| KB__Guest_ | Hi John: What type of scheme will the Pats 0-line use against the Giants d-line. Light on Osi 1 on 1 and Kaczur on Strahan 1 on 1? Or more of a zone-blocking sceheme? |
| John_Powers | My guess is that they'll start with Light on Osi and Kaczur on Strahan and see how that works. Priority 1 is to keep the defensive ends off Brady's back. If he takes a sack or two early, they may switch to zone blocking. One hallmark about the Patriots game plans is that they're very quick to change if something isn't working. |
| Cape_Surfer__Guest_ | Hi John, I was curious what your thoughts were on how the Pats would begin the game offensively? Do you see them spreading it out right off the bat or mixing Maroney in to show the Giants a balanced attack? |
| John_Powers | Good question. I think they'll test the Giants very quickly, possibly with several receivers and Moss going deep. But if the Patriots sense that New York wants to prevent the deep ball, there'll be no hesitation in using Maroney along with shorter balls to Welker, Faulk and the tight ends. |
| rdodger__Guest_ | John: This may sound a bit conspiratorial, but is there much concern about Brady's security. After all, therre are a lot of people who could benefit from his inability to play: Giants fans, the Giants, Las Vegas |
| John_Powers | Except for general security, which is significantly tighter for both teams than I've seen at previous Super Bowls, there's been no effort to guard Tom any more than anyone else. Would-be fiancees in negligees didn't have much trouble getting close to him, certainly. But it's difficult for anyone without a credential to get within sabotaging distance of anyone either team. |
| texaspat__Guest_ | Hey John ... what's your take on Plaxico's prediction? Does he realize he's just giving the Patriots fodder? Or does he just not care?. |
| John_Powers | We mentioned Plaxico's prediction to Mike Strahan, who laughed it off. He said: The Patriots are 18-and-freakin'0. If they don't already have enough incentive to win a Super Bowl, that won't make a difference. Coughlin said he would sit down with Burress and talk to him, but the Giants position is that all of them expect to win. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here. |
| texaspat__Guest_ | What's your prediction for the final score? |
| John_Powers | Patriots 31, Giants 20. |
| texaspat__Guest_ | In your opinion, which player on each team is the best pure athlete? Who's the fastest? |
| John_Powers | Randy Moss is the best pure athlete on the Patriots, I would say. On the Giants, it's Plaxico Burress. He was a second-team All-State basketball player in high school in Virginia and was a national semifinalist in the hurdles. |
| eharrison33__Guest_ | John, "The Short Season," your book on the 1977-78 Celtics, is one of my all-time favorite sports books. Do you ever miss being a beat writer and following a team so closely? |
| John_Powers | Many thanks. Though beat writing is much more demanding now, with on-line and TV duties, it's the best job in terms of getting to know a team intimately and experience the day-to-day rhythms of a season. The Celtics of that era were great -- Havlicek and Cowens and White, etc. And Tommy Heinsohn was a fantastic coach to work with. |
| Darrin__Guest_ | John, many Pats players are talking openly about this beingn the biggest game of their lives and making history. This is unlike the Pats usual chatter. Have they ben given the green light by coach to speak so emotionally? |
| John_Powers | Once they made it to the Super Bowl, all the constraints were off. The one taboo with the Patriots is talking about anything beyond the next game. Since there is no game after this one, the green light is on. It's clear that 19-0 is a huge thing for them. Every athlete craves immortality. They also know that everyone will remember the 19th game, win or lose. They want badly to win this one. |
| gman__Guest_ | What do you see as the differences between how the Giants are preparing this week vs. how the Patriots are preparing? |
| John_Powers | Haven't noticed much difference. Both teams are trying to prepare as normally as they can, given the media responsibilities. They didn't practice until Wednesday and essentially will be done tomorrow. What makes this Super Bowl different is that they have two weeks to prepare for a team they've played relatively recently. The Patriots clearly know that their defense has to be much tighter this time and the Giants know they can't have turnovers. One thing is sure. If the Giants win the toss, they want the ball, even though Super Bowl toss winners have a losing record. Coughlin said he won't give the Patriots an extra possession. |
| gman__Guest_ | Do you think the final regular season game between these two teams helps the Patriots or the Giants more? |
| John_Powers | I think it helped the Giants more. They essentially treated it as their first playoff game and they now know that they can hang with the Patriots in a big one. |
| jobbre16_Guest_ | John, do you have a prediction for a final score? |
| John_Powers | Pats 31-20 |
| LSCII__Guest_ | What's the party scene down there like? |
| John_Powers | Not much of a scene yet, although I sense things will start hopping tomorrow. Given the spread-out nature of Phoenix, there's no central party spot as there is in New Orleans, for example. The teams are staying miles outside of the city and the stadium is in the middle of nowhere. My guess is that Scottsdale, which has lots of bars and restaurants, will be the place to be. |
| jobbre16__Guest_ | It seems that teams doubled and rolled coverage on Randy Moss at times during the year, but the Patriots kept going to him. Why hasn't that been the case in the playoffs so far? |
| John_Powers | I think they realized that they had productive options when Moss was doubled and that as the stakes went up, it might be risky to keep forcing the ball to him. The Jacksonville game was a good case in point -- Brady just sat back and went short. But I'd be surprised if they don't go long to Moss a couple of times early. That's why they brought him in. |
| texaspat__Guest_ | The Giants couldn't contain Randy Moss the last time these two teams met, but Moss has been quiet in the playoffs. Who wins this matchup on Sunday, the Giants or Moss? |
| John_Powers | If the Patriots feel they can pick on Wilson or Butler, they'll go to Moss. But if he's doubled, they'll be happy to take what the Giants are giving them. |
| gman__Guest_ | Who ends up being the hero of this game? |
| John_Powers | The winning quarterback, I would say. The Patriots probably won't win unless Brady has a strong game and the Giants definitely won't win unless Manning does. |
| Spyder_Monkey__Guest_ | Seems like Dante Stalworth has disappeared from the weapons list recently. I wonder if we might see him getting the ball over the middle as an alternative to Welker? |
| John_Powers | I think you might well see Dante this week, especially if Welker is getting lots of attention. Historically, the Patriots love going to a guy that everyone has overlooked - e.g. Faulk, Gaffney. Nobody in the league is better at using guys in the middle of the depth chart in key situations. |
| Spyder_Monkey__Guest_ | I think the game will come down to how well the Pats D plays. If they get on Eli's case early, then I think the offensive flood gates will open. If not, then I expect more of a grinding, plodding attack. What do you think? |
| John_Powers | I agree. If I'm the Giants, I want to work the Patriots linebackers hard (admittedly, it'd be easier if they had Shockey) and get the running game going with Jacobs and Bradshaw. If I'm the Patriots, I want to blitz Manning early and rattle him into a pick or two. They definitely don't want to let the Giants hang around, as both the Cowboys and Packers did. |
| timmay__Guest_ | I beleive that the Chargers, Colts and Jaguars would al beat the Giants. How are people honestly picking the Giants to beat the Pats? The Giants offense will not be able to keep up the scoring just like their AFC foes. And if the Pats' defense steps up, this one will be a blowout. |
| John_Powers | A number of people would agree that the AFC champion,whoever it would be, would be favored over the NFC. But the fact that the Giants played the Patriots close in the regular-season finale has people thinking that it might be a game. Don't forget, the Patriots' Super Bowl victories all have been by three points, two of them with one swing of the leg on the final play. |
| chuck__Guest_ | John, I keep wondering why the Pats don't just switch CBs left and right at the last minute just as Eli is coming to the line? Throw him off a bit with Asanti suddenly there on the left. |
| John_Powers | They might well do it on Sunday. One Belichick hallmark is that he rarely plays you the same way twice. If the Patriots think that Manning is expecting to see certain people in certain places, they might well cross him up. |
| waterboy__Guest_ | I thought they would blow out the Eagles, the Ravens, the Dolphins, the Giants in the regular season. Wrong every time. Why do I persist in thinking they will blow out the Giants? What's different this time?. |
| John_Powers | When Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for a team he's already beaten, his success rate is exceptionally high. Again, though, the Patriots never have blown anyone out in a Super Bowl. |
| XLII__Guest_ | John, Did you see that nasty NY Post article about the past legal troubles of Pat's players? |
| John_Powers | I did. I would chalk it up to the New York-Boston thing. At Super Bowl time, everything is fair game. A lot of people, me included, have written about Ahmad Bradshaw's legal scrapes. |
| NationMemberInOH | Many people are comparing the 06-07 Giants to the 00-01 Pats. Any similarities, or are they just reaching? |
| John_Powers | I think it's the most recent example of a heavy favorite against a team that's been on a terrific run. If the Patriots had blown out the Giants in December, it'd be different. The Giants have been quite loose. Nobody thought they'd get this far, so they can play with abandon, just as the Patriots did when they beat the Rams. |
| gman__Guest_ | What's one thing you see out there during Super Bowl week that people don't usually hear about? |
| John_Powers | What we see is the absence of the average fan. Even at face value, it's an expensive ticket and the airfare and hotels make it a massive expense. What we see are celebrities and corporate types in limos. The World Series has much more of an average-fan feel. |
| smn54__Guest_ | Hi John, What do you think about Chad Johnson wanting to come to New England? |
| John_Powers | Everyone wants to be at a place where people have rings on three fingers. For the Patriots, the issues would be price and fit. But, as we saw during the last off-season, they aren't bashful about going out and getting people they think can help them.. |
| SBCHAMPX4__Guest_ | John your thoughts about the Giants having to take an extra week off and the loss of momentum that will result? Based on the Pats overall superior talent and experience I think the extra week will not be a factor and they will be able to come out and play at a higher level than the G'nts? |
| John_Powers | I think the extra week helps both teams. Players get to rest and heal and coaches get to work more thoroughly on game plans. The advantage for the Patriots, of course, is that they've been through the whole crazy week before and know how to keep things in balance. That's been a challenge for the Giants, who have only two players -- Strahan and Toomer -- who've been to the Super Bowl. |
| Displaced_Pats_Fan__Guest_ | John, Thanks for answering our questions. Just wondering if you've heard how the Pat's practice went today? Belicheck was apparently not happy with yesterday's practice, so I'm wondering if he ran them hard today to get their focus back? Or do you think his statement about "we've had better" about yesterday was just something to throw a new wrinkle into the rumor mill about the Pat's chances or preparation for Sunday? |
| John_Powers | I heard the same thing from Coughlin about the Giants. The players have been off for a while and sharpness was lacking. It's also Belichick's way of getting the players to focus. He wants them taking nothing for granted. |
| m_osman__Guest_ | Which team has the edge with special teams? |
| John_Powers | I would give it to the Patriots, but the Giants have the best all-around guy in David Tyree.. |
| CajunSox__Guest_ | I have watched the replay of the Giants & Pats game on NFL network and I don't believe it was as close as the final score. AT one point Brady completed 11 or so passes in a row, Their secondary is their achiilles heal. Don't you agree? |
| John_Powers | NI agree about the secondary being the Giants Achilles heel, although they did a pretty decent job containing Romo and Favre. The Patriots, though, have more weapons to deal with. If Brady is patient, which he usually is, he'll have a very good day. |
| eg__Guest_ | I heard today's practice was terrible and that Belichick cleared the field in disgust. Can you alaborate on what happened? |
| John_Powers | I was with the Giants today, so I don't know. But Bill isn't beyond using motivational tools to get his guys charged up. |
| chuck__Guest_ | We can only hope that this team -- assuming that they are successful on Sunday -- do not take up champagne drinking along with the Murcury Morris group each year. |
| John_Powers | You mean you don't think that Belichick will be swilling Dom Perignon? He's such a party animal. |
| CT_Patsfan_guest | What would you say will be the most notable difference we can expect to see in the Giant's gameplay in comparison to Week 17? |
| John_Powers | I think they'll put more pressure on Brady and take their chances. They'll also try to keep the ball out of his hands by pounding the running game. |
| tp41472__Guest_ | do you think that there is really anything up with Toms "ankle sprain" or was it just a farce? |
| John_Powers | i think it was a real sprain, but probably not serious. of course, the patriots never will let you know his real condition. they won't even confirm that Tom has two legs. |
| chuck__Guest_ | Even though the Pats are the favorites, these games are still a great strain on my cardiovascular system. Do you have any suggestions for older viewers watching these game to avoid heart attacks? |
| John_Powers | I would tune in with two minutes to go. it's the up-and-down motion of the roller coaster than makes your stomach turn upside down. as Tom Heinsohn once told me, people love sports because they're `entertainment that's in doubt'. |
| chc__Guest_ | Hi John. I am a fan, and hope the Pats win, but this game makes me nervous. The Giants have nothing to lose, and it would be huge from them to stop the Pats. Do you sense the Patriots are tight at all, with all the pressure on them to win? |
| John_Powers | The Patriots have been quite loose all week. Belichick even used the word `romantic', which is astounding. What's interesting, though, is that the Giants also are loose. There's nothing more dangerous than a team on a roll that's a 12-point underdog. |
| pastfan_forever__Guest_ | Can Jerry Rice be serious picking the Giants or is he forever NFC? |
| John_Powers | I think Jerry may be showing his NFC colors a bit, but the December game has many people giving the Giants a shot. Also, nobody wants a blowout. |
| Schooley828_Guest | John, do you find it curious that the Giants don't seemed to have learned from several other teams that it is best to just keep your mouth shut leading up to the game |
| John_Powers | I think it's a bit of irrational exuberance, but the Giants have to believe they have a chance. |
| John_Powers | Sorry I can't answer all of your questions today, but I have to start writing my Brady piece for tomorrow. The problem with Arizona is that we're two hours behind when we wake up. Thanks for chatting, everyone, and enjoy the game. |
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