Giants-Patriots scouting report

GIANTS OFFENSE VS. PATRIOTS DEFENSE

The Giants' offense will try to take advantage of New England's secondary, which has reached the Super Bowl despite a patchwork group that includes wide receiver Julian Edelman playing cornerback. Unlike past Giants teams - including the one that beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl 4 years ago - this year's group does not effectively run the ball. Instead, the team's strength is a deep wide-receivers corps that proves problematic for depleted secondaries. Patriots coach Bill Belichick must determine how to ably cover Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham, each of whom is a threat for a big game. Both Cruz and Nicks eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving this season, and all three receivers have plays of more than 70 yards in their careers. The X-factor for the Patriots' defense is nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who plays even bigger than his listed 325 pounds and can disrupt an interior offensive line by himself. Previously with a reputation as a run-stopper, Wilfork can penetrate the line of scrimmage. It's not always represented in the sack total - although his 3.5 sacks this season were a career-high - but he can prompt Giants quarterback Eli Manning to throw the ball quicker. There will be pressure on Giants center David Baas to keep Wilfork off Manning.

PATRIOTS OFFENSE VS. GIANTS DEFENSE

The Patriots' offense has been proficient throughout the season, eclipsing 30 points in 12 of 16 regular-season games on their way to an NFL-best 13-3 record. Quarterback Tom Brady passed for 5,235 yards and 39 touchdowns, utilizing a two-tight end set with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez to create mismatches. That's why the status of Gronkowski's high ankle sprain is such a dominant storyline heading into Sunday. If Gronkowski is healthy, the Patriots' offense can create fits for a Giants defense that struggles against tight ends. Pay attention to Giants rookie linebacker Jacquian Williams, whose versatility helps in coverage, and how defensive coordinator Perry Fewell deploys safeties Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips and Deon Grant. The strength of the Giants' unit is the pass rush, which has been nearly unblockable during a five-game winning streak. When the Giants upset the Patriots in their last Super Bowl meeting, it was the Giants' pass rush that disrupted Brady throughout the game. That will need to be the case if the Giants want a similar fate, and the key to the group is second-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Belichick said earlier this week that Pierre-Paul makes about five jaw-dropping plays each game.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Considering both the Patriots and Giants won their league championship games with plays on special teams, the oft-forgotten third phase of the game could prove crucial on Sunday. Neither team is particularly potent in the return games, but they benefit from strong coverage units and capable kickers and punters. If defenses can make stops, Giants punter Steve Weatherford and Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko can prove pivotal in the field position battle.

COACHING

Belichick and Giants coach Tom Coughlin were once young assistants together, and both have excelled at their second NFL head-coaching stops. Coughlin has topped Belichick in the past two meetings, although that will have little bearing on Sunday. Expect both teams to be well prepared and well coached. The staffs also benefit from continuity at assistant coach, with the Patriots featuring the interesting wrinkle of offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien coaching his final game before heading to Penn State and former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels being back helping New England's offense.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Late in the fourth quarter

Don't expect a blowout on Sunday. Six of the past seven meetings between the two franchises were decided by four points or fewer, including the last time the teams met in the Super Bowl. Eli Manning has established himself as one of the NFL's best fourth-quarter quarterbacks this season, and all three of Tom Brady's Super Bowl victories have been by a field goal. (That includes the Super Bowl XXXIX win over the Eagles.) So don't plan on leaving your party early on Sunday, because the team with the ball last might have the drive that determines the game.

2. Turnover margin

One of the reasons the Giants and the Patriots have reached the Super Bowl is turnover margin. The Giants are plus-5 in the postseason and were plus-7 in the regular season. The Patriots were plus-17 in the regular season, although they're minus-3 in the two postseason games. Neither Brady nor Manning can afford ill-fated interceptions during a game when possessions are valuable and time of possession is sacred.

3. Injuries

The injury that has generated the most headlines is Gronkowski's ankle, but Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw played the last eight games with a broken bone in his right foot. Partly because of Bradshaw's injury, the Giants' running game has been ineffective. No one knows how Gronkowski's ankle will respond, considering it's an injury that usually sidelines a player and it appears the star tight end will try to play. But the week off might help Bradshaw, who limits his practice time to stay as fresh as possible for game days.