines were very, very solid as most of the players played together all season (except Steve Neal, who missed eight games). That kind of cohesiveness with skilled players makes a line stronger. The Giants' line won four years ago because of its ability to stave off the Patriots defense, while New England had troubles doing so.

Now – Light, Mankins, Daniel Connolly, Brian Waters and Nate Solder (NE) vs. William Beatty, Diehl, David Baas, Snee and McKenzie (NYG)

Each team has remnants from their 2007 incarnation but had to make changes. New England added aging star Brian Waters to the mix as well as rookie Nate Solder. New York added Beatty to left tackle, a two-year player with signs of potential, and moved Diehl inside to left guard. In terms of injuries, New York suffered through more on the line. The Pats have been playing well up front and could have the advantage, which they will need to contain the next group.

Editor's Note: Check out part two, taking a look at the changes to the defenses and special teams of both teams since the Super Bowl four years ago. Hint: when it comes to the Giants D-line, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

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