New York Giants vs. New England Patriots, 6:30 p.m., NBC

Its finally here! The NFL season started with the possibility of not being played amid tough labor negotiations. Once the season finally started, a lack of quality practice time and crackdown on big hits caused an offensive explosion that the league had never seen before. But the high offensive output didn’t last through the playoffs, where both Green Bay and New Orleans went down before the conference championship game. Now we are left with a rematch of one of the best Super Bowls in modern memory. The Giants’ improbable win in 2008 combined with their win at New England this season have them feeling supremely confident. The Pats feel like the underdog after barely skimming by against the Ravens. The Giants look like they have an advantage in most categories, including offensive playmakers and defensive line. Can the Giants’ defensive line torture Golden Boy Tom Brady like they have been claiming all week? They surely will make him uncomfortable but all the talk about how they have got into Brady’s head is additional fuel to the Golden Boy’s fire. Make no mistake, this Super Bowl has significant historical relevance for both quarterbacks. If Brady is able to win his fourth, he steps into a short list of QBs with 4 rings and into the top 5 at the position. If Eli Manning wins, not only does he most likely cement a place in Canton, but it puts a permanent stain on Brady’s resume that the best of the best rarely have. The Pats know this and will do whatever it takes to win. The underdog role suits the Pats whose best players where undervalued coming into the league. This game ultimately comes down to which defense can best make and defend against big plays. While I want to say the G-Men, I believe it will be the Pats. New England’s defense is back to what it used to be, led by the complete monster that is Vince Wilfork. Look for him to dominant the interior of the Giants’ offensive line and put constant pressure on Eli, preventing him from making the big plays that make the Giants offense run. Expect the Pats to win a hard-fought game. Congrats to the Brady Brunch and see everyone next fall!

Pats 27, Giants 24

Last Week: 1-1

Season: 57-34