Super Bowl XLVI matchup: Giants vs. Patriots

WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL

GIANTS OFFENSE

Quarterback: Eli Manning had the greatest year any Giants quarterback ever experienced. He completed more passes (359) and threw for more yards (4,933) than anyone in franchise history. In the playoffs, he's been just as special with eight TD passes and only one interception. He's engineered seven wins in the fourth quarter or later this season. In short, he's proven to be on a very short list of premier NFL quarterbacks.

Running backs: The Giants finished dead last in the NFL in rushing during the regular season, but they've been able to move the ball in the playoffs. Even against the 49ers' defense in the NFC Championship Game, Ahmad Bradshaw was able to grind out some key yards late in the game. Brandon Jacobs is the franchise leader in rushing touchdowns. Bradshaw has been playing with a cracked bone in his right foot since October but has still managed to perform well. The Giants use D.J. Ware in many of their third-down packages.

Wide receivers/tight ends: Who knew? The team lost Steve Smith and Kevin Boss to free agency in the preseason and all seemed doomed. But Victor Cruz came out of nowhere to become a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver, Hakeem Nicks continued his progression as a top-flight player in his third season, and tight end Jake Ballard went from the practice squad to one of Manning's most trusted targets. Mario Manningham battled knee issues for most of the season but is healthy and has scored a TD in each of the three postseason games. Ballard is a little slowed by a knee injury but can still be effective.

Offensive line: It took about 14 weeks for this unit to come together, but eventually it did with Kevin Boothe at left guard and David Diehl at left tackle, a move necessitated when Will Beatty went on IR. Center David Baas was the Giants' one big free agent pick-up and he's had an up-and-down season due to injuries. Chris Snee did not have a typically strong season but has been back to his All-Pro level lately. Kareem McKenzie is the only lineman to start every game at the same position this season.

PATRIOTS DEFENSE

SEE PHOTOSTop 11 Giants Super Bowl Moments

Defensive line: It's not that Vince Wilfork is the anchor of the line. It's more like an anchor is the Wilfork of a ship. Listed at a conservative 325 pounds, he led the New England defensive line with 74 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. He also recovered a fumble for a touchdown and had two interceptions. In the postseason he's recorded 2 1/2 sacks. Kyle Love is called "Mini-V" for his resemblance to Wilfork. Former Jet Shaun Ellis had just one sack in the regular season but one in the playoffs as well. Mark Anderson led the team with 10 sacks.

Linebacker: Jerod Mayo is the first Patriots player to register at least 100 tackles in his first four seasons. Brandon Spikes has a sack and an interception in the playoffs. He was injured early in the game against the Giants, creating a hole for Jake Ballard to make plays down the middle. Rob Ninkovich is a versatile linebacker in coverage as well as rushing the passer.

Secondary: Hofstra product Kyle Arrington had seven interceptions for the Patriots this season, tying him for the most in the NFL. No one else on the team had more than two, though, and the secondary has not had an interception in two playoff games. Arrington and last year's first-round pick, Devin McCourty, are listed as the starting corners, but McCourty has been playing safety lately along with Patrick Chung and former Jet James Ihedigbo. The Patriots gave up more pass plays of 20 or more yards (74) than any other team in the NFL this season. Wide receiver/return man Julian Edelman has also seen some time at cornerback.

SPECIAL TEAMS

If there is one thing the Giants don't have, it's a dynamic punt and kickoff returner. Rookie Jerrel Jernigan has been decent on kickoffs, but Will Blackmon can never seem to get things going for the Giants, whose longest return of the year has been 18 yards. Edelman returns the punts for the Pats and averages 10.7 yards per try with a 72-yard TD this season. The Giants do contain returners, though. Greg Jones leads the team with seven special-teams tackles in the playoffs after having only six in the regular season.

KICKING

Lawrence Tynes is the only player in NFL history to kick two game-winning overtime field goals in the playoffs. That's not bad. But he has missed two field-goal attempts during these playoffs, one of which was blocked. Steve Weatherford is having a strong punting postseason. He has 18 punts and the difference between his average and his net average is just 5.8 yards. The Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski, meanwhile, has converted his four field-goal attempts in the postseason but none have been longer than 35 yards.

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

PATRIOTS OFFENSE

Quarterback: Tom Brady. What else is there to say? He threw for 5,235 yards this season, the second-most in the league (and the second most in history) behind Drew Brees. Against the Broncos in the divisional round, he threw six touchdowns. He did not have a touchdown pass against the Ravens in the AFC Championship, but he did tie Joe Montana with his 16th playoff win. He is 3-1 in Super Bowls and is looking to avenge his only loss -- four years ago to the Giants.

Running backs: BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 667 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season and added another touchdown in the playoffs. His longest run of the year was for 18 yards, which came against the Giants in November. Danny Woodhead is the third-down back who can run or catch passes out of the backfield, but in the playoffs the Patriots have started using TE Aaron Hernandez to run the ball. He has 70 rushing yards on 8 carries, including a 43-yarder that is the team's longest run of the season.

Wide receivers/tight ends: TE Rob Gronkowski has become one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL, too big to cover with a defensive back and too fast to cover with a linebacker. He's nursing an ankle injury, though, which could slow him down. He and Aaron Hernandez are a potent combination at the position. Wes Welker caught 122 passes for 1,569 yards in the regular season and is one of the most difficult slot receivers in the league to cover. Deion Branch's downfield ability cannot be ignored. He had a 61-yard touchdown against the Broncos and is averaging 20.6 yards per reception in the postseason.

Offensive line: The Patriots have two Pro Bowl guards in Logan Mankins and Brian Waters and they play on either side of center Dan Connolly. Left tackle Matt Light will have to handle both speed rushes by Osi Umenyiora and bull rushes by Jason Pierre-Paul. First-round pick Nate Solder is a backup for the Patriots at tackle. Tom Brady was sacked 32 times in the regular season -- twice by the Giants in November -- but only once in the playoffs.

GIANTS DEFENSE

Defensive line: The soul of the Giants' defense, and perhaps the entire team. With Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora shaking off an injury-riddled regular season for the playoff push and Jason Pierre-Paul dominating games single-handedly at times, they've become the force many expected them to be. Chris Canty is having the best year of his career at tackle. Add Rocky Bernard and Dave Tollefson as veteran backups and the Giants have the best unit in the league.

Linebacker: Having Michael Boley back and healthy has been the key. His absence (or limitation) due to a midseason hamstring injury was a big reason for the four-game slide. Chase Blackburn joined the team in December and has fit in as if he never left. Mathias Kiwanuka can be a strong run-stopper but still has some weaknesses in coverage as a converted defensive end. Rookie Jacquian Williams is the team's most athletic linebacker. He's not always in the right spot, but he's getting better and his mistakes are fewer.

Secondary: When the Giants were relying more on zone coverages they were a mess with costly miscommunications and breakdowns in nearly every game. since they went back to playing more man, however, they've been much more productive. Corey Webster is their top coverage corner. Antrel Rolle is a safety who plays the nickel. Kenny Phillips and Deon Grant are the other traditional safeties. Aaron Ross has been healthy all season and is quietly having one of his best years.

INTANGIBLES

The Patriots have been playing for Myra Kraft, the deceased wife of owner Bob Kraft, all season and when BenJarvis Green-Ellis scored against the Ravens in the AFC Championship he tapped the patch on his uniform that honors her and pointed skyward. In a football sense, the Patriots are trying to atone for their Super Bowl loss four years ago that cost them a perfect season. The Giants, meanwhile, have taken their us-against-the-world attitude from the depths of a 7-7 record to the pinnacle of the sport. They've drawn numerous comparisons to the 2007 championship run. A win over the Patriots would be the final parallel.

COACHING

Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin used to have lockers next to each other in Giants Stadium when they were both on the Giants staff in the late 1980s and on the 1990 Super Bowl team. Belichick went on to establish himself as a Hall of Fame coach, but Coughlin is catching up. A second Super Bowl could elevate him to Canton. Belichick is a defensive genius while Coughlin helps steer the Giants' offense. And of course Coughlin's only Super Bowl win came at the expense of Belichick's only Super Bowl loss.