Super Bowl 46 Preview & Prediction
The two biggest keys for Super Bowl 46 rest on the team in white looking to follow up its shocking upset four years ago against a New England team just a few minutes away from perfection in Glendale.
The running game of the New York Giants and its ferocious compilation of pass rushers will be the two keys for the big game this evening in Indianapolis. The tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw barely combined for over 1,100 yards during the regular season but have had a postseason renaissance of sorts and have allowed Tom Coughlin’s crew to control the clock more. Since Eli Manning thrives off the play-action pass, the improved ground game has allowed the youthful trio of Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham to be all the more effective against teams that now have to respect the run.
The emergence of Jason Pierre-Paul to go with veteran pass rushers Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck have made the Giants defense eerily similar to the one that caused Tom Brady and the Patriots a heap of trouble four years ago. New England’s likely counter to that? The hurry-up offense orchestrated by Brady and his duo of offensive coordinators Josh McDaniels and Bill O’Brien, the latter of whom will be on his way to State College after the game to lead the Nittany Lions of Penn State University.
A short passing game by Brady to tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski (who will almost certainly be limited in some way after suffering a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship win over Baltimore two weeks ago) and junebug-like wideout Wes Welker to tire out the Giants defense and, optimally, negate New York’s biggest strength. The Giants defense was able to undercut Patriot receivers on several occasions, two of which resulted in Brady interceptions.
This evening’s game in Indianapolis will be a matchup of adjustments between Coughlin and the legendary Bill Belichick, two Bill Parcells disciples who know the game, and their respective teams, better than nearly every coach the league has seen in quite some time. That being said, the ground game of the Giants and their ability to get to the QB will be the difference.
Final Predicted Score Sure To Go Wrong: Giants 27 Patriots 24
Tampa Bay To Hire Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano As Head Coach
After bringing the Rutgers University program up from practically nothing, Greg Schiano will now try to do the same for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Schiano and the Bucs are now finalizing a contract that would make him the team’s new head coach, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schiano, 45, has been the head coach for the Big East’s Scarlet Knights since 2001 and has compiled a 68-67 record over that span. However, Schiano is highly regarded as a good fit for the pro game and has drawn praise from people like Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Just as he faced challenges with Rutges, he’ll face just as many challenges with Tampa Bay.
The move came just a few days after Oregon coach Chip Kelly reportedly turned down the job.
The Bucs lost their final 10 games of the 2011 season to finish at 4-12 and allowed at least 31 points in their last five contests. The team does have a decent young QB in Josh Freeman, but not much else on the offensive end and an aging defense that finished 30th in the NFL in yards allowed.
Colts Hire Chuck Pagano
Indianapolis opted for a defensive minded coach to guide their franchise into the future under new general manager Ryan Grigson, hiring beloved Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano as head coach, as first reported by ProFootballTalk. He replaces Jim Caldwell.
Pagano spent just one season as Baltimore’s coordinator after three seasons as their secondary coach under John Harbaugh, but the Ravens reached the AFC Championship game and finished third overall in total defense in 2011. Conversely, the Colts finished 25th. Pagano has been praised by his players for his up front style and his wit, which reminded a lot of people of another former Baltimore defensive coordinator who now coaches the Jets in Rex Ryan.
Indianapolis went 2-14 this past season without Peyton Manning and are expected to take QB Andrew Luck with the top overall selection in April’s draft. With the QB position well covered, Indianapolis now has a blueprint in place to improve the defense.
NFL Championship Game Picks ATS
Baltimore @ New England- 3 p.m. Eastern, CBS- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
The Pick- Patriots -7 over Ravens
Can the Ravens pass rush and their running game be enough to slow down New England? Who covers the Patriots’ dynamic tight ends. New England’s defense has underratedly been one of the top teams in the league in terms of forcing turnovers and getting takeaways, something Joe Flacco and the Ravens cannot afford to do. Each possession has to be a premium for Baltimore, because the Pats are so explosive on the offensive end. In the end, Baltimore won’t do enough to derail the Patriots and New England will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
New York @ San Francisco- 6:30 p.m. Eastern, FOX- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver, Chris Myers.
The Pick- Giants +2.5 over 49ers
New York’s running game has to be a factor against the Niners with the expected wet and soggy field conditions at Candlestick Park. The short passing game of the Niners has to be good to supplement the run and keep the Giants pass rush at bay. Ultimately, the big play ability of the New York receivers and their overwhelming pass rush will set up a Super Bowl rematch with New England.
Colts Fire Jim Caldwell
Did Peyton Manning’s neck cost Jim Caldwell his job? New General Manager Ryan Grigson relieved Caldwell of his duties on Tuesday after Indianapolis endured a 2-14 season with Manning out for the entire season.
Caldwell spent three seasons coaching the Colts, going a combined 24-8 in the two regular seasons he spent with Manning before the 2-14 year without the all-time great QB. Caldwell became the fifth rookie coach in league history to reach the Super Bowl before losing to New Orleans in Super Bowl XLIV. Indianapolis fell in the Wild Card round in the 2010 season to the Jets and hopes were high for 2011 before the severity of Manning’s injury was revealed.
It’s unknown how much influence Grigson will wield in this search, but his previous role with the Eagles could make offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg a prime candidate for the coaching vacancy.
