Super Bowl Week: Apprentice II's Take

I've already dedicated two talk shows to the Super Bowl, and will be doing another one on Friday. I'll be writing by official game pick/predictions on Saturday or Sunday, but for now, I'm going to let another talented young writer, in this case Ryan Peloquin, showcase his talents on an established brand name, a la the Experience. Peloquin's credentials include a brief career writing for the extremely creatively-named Villanova school newspaper, the Villanovan, as well as a successful tenure at ProSports. That has absolutely nothing to do with writing but hey. Without further ado, here's "Why the Pats will win Super Bowl XLVI" by Ryan Peloquin.

Does this look like the face of the next Experience apprentice to make it big?

There was nothing more painful than Super Bowl XLII.  For those that do not remember, my undefeated New England Patriots went into Phoenix as a 12 point favorite versus the New York Giants planning to cap off their perfect season with a title.  Things did not go as planned. 

From the Patriots offensive line getting burned by the impressive Giants defensive front, to the Patriot secondary getting exposed, the game was a disaster, ending in a 17-14 Giants victory.  An undefeated season was not meant to be; the Giants were a team of destiny in 2007. 

That was four years ago.

Fast forward to the present day and the stage is set for a rematch of Super Bowl XLII.  The Pats will not disappoint this time. 

This year, the Patriots had a 13-3 regular season leading to a first round bye in the playoffs.  They find themselves in the big game after stomping the Denver Broncos 45-10 in the AFC Divisional Round, and edging out the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship 23-20. The Giants barely squeaked into the playoffs and most fans were calling for the firing of head coach Tom Coughlin after a sluggish start.  They finished strong and ended the regular season 9-7, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 24-2, the Green Bay Packers, 37-20, and the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 on their playoff run to the big dance.

In all honesty, everything is telling me the Giants are going to win this game; Eli Manning has improved, the Patriots defense is a cast of unknowns, and Patriot star Tight End Rob Gronkowski will not be 100% after suffering a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship game.  Not to mention the Giants came into New England and beat the Pats 24-20 during Week 9.  This Patriots team is not as talented as the team in 2007 but, for whatever reason, Vegas favorites the Pats by 2.5 points.  Nevertheless, the Pats feel like the underdogs. 

And this is why they will win. 

In Brady’s first Super Bowl Championship, Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001, the Pats were 14 point underdogs.  That team made gutsy play after gutsy play in big time moments during that Super Bowl run because everyone counted them out.  This Pats team has the same feel.  The offense is talented and will put up points no question about it.  But the big question mark, the Patriots defense, rallies and makes plays when it needs to.  Ranked 31^st in defense during the regular season, the Patriots defense has been essential to the team’s postseason run.  Head coach Bill Belichick motivates his team with this underdog mentality and the defense makes big plays when people count them out.  They will make big plays on Super Bowl Sunday.

There are several other reasons as well.

Eli Manning, a mediocre quarterback for much of his career will not be 2-0 against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the winningest quarterback-head coach tandem of all time, in the Super Bowl.  Brady and Belichick will not allow it, and will be fired up come Sunday.  Eli has improved, but I would be shocked if he outplays Brady.   

Defensively, Belichick will exploit the poor Giants rushing game.  He will drop extra defensive backs and linebackers into coverage and dare the Giants to win the game on the ground.  The Pats will look to jam the talented Giants receivers at the line of scrimmage to throw off Manning’s timing.  The Pats will try to take away Eli’s security blanket, wide receiver Victor Cruz.  Look for defensive tackle Vince Wilfork to blow up plays in the backfield.

Offensively, the Pats are going to need to run the ball between the tackles.  Talented Giants linemen, such as Jason Pierre-Paul, love to apply pressure off the edge but look for the running game to keep those rushers honest.  Patriot’s running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis will have a big game, and, in my opinion, could even have a shot at game MVP.  The run will open up the Pats to exploit a weak Giants secondary with the pass.  While Gronkowski will draw much attention, passing lanes will open up for tight end Aaron Hernandez and receiver Wes Welker to rack up yards down the middle of the field. 

Bottom line:  This Giants team has two strengths; their passing game and their defensive line.  The Pats have a better pass game, and I think this Patriot offensive line can contain their pass rush.  Other than that, the Giants are an average team.  The Pats need to protect Brady and come up with a timely turnover or two on the defensive side.  I think they will, and the Patriots will redeem themselves for the devastating Super Bowl loss in 2007.  Final score: Patriots 27, Giants 24.