Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback
Eli Manning(10) throws a pass against the New England Patriots in the second half during the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
As we inch closer to the playoffs, it seems like déjà vu is setting once again.
The New England Patriots are dominating the NFL despite being decimated by injuries, and are basically guaranteed another playoff berth and possibly a No.1 seed.
The New York Giants are on pace to once again make the playoffs in a very unimpressive fashion.
In the end we all know what is going to happen. The New York Giants will make the playoffs with a record somewhere around 9-7, then upset Green Bay in Lambeau in the playoffs, and then will go on to defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl because of a ridiculous Odell Beckham Jr. catch.
There is no way around this from happening, as it has happened every single time the Giants played the Patriots in season during the Eli Manning vs. Tom Brady era. Manning was drafted in 2004 and the Patriots weren’t on the Giants schedule until 2007 in a Week 17 matchup in a game in which the Giants played their starters for no other reason than stopping the Patriots from going 16-0. In an epic game the Giants lost 38-35 at home giving the Patriots their perfect regular season.
Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Patriots cornerback
Malcolm Butler(21) is unable to prevent New York Giants wide receiver
Odell Beckham(13) from catching a pass in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. New England Patriots defeat the New York Giants 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
This turned out to be a preview of that year’s Super Bowl, which as we all know turned out to be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the NFL, as it stopped the Patriots from being the first 19-0 in NFL history. Similar to the regular season game a month prior, this game a classic and the most famous play in that game was David Tyree‘s amazing helmet catch which helped the Giants drive down field and win the Super Bowl.
Four years later. Their 2011 regular season matchup was the first game they played against each other since the stunning Super Bowl XLII. This one turned out to be just another classic. In their week 9 matchup, both teams entered at (5-2), but the Patriots were heavily favored, especially since Brady had his last 30 games at home. In this game Manning led the Giants on an 80-yard drive in the last 90 seconds of the game, giving them 24-20 victory through a touchdown pass to Jake Ballard with 15 seconds left.
After this game the Giants went on to lose their next four games and barely win their division with a 9-7 record,
Once again, the Giants pulled numerous upsets in the playoffs and found themselves going to the Super Bowl. The Patriots stood across from them once again, and it was another amazing game. Again the Patriots were up late in the game, but a late drive that was jump started by a ridiculous Mario Manningham grab for 38 yards gave the Giants their second Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.
Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots kicker
Stephen Gostkowski(3) kicks the game-winning field goal against the New York Giants with 1 second remaining in the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Here we are four years later once again. The Patriots own an AFC-best 10-1 record, but the Giants gave them all they could handle in their Week 10 matchup in New York. The Patriots only won by a 54 yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with four seconds left. Still, this game and this season seem all too familiar to both Patriots and Giants fans. Will Brady get another shot at the Giants in the Super Bowl?
Based on the past, it seems like it will happen once again. The Giants may be the best team in a terrible division and probably will lose at least one more game, leaving them at best with a 9-7 record. The return of Jason Pierre-Paul has sparked a Giants defense that played the Patriots extremely well and also got to Brady three times and Odell Beckham Jr. is about as explosive of an offensive player as you will see. A few playoff upsets and the Giants once again will reach the Super Bowl.
The Patriots are injured, but continue to find ways to win and though the injuries have been piling up in recent weeks, they could be quite healthy once playoff season comes around, as Nate Solder and Dion Lewis are the only key players who are on season-ending IR. But injuries to wide receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola and now tight end Rob Gronkowski (although he don’t know how severe when it comes to the latter) are piling up.
The Patriots will make the playoffs and will likely get the No.1 seed. Their biggest threats from keeping them from going to the Super Bowl are definitely the Broncos, who rallied for a 30-24 overtime win on Sunday night at Denver in handing New England their first loss of 2015. The Cincinnati Bengals also bear watching as well.
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However, it’s simply inevitable. History will repeat itself once again, but who knows, the outcome might be different this time. Maybe, Odell Beckham won’t make an amazing catch that nobody can believe on a late drive to win the game. Brady has never beaten Eli Manning outside of New York, but he will get one more chance in Super Bowl 50.
If any team, it will be the New York Giants that will deprive us of the awkward moment of Roger Goodell giving the Tom Brady and the New England Patriots the Lombardi trophy.