I know a lot of people like watching the Super Bowl pregame show. Not me. I like the game itself. I'm OK with the high-dollar commercials - for once, I won't DVR my way through all of them tonight.
I can't stand the extended halftime show. The NFL needs it, I suppose, to attract casual viewers, but to me it's just another excuse to walk back to the kitchen and eat more.
But the game is the thing to me, and I think we are in for another good one tonight. If this one is decided before the final few minutes of the fourth quarter, I'll be surprised.
If the Giants can get a consistent pass rush with their front four against New England quarterback Tom Brady today, that will be huge. The Giants' secondary - which features former Panthers safety Deon Grant, among others - is sometimes a weak link and will blow a coverage or two for sure. But the Giants' front four, when it's on, is so good that those mistakes sometimes can go unnoticed. Brady will notice them, though - the Giants can't give him time to exploit them.
While the Patriots will try to make their mark with a no-huddle offense and a personnel alignment that basically forces the Giants to play third-down defense most of the time, the Giants will play a more traditional offense today. New England doesn't have to run the ball that effectively today to win. The Giants do.
It's funny to think that the Panthers were playing in the exact same stadium in Indianapolis on Nov.27th - just a little more than two months ago. The Panthers edged the woeful Colts on that day, and there was so much space in the press box we could have all spread out over about six seats apiece. It will be a little different today.
I made my Super Bowl prediction earlier in the week, but in case you missed it, I like the Giants, in a mild upset. New York 27, New England 23.
