Patriots' face Giants in final run for record books
PHOENIX (Reuters) - The New England Patriots' pursuit of a perfect season reaches a climax on Sunday when they face the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.
After reeling off 18 straight victories, New England hopes to secure their fourth championship in the last seven years by beating the two-touchdown underdog Giants at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Either the Patriots become arguably the greatest team in NFL history or they become a benchmark for squandered opportunities. No team has gone 19-0 in a season.
"I think it's the biggest game of all of our lives -- my life, the entire team, our coaches," double Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady told reporters. "We're going to be remembering this game for as long as we live, win or lose.
"We're going to have great memories of this experience or we're going to look at it truly as a missed opportunity.
"There's not too many teams in the history of the NFL -- none, in fact -- that have been 18-0 going into this game."
New England is the highest scoring team in NFL history and Brady's 50 touchdown passes also is a record. Toss in wide receiver Randy Moss's record 23 TD catches and you have what could be the NFL's all-time best offense.
But the Giants (13-6) and their up-and-down quarterback Eli Manning have played in the postseason like a team determined to prove it belongs among the NFL's elite.
Coach Tom Coughlin is enjoying the role of David as he faces Goliath.
"We have been underdogs pretty much every time we've played," he said. "We've gone on the road and been underdogs, and been underdogs at home. So its kind of been a natural thing.
"The main theme that comes out of that for our team is having something to prove. We always have something to prove. And there's nothing wrong with that."
SQUANDERS LEAD
The two teams played in the regular-season finale with New York blowing a 12-point third-quarter lead and succumbing 38-35 before a rowdy sold-out crowd at Giants Stadium.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a Giants assistant for 12 years, cautioned about reading too much into the teams' prior meeting.
"I think each game takes on its own personality," he said. "There are some elements of that game that probably will carry a similar pattern. I think there will be other elements that will be different.
"I certainly hope that we can hold them to less than 35 points. I'm sure they're hoping to hold us to less than 38."
Injuries will not appear to play a major role in the outcome. Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who earlier in the week predicted a 23-17 Giants victory, is nursing a sore knee but should play.
New York wide receiver Amani Toomer believes the Giants will have plenty of support.
"The Patriots are trying to make history and we are trying to make history," he said. "I think we have more people on our side because no one wants to see an undefeated team.
"A lot of other teams are going to be behind us because we have the last shot at them. Hopefully, we will take advantage of it."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
