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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 12:53 p.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2008

NFL: Here's how Giants can win the Super Bowl

By Chris Harry
The Orlando Sentinel

To beat the perfect New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, the New York Giants will have to play a near-perfect game. Here's an early look at where they must shine the most.

Touchdowns instead of field goals:

If we learned anything from New England's playoff victories against Jacksonville and San Diego, it's that kicking field goals is no match when the other team is kicking extra points. The Chargers were atrocious in the red-zone in the AFC title game, failing to score a TD on three trips inside the Pats' 15. The Giants weren't great in the Green Bay red zone, but they did score two TDs in five trips.

Keep running the ball:

New York's rushing attack ranked fourth in the NFL during the regular season at 134.3 yards per game. The Giants have done a nice job of maintaining that pace in three postseason victories (108 per game). Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has struck a balance between battering Brandon Jacobs (3 postseason rushing TDs) and the quicker change-of-pace style of Ahmad Bradshaw (16 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD vs. Packers). Running the ball successfully will help freeze New England's aging linebackers and open up the passing game even more.

Stay hot (and cool), Eli:

In the regular season, Giants QB Eli Manning completed 56 percent of his passes for 3,336 yards, 23 TDs, 20 interceptions and a passer rating of 73.9. In the postseason, he's hit 62 percent, thrown four TDs, no interceptions and his 99.2 rating is better than Tom Brady's. Manning's stats weren't eye-opening against Green Bay, but he gave his big receivers, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, chances to make plays by putting the ball in catchable spots. Even bigger, he didn't make the crucial mistake that Brett Favre did.

Front seven front and center:

The defense that led the NFL in sacks during the regular season didn't have any against the Packers, but Favre felt heat during the sub-zero conditions, no question. Both his interceptions, including the game-changing one in overtime, came under duress. That's the kind of pressure Brady needs to feel. There is no more dangerous site in sports than No. 12 looking cozy in the pocket with time to survey his second, third and fourth reads. And Lord help the Giants if Laurence Maroney (122 yards in both playoff games) finds his groove. The guy has been a terror in the postseason. The Giants have to reduce the threat of either the Pats' running or passing game. Good luck.

Secondary tackling is primary:

When the Patriots do complete passes, Giants linebackers and defensive backs have to be sure with their tackling. All season — and certainly against the Jags and Chargers in the postseason — Brady was more than happy to hit open underneath receivers when the deep ball wasn't there. That's because Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, Kevin Faulk and all the rest excel at making defenders miss and getting yards after the catch. Stat: Randy Moss caught one pass in each playoff game, and the Pats had two-score leads in the fourth quarter in both.