Super Bowl XLVI is the New England Patriots to lose. Why? Because Tom Brady has found a new way to burn the second and third levels of the defense - the tight end position. Tight End Rob Gronkowski actually led the team in touchdowns and tight end Aaron Hernandez is a threat to catch, block, and run.
New England Patriots 2012 Playoffs
The 2012 NFL playoffs have come to this, the New England Patriots entrance into Super Bowl XLVI. Yes, New England Patriots playoff tickets are available for redemption. Bill Belichick needs to impose his cerebral superiority on the sidelines and Tom Brady needs to deliver in the field, picking apart the Giants linebackers and secondary with Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez. This football game, on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium, will be the Pats return to the big stage and the culmination of a phenomenal regular season and an impressive postseason to date.
In the Giants it would seem they are playing a mirror or only slightly distorted version of themselves. New York’s offense is reliant on Eli Manning and their defense has been rather soft all season long. Only recently have they been able to offer a defensive line capable of reaching the quarterback. The Patriots differ in that they rely on Tom Brady to find tight ends in the field and not wide receivers and the New England defense has discovered its ability to stop the run. The Giants have all but abandoned the run though. There is good news too. The Giants linebackers are hardly a top tier unit, meaning Brady should have a field day picking apart the seams with tight ends Gronkowski and Hernandez and cross-route specialist Welker.
This Super Bowl promises to be a particularly good game. Call it redemption, revenge, or respect, but one of those Rs is motivating every member of the New England Patriots roster and coaching staff. I expect nothing less than another instant classic, perhaps this time with Tom Brady engineering a game-winning fourth quarter drive.
New England Patriots Playoff History
New England Patriots Background
The New England Patriots playoff history had been brief until the mid-1990s. Sure, they had played in the Super Bowl XX, but they were decimated 46-10 by the legendary Chicago Bears. The change in the direction of the franchise began with the additions of Coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Drew Bledsoe. From 1993 to 2001, he was the centerpiece of an offense that went to the Super Bowl once again in 1997. Those Patriots lost to the Packers, sending the N.E. to 0-2 in the big game.
Then, in 2001, Bledsoe went down with an injury and a sixth round draft pick stepped in to become the man at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady, a forgotten quarterback out of Michigan led the New England Patriots to the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory in 2002. The Patriots beat the Rams 20-17. Coach Bill Belichick built a football team around Brady and simply put in players to take up particular roles. New England went on to win two more Super Bowls in three seasons.
Since that last win in 2005, when the Patriots won 24-21 against the Eagles, New England has been a postseason mainstay but they proved unable to add another Super Bowl win to the team history. OnlineSeats has the New England Patriots tickets for this new postseason appearance.