Grant-13 carries, 29 yards-would do the trick).  Brady is very capable of beating the Giants in the air (32-42, 356, 2/0) but looked very pedestrian-like against San Diego (3 INT's).

New York usually plays smash mouth football, coming out of the NFC East.  The NFC East (Giants, Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles) accounted for seven of the ten Bowl wins from 1987-1996.  On the few occasions in 2007, where teams were able to play smash-mouth with New England (Colts, Ravens, Eagles, Giants), the scores were very close.

The Giants need to establish a running game as early as possible to keep the Patriots linebackers from dropping back against the pass and to keep their blitzing manageable.  Brandon Jacobs must come close to matching his 2007 average yards per carry (5.0) to take the heat off of Eli.  If Jacobs can touch the ball

25 times and pass 100 yards on the ground, Manning will not have to try and win it in the air.  A staunch ground game will give the Giants the time of possession advantage and frustrate Brady

New England has the more experienced defense but age may play a factor if the game is close in the fourth quarter.  But if the Patriots grab a two-touchdown advantage anytime during the game,

the show's over for the Giants.  The Patriots will not have Adam Vinatieri to perform his last-minute magic.  Stephen Gostkowski is not as automatic and could fold iin a closing seconds field goal attempt.

If the Giants can stop Laurence Maroney and force Brady into a passing game, their secondary must contain the receivers.  Add that to a commanding running game, keeping Eli out of trying to be a hero, and the Giants may have a shot.  The score at halftime should be close, 13-10 Patriots.  The key to the entire game will be how the Giants handle Brady on his first drive of the second half.  I think they can and will win their third Super Bowl, 27-23.  Eli will cease to live in Peyton's shadow.               
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