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02/01/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The stage may be different and new, but there will be a very familiar feel to Super Bowl XLVI.
Just like they did four years ago, the New York Giants and New England Patriots will battle for the coveted crown of NFL champion when the two storied franchises descend upon the city of Indianapolis for this year's title game. It will be the fifth renewal of a Super Bowl matchup in league history, and first since Dallas and Buffalo squared off for a second straight year in Super Bowl XXVIII back in January of 1994.
The first winner-take-all bout between the teams produced one of the most notable upsets in NFL lore, when the Giants stunned the 18-0 Patriots in a 17-14 nail-biter in Super Bowl XLII, held at Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 3, 2008. New York quarterback Eli Manning directed a 12-play, 83-yard drive in the final minutes, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with just 35 seconds left, for the deciding points as the Giants thwarted New England's attempt to become only the second undefeated team since the 1970 merger.
New York also get the better of the Patriots in a regular-season clash in Foxborough during Week 9 of this 2011 campaign, with Manning again orchestrating a late rally to pull the game out. The standout triggerman led the Giants on an eight-play, 80-yard march in that one, and gave his club a 24-20 decision by finding tight end Jake Ballard from a yard out with only 15 seconds remaining.
That defeat was only the third in New England's last 28 tussles with NFC foes, with two of those setbacks during that stellar stretch coming to the Giants.
The Patriots haven't lost since that last meeting, however, ripping off eight consecutive victories to secure the AFC's top playoff seed and tacking on two more in the postseason to reach the Super Bowl for the fifth time in 11 seasons under the terrific tandem of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, the most ever by a head coach/quarterback combination. The last such appearance for New England took place in its unforgettable showdown with the Giants four years back.
Brady is one of only four quarterbacks to win three Super Bowls, joining Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Troy Aikman in that select company, and will tie another Canton enshrinee in John Elway when he makes his fifth career start in the Big Game on Sunday.
The two-time league MVP is coming off a mediocre performance by his lofty standards, however, throwing a pair of interceptions and having a string of 18 consecutive outings with a touchdown pass end in New England's 23-20 triumph over Baltimore in the AFC Championship. His 57.5 quarterback rating was the battle-tested veteran's second-lowest figure in 21 all-time postseason tests.
Brady, who tied an NFL record with six scoring strikes in the Pats' 45-10 dismantling of Denver in the Divisional Round, was also picked off twice in addition to losing a fumble in this past November's tilt against the Giants, a game in which New England turned the ball over a total of four times.
"They're a good team, that's why they're here," said Brady of the Giants. "They force you into a lot of mistakes. But we can't go out there and make mistakes and expect to win. We have to go out there and play a very clean game."
New York, meanwhile, has been able to keep its errors to a minimum in posting five straight wins to make it to Indianapolis, a run that's conjured up memories of the team's 2007 surge to earn a Super Bowl berth as the NFC's fifth playoff seed. The Giants have compiled an outstanding plus-nine turnover margin during the tear, with Manning having delivered 11 touchdown passes against just one interception over the last four games.
The Giants captured their second NFC title in five seasons by outlasting No. 2 seed San Francisco in a 20-17 overtime thriller in the conference championship, one week after knocking off favored Green Bay on the road in the Divisional Playoffs. The 2007 squad also bested the NFC's top two seeds as the visitor to set up a date with the Patriots, though the remaining members aren't buying any of the surrounding destiny talk.
"As a player, it's not our job to compare these two seasons," noted Manning. "The fact that we're playing the Patriots in the Super Bowl, that's the similarity. That's the only thing that I want to think about. We know that they're a very talented team. We're going to have to play great football."
This year's contest will also be the first-ever head-to-head bout between quarterbacks that are former Super Bowl Most Valuable Players, with Manning claiming the honor with his previous heroics against the Patriots and Brady garnering the award in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII to conclude the 2001 and 2003 seasons, respectively. The fact that it will be taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home venue of Manning's older brother and Brady's longtime rival, Peyton, has added an additional juicy subplot to the game.
Another big storyline pertains to New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, whose status for Super Bowl XLVI is in some limbo after he suffered a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship. Though the NFL's 2011 leader in touchdown catches hasn't divulged much information about his playing prospects in typical Patriots fashion, he did acknowledge the injury had improved during Tuesday's Media Day session.
"I feel better every day," Gronkowski stated. "That's the goal. That's the positive direction you want to be going. The rehab is going well. Everything is moving forward and we're on pace of just feeling better every day."
SERIES HISTORY
The Giants' comeback win in Super Bowl XLII stands as the only postseason meeting between the clubs to date, with the Patriots holding a slim 5-4 edge in their overall regular-season series with New York. New England had prevailed in four straight non-playoff bouts against the Giants before Big Blue's aforementioned victory at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 6, which halted a 20-game home winning streak in regular-season games for the Pats. New England last topped New York via a hard-earned 38-35 verdict at Giants Stadium during Week 17 of the 2007 season, five weeks before the two faced off in the Super Bowl.
Belichick, who spent 12 years as a Giants assistant from 1979-90, is 2-4 against his former employer for his career and 2-2 during his tenure in New England. His first two losses to New York came while the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95. The esteemed head coach sports a 17-6 career record in the postseason, including a 3-1 mark in Super Bowls, and is tied with Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs for third place on the NFL's all-time list for playoff wins.
Giants sideline boss Tom Coughlin has a 3-4 record versus New England, including a 1-3 mark during his time in charge of Jacksonville from 1995-2002 that contains a win over the Patriots in a 1998 AFC First-Round Playoff and a loss in the 1996 AFC Championship. Coughlin is 4-1 when going head-to-head with Belichick, however, with two triumphs by the Jaguars against the Browns in 1995 tacked on to the Giants' positive results in both Super Bowl XLII and earlier this season.
Belichick and Coughlin, who has accumulated an 11-7 overall postseason record, worked together for three years from 1988-90 on Bill Parcells' staff with the Giants and were part of New York's win over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV that decided the 1990 NFL champion. Belichick was the Giants' defensive coordinator at the time, while Coughlin served as the wide receivers coach.
WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL
Giants Quarterback: Manning (4933 passing yards, 29 TD, 16 INT) caused a mini- controversy by stating he considered himself on par with Brady prior to the season, then went out and backed up that claim by delivering easily the best year of his highly-scrutinized career. The levelheaded quarterback set a Giants' season record for passing yards while engineering five fourth-quarter comebacks, including the one against the Patriots in November that halted New England's 20-game home winning streak in non-playoff tilts. Manning's play hasn't dropped off this postseason either, with the Super Bowl XLII MVP having thrown eight touchdown passes against one interception over New York's three playoff games while twice eclipsing the 300-yard barrier.
Giants Running Backs: The Giants still have the same two backs that split ball- carrying duties during their memorable upset of the Patriots four years ago, though the tandem of Ahmad Bradshaw (659 rushing yards, 34 receptions, 11 total TD) and Brandon Jacobs (571 rushing yards, 15 receptions, 8 total TD) both averaged under four yards per attempt during the regular season and the team ranked dead last in rushing offense (89.2 ypg). New York's ground game has been more effective down the stretch, however, with Bradshaw's health having improved after missing part of the year with a cracked bone in his foot. He sat out the Week 10 meeting with New England due to the injury, with Jacobs gaining a solid 72 yards and a touchdown on 18 totes as the lead man.
Giants Wide Receivers: Manning's rise to the elite quarterback ranks was aided by the work of a wideout corps that really came of age in 2011. Victor Cruz (82 receptions, 1536 yards, 9 TD) was a revelation in his first year as a full-time player and 2009 first-round pick Hakeem Nicks (76 receptions, 1192 yards, 7 TD) turned in a second straight outstanding campaign, with the duo giving New York its first pairing of 1,000-yard receivers in team history. Nicks, who's fully expected to play in the Super Bowl despite spraining his right shoulder in the NFC Championship win over San Francisco, has piled up 335 yards and four touchdowns on 18 receptions in the G-Men's three playoff tests, while fourth- year pro Mario Manningham (39 receptions, 4 TD) has a scoring catch in all three of those games and gives Manning a dangerous No. 3 target that can also stretch the field.
Giants Tight Ends: The Giants were thought to be in dire straits at this position heading into the season following the free-agent defection of Kevin Boss to Oakland, but former practice-squad member Ballard (38 receptions, 4 TD) eased concerns with an unexpectedly solid year. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound undrafted player averaged nearly 16 yards per catch in addition to providing a big body for the running game, and came up with a four-catch, 67-yard effort against New England in November that included the go-ahead touchdown grab in the final seconds. Backup Travis Beckum has made a greater contribution as of late, as his seven receptions in the playoffs were two more than he had during the entire regular season.
Giants Offensive Line: Though three starters from New York's 2007 Super Bowl champion squad remain on the current roster, a combination of age and injuries has taken a toll on what's been the offense's weak link. Left tackle David Diehl and right-sider Kareem McKenzie are both seasoned veterans with considerable big-game experience, but each struggled in protection for much of the year and Manning was sacked six times while facing constant pressure in the Giants' narrow win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship. A season-ending detached retina to the group's best pass blocker, tackle Will Beatty, in November has compounded the problem, with Diehl forced to shift back outside after opening the year at left guard and pedestrian fill-in Kevin Boothe moving into the starting lineup as a result. Center David Baas, a high-profile offseason pickup from San Francisco, also missed considerable time with neck problems in his Giants' debut. The line's stalwart is right guard Chris Snee, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who's sat out just one game over the past seven seasons.
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Patriots Defensive Line: After employing a four-man front for most of the season, in large part to play to the strengths of the now-injured Andre Carter and underachieving and since-released tackle Albert Haynesworth, Belichick switched back to the 3-4 alignment the Patriots have traditionally used under his tutelage shortly before the team's playoff march. Veteran Vince Wilfork (52 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT), the lone defender on the active roster who was present for the Super Bowl XLII setback to the Giants, has flourished with the scheme change and put forth a monster outing in the AFC Championship, in which the four-time Pro Bowl honoree made six tackles, one sack and three stops for losses. Young charges Kyle Love (33 tackles, 3 sacks) and Brandon Deaderick (17 tackles, 2 sacks) are both sound run-stoppers that work in a rotation with seasoned pros Gerard Warren (12 tackles, 1 sack) and Shaun Ellis (14 tackles, 1 sack), who'll be playing in his first Super Bowl in a 12-year career spend predominantly with the rival New York Jets.
Patriots Inside Linebackers: The presence of Jerod Mayo (95 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT), one of the league's more active and instinctive linebackers, and second- year thumper Brandon Spikes (47 tackles) makes this area probably New England's greatest strength on defense. Spikes missed eight games with a knee injury before returning to action for the regular-season finale, and it's not a coincidence that the Pats were tougher against the run after he came back. The 24-year-old also had a big day in the conference title game, registering a team-best nine tackles and coming up with a key fourth-quarter interception.
Patriots Outside Linebackers: While Carter turned out to be New England's best offseason acquisition, the addition of ex-Texan Mark Anderson (29 tackles, 10 sacks) was a very astute pickup as well. The pass-rushing specialist came through with 10 sacks during the regular season and one more in the playoffs, while his ability to create pressure from both a standup linebacker or a down end allows Belichick to give the opposition a variance of looks. The same can be said about the unheralded Rob Ninkovich (74 tackles, 2 INT), who established a career high with 6 1/2 sacks in addition to holding up very well in run support.
Patriots Cornerbacks: Though the Patriots permitted 293.9 passing yards per game prior to the playoffs, that concerning total was offset by the 23 interceptions the team produced, tied for second-most in the NFL. Nearly one- third of those picks came from Kyle Arrington (88 tackles, 7 INT, 13 PD), who emerged as New England's steadiest cornerback in his second year as a starter, while counterpart Devin McCourty (87 tackles, 2 INT, 12 PD) garnered seven interceptions of his own during a stellar rookie campaign in 2010 before having his play drop off in a sophomore slump. Finding a capable nickel back after rookie Ras-I Dowling's year-ending hip injury in September had been a season- long chore, but the play of AFC Championship hero Sterling Moore (7 tackles, 2 INT) since being inserted into that role may have finally resolved that issue.
Patriots Safeties: Here's another position group that's been a mess for New England for much of this season but has shown signs of progress as of late. One reason for that improvement has been the return of the hard-hitting Patrick Chung (62 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) from a sprained foot that kept him out much of the second half, with a desperate Belichick forced to audition several candidates without much success in the wake of the injury. James Ihedigbo (69 tackles), signed away from the Jets back in August, is a strong tackler but isn't considered an asset in coverage, with McCourty recently having seen time on the back end on obvious passing downs to help bolster the overall pass defense.
WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL
Patriots Quarterback: Brady (5235 passing yards, 39 TD, 12 INT) had already entered this postseason with a laundry list of achievements, and the two-time league MVP further enhanced his legacy by tying an NFL playoff record with six touchdown passes in the Denver game. He then matched boyhood idol Montana for the most postseason wins (16) by a signal-caller in the AFC Championship ousting of Baltimore, despite tossing two interceptions and playing poorly in his own analysis. The 34-year-old has still generated an excellent 25-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio during the 10-game win streak the Patriots bring into Indianapolis, and the 39 scoring strikes he accounted for in the regular season were the second-most of his glorious career.
Patriots Running Backs: Though it lacks a true standout, New England's backfield-by-committee approach has provided a useful complement to the team's passing proficiency. Leading rusher BenJarvus Green-Ellis (667 rushing yards, 11 TD) is a strong between-the-tackles performer who's scored 24 touchdowns over the past two seasons, though the undrafted free-agent's most impressive stat is the zero fumbles over 562 career touches he's had over his four-year tenure. That impeccable track record is the main reason why he's ahead of more- talented rookie Stevan Ridley (441 rushing yards, 1 TD), benched for the AFC Championship after losing a fumble against Denver the week prior, on the depth chart. Former Jets castoff Danny Woodhead (351 rushing yards, 1 TD, 18 receptions) now holds down the third-down role held for years by 13-year vet Kevin Faulk, who's been used sparingly since returning from an ACL tear in midseason.
Patriots Wide Receivers: No New England player benefited more by the emergence of Gronkowski and sidekick Aaron Hernandez than Wes Welker (122 receptions, 1569 yards, 9 TD), whose 1,569 receiving yards eclipsed Moss' club season mark set in 2007 and ranked second in the NFL this year, and the prolific slot specialist was a real handful for the Giants in both Super Bowl XLII (11 catches, 103 yards) as well as the Patriots' loss to New York back in November (9 catches, 136 yards). Fellow veteran Deion Branch (51 receptions, 5 TD), the MVP of the Patriots' win over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX seven years ago, also owns a wealth of big-game experience, having been an integral part of two previous championship teams during his first tour of duty with the organization from 2002-06. Six-time Pro Bowler Chad Ochocinco (15 receptions, 1 TD), however, has been essentially an afterthought following a slow adjustment to a new scheme after coming over in an offseason trade with Cincinnati. The colorful 34-year-old has fallen behind both Welker clone Julian Edelman and ex- Jaguars washout Tiquan Underwood in the pecking order late in the season.
Patriots Tight Ends: The health status of Gronkowski (90 receptions, 1327 yards, 17 TD) has been one of the most followed topics of this year's Big Game, and for good reason. He was a big factor in New England's Week 9 meeting with the Giants, netting 101 yards and a touchdown on eight catches, and eight of Brady's 12 interceptions during the regular season came on plays in which Gronkowski and counterpart Hernandez (79 receptions, 7 TD) weren't on the field together. Hernandez has been more of a focal point as of late, however, having averaged six catches and 85 yards over the Patriots' six most recent wins.
Patriots Offensive Line: Usually an unsung part of New England's sustained success, this five-man group has held up pretty well in 2011 despite two key regulars, center Dan Koppen and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, having missed the majority of the season due to injuries. The Patriots have started three players since longtime pivot man Koppen fractured his ankle in the Week 1 opener, with capable substitute Dan Connolly manning the position for most of the way and filling in adequately, and promising rookie Nate Solder has earned his stripes by starting 13 times in place of Vollmer, who hasn't played since November because of an ankle problem but will be ready if needed for the Super Bowl. The remainder of the line is loaded with experience and prestige, as guards Logan Mankins and Brian Waters have been named to 10 Pro Bowls between them and left tackle Matt Light has served as Brady's trusted blind-side protector since breaking into the league in 2001.
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Giants Defensive Ends: Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is blessed with an embarrassment of riches at this position, with Justin Tuck (37 tackles, 5 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (25 tackles, 9 sacks) each having posted three double- digit sack seasons in their careers and rising star Jason Pierre Paul (86 tackles, 16.5 sacks) actually outplaying both veterans in a banner sophomore campaign that earned the 2010 first-round pick first team All-Pro honors. The 23-year-old's 16 1/2 sacks were the most by a Giant since Michael Strahan produced 18 1/2 in 2003, and he also had a safety and blocked a field goal in addition to being one of the team's best run defenders.
Giants Defensive Tackles: The headliner of New York's interior players is seventh-year vet Chris Canty (47 tackles, 4 sacks), a high-priced free-agent addition from the rival Cowboys in 2009 who helped justify his lofty salary by setting career bests for both tackles and sacks. Youngster Linval Joseph (34 tackles, 2 sacks), a second-round choice in the 2010 draft, started 15 games at the other tackle spot and was predictably inconsistent, though the 323-pound space-eater did display flashes in his first extended action as a pro. With the Patriots certainly to air it out often on Super Bowl Sunday, look for Tuck and energetic reserve Dave Tollefson (21 tackles, 5 sacks) to kick inside on passing downs in order to get the Giants' best rushers on the field together.
Giants Linebackers: The Giants received solid years from the outside tandem of Michael Boley (93 tackles, 1 sack) and converted end Mathias Kiwanuka (84 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT), an Indianapolis native who can also pressure the passer as well as provide sound run support, but lacked a reliable starter in the middle for much of the season. That spot has since been bolstered by the re-signing of Chase Blackburn (26 tackles, 1 INT), a member of New York's Super Bowl XLII outfit who was out of football prior to being brought back in late November. Boley and rookie Jacquian Williams (78 tackles, 1 sack), a seventh- round find in this past draft, are the club's fastest linebackers who both play vital roles in coverage, meaning each may draw the important assignments of shadowing New England's terrific tight end duo of Gronkowski and Hernandez.
Giants Cornerbacks: The experience of regulars Corey Webster (51 tackles, 6 INT, 16 PD) and Aaron Ross (60 tackles, 4 INT, 12 PD) should come in handy for this game, as both were starters on the 2007 defense that successfully slowed down Brady and his arsenal of weapons in Super Bowl XLII. The combo also accounted for half of the Giants' 20 interceptions in 2011, with Webster -- New York's top cover man who held big-play receiver Randy Moss mostly in check in the last championship showdown against New England -- establishing a new career high in that category.
Giants Safeties: New York is quite battle-tested on the back end as well. Nickel defender Deon Grant (64 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) is in his 12th NFL season and faced the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII while with Carolina in 2003, while free safety Antrel Rolle (96 tackles, 2 INT) competed on Arizona's Super Bowl XLIII team in 2008. Fourth-year pro Kenny Phillips (82 tackles, 4 INT, 11 PD) is the youngest member of the group but also the steadiest, and the hard-hitting former first-round pick has developed a reputation as an enforcer with good ball skills to boot. Fewell will often deploy all three together in passing situations, and Grant had an interception and two passes defensed in November's win over New England.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Giants Placekicker: Lawrence Tynes didn't have a remarkable regular season, as his 79.2 percent (19-of-24) success rate on field goals was the Scottish-born kicker's lowest in his five years with the Giants and he made good on a shaky 4-of-8 tries from 40 yards or beyond. The 33-year-old has shown an affinity for coming through in the clutch, however. He sent Big Blue into its memorable Super Bowl clash with New England four years back by drilling a deciding 47- yard attempt in overtime to down Green Bay in the 2007 NFC Championship, and came through in virtually an identical sudden-death scenario against the 49ers in this season's conference title game.
Giants Punter: Free-agent pickup Steve Weatherford, a member of the crosstown- rival Jets the previous two seasons, bolstered what had been a major problem area for the Giants in 2010 by averaging a career-best 45.7 yards per punt with his new team. The six-year pro has been even better during this playoff run, averaging 46.4 yards per boot (40.6 net avg.) and having only nine of his 18 kicks returned.
Giants Long-snapper: The versatile Zak DeOssie has handled these duties since breaking into the league in 2007 and has twice been named to the Pro Bowl (2008, 2010) as a need player during his time with the Giants. Initially drafted as a linebacker, the Massachusetts native also serves as New York's special teams captain and finished fourth on the club with 10 coverage tackles this season.
Giants Punt Returners: This has not been an area of strength for the Giants in 2011, as their average of 6.1 yards per return was the fourth-lowest mark in the league and the team didn't have one of more than 18 yards. Cornerbacks Ross (7.1 avg.) and Will Blackmon (4.2 avg.), who does own three career punt return touchdowns, have received the bulk of the work.
Giants Kickoff Returners: Devin Thomas began the season as New York's primary kick returner and averaged a respectable 24.3 yards per attempt for the year, but was taken off the assignment in November after experiencing some ball security issues. Rookie receiver Jerrel Jernigan (23.3 avg.) has been the main man as of late and performed steadily, though the Giants finished just 20th in that category as a team prior to the postseason.
Giants Special Teams Defense: The Giants' coverage corps was solid during the regular season, limiting teams to 9.9 yards per punt return and 22.9 on kickoffs while not allowing a special-teams touchdown over the course of the year, and certainly made a difference in the narrow win over San Francisco in the NFC Championship. Williams came up with the critical strip of the Niners' Kyle Williams in overtime and recorded a team-best 17 special-teams tackles for a group that also received noteworthy efforts from two other 2011 draft choices -- safety Tyler Sash (15 tackles) and linebacker Greg Jones.
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Patriots Placekicker: Being the successor to Adam Vinatieri, who kicked the Patriots to two of their three Super Bowl victories under head coach Bill Belichick with last-second field goals, isn't the easiest of tasks, but Stephen Gostkowski has handled the challenge well. The 2006 draft choice owns a solid 84.4 percent career success rate on three-point attempts during his six years in New England and has made good on 13-of-15 tries in postseason play. One of only two NFL kickers to compile 500 points over his first four seasons, Gostkowski was a reliable 28-of-33 overall in 2011 and an impressive 10-of-13 from 40 yards out or more.
Patriots Punter: Zoltan Mesko doesn't get overworked as the punter on the league's third-highest scoring team, but the Romanian-born lefty has certainly come through when called upon. The second-year pro's 41.5 net average was the best in the AFC this season, while 24 of his 57 kicks landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He also set a New England record by averaging 46.5 gross yards per boot, breaking a mark that had stood since 1997.
Patriots Long-snapper: What had been a sore spot for the Patriots the past two years no longer seems to be concern thanks to the steady showing of rookie Danny Aiken, claimed off waivers from Buffalo during final preseason cuts. The 23-year-old has not had a bad snap in his 18 appearances while chipping in five tackles on special teams.
Patriots Punt Returners: The Patriots have a potential game-breaker here in Edelman (10.6 avg.), with the backup slot receiver having averaged a noteworthy 12.6 yards per return over the past two seasons and scored two touchdowns over that span. One of them came from 72 yards out in a rout of Kansas City back in November.
Patriots Kickoff Returners: New England hasn't been as dynamic taking back kicks, placing a poor 29th out of 32 teams with a 21.4 average in the regular season. There have been problems during the playoffs as well, with primary returner Woodhead (21.9 avg.) committing a costly fumble that Baltimore converted into a field goal in the AFC Championship.
Patriots Special Teams Defense: The versatile Matthew Slater (14 special teams tackles), voted as the AFC's special teams representative to this season's Pro Bowl, is one of a host of standouts in an area where Belichick has always put a heavy emphasis upon. Reserve linebackers Tracy White (12 tackles) and Niko Koutouvides (7 tackles) have both carved out long careers toiling on kickoff and punt coverage teams, with safety Sergio Brown (11 tackles) and Arrington (11 tackles) also having made their mark on a unit that held opponents to a modest 21.6 yards per kick return (6th overall) and 8.5 on punts.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Beating the Patriots twice in one season during the Brady/Belichick era is a rare feat indeed, with only the 2005 Broncos, 2006 Colts and 2010 Jets accomplishing the task. There's reason to believe the Giants can join that exclusive club, however. While New York's Week 9 win in Foxborough shouldn't be used as the sole measuring stick when breaking down this rematch, the fact that it came without a pair of prime offensive players (Nicks and Bradshaw) is certainly noteworthy, as is the fact that the Pats still had their best pass rusher in Carter available as well as Gronkowski at full strength. And while it's true that New England's much-maligned defense has been performing at a higher level during this pivotal stage of the season, so has a Giants' crew that's been making life miserable for enemy quarterbacks in a strikingly similar way it successfully contained Brady and his playmakers the last time these teams met up in a Super Bowl. In reality, though, this sequel seems to be set up for an offensive explosion, with both quarterbacks primed to thrive in the indoor conditions against an opponent with questionable secondary depth that will be put to the test by the strong contingent of pass-catchers on each side. Considering the recent history of this series and the track record of both Manning and Brady in clutch situations, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see this game come down to who has the ball last. But when factoring in New York's better recent results in the turnover department -- a critical determinant to the outcome of the last meeting between these two -- the Giants appear to be a slightly more confident play.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Giants 38, Patriots 34
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New York, NY - Fantasy football players ranked by position with age, 2008 statistics, comments.
QUARTERBACKS
1. Tom Brady, New England, age 32: 76 yards. Sure, he only threw 11 passes last year before a season-ending injury, but he's also the same guy who threw an NFL-record 50 touchdowns in 2007 and has even more weapons to work with.
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans, 30: 5,069 yards, 34 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, eight 300-yard games, two 400-yard games, 11 multiple-TD games, 1 dud game (defined as game without a TD or under 200 yards with 1 TD). Hopefully Saints won't figure out they haven't been so good while Brees throws every down.
3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 33: 4,002 yards, 28 TDs (1 rushing), 12 INTs, 4 300-yard games, 9 multiple-TD games, 3 duds. He's a little older, but things probably won't change all that much without Marvin Harrison and with the offensive brain trust sporting slightly different titles.
TDs, 11 INTs, 5 300-yard games, 12 multiple-TD games, 4 duds. May be team's biggest threat now that LaDainian Tomlinson's starting to sputter. Or maybe he just hands off to two guys all the time.
5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay, 25: 4,038 yards, 32 TDs (4 rushing), 13 INTs, 4 300-yard games, 10 multiple-TD games, 4 duds. Amid the usual preseason Brett Favre talk, Rodgers returns to powerful offense that's basically unchanged from his breakout year.
6. Tony Romo, Dallas, 29: 3,448 yards, 26 TDs, 14 INTs, 6 300-yard games, 8 multiple-TD games, 4 duds (including 3 games missed to injury). Says he's really getting serious about football. Plus, offense is supposed to be more "Romo-friendly" without all Terrell Owens' touchdowns.
7. Kurt Warner, Arizona, 38: 4,583 yards, 30 TDs, 14 INTs, 6 300-yard games, 1 400-yard game, 10 multiple-TD games, 2 duds. He's thrown 57 touchdown passes the past two years, but it's always scary drafting an injury-prone 38-year-old who just lost his offensive coordinator.
8. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia, 32: 3,916 yards, 25 TDs (2 rushing), 11 INTs, 3 300-yard games, 7 multiple-TD games, 6 duds. He's often an injury concern but put in 16 games last year for the first time since 2003.
y on every first down.
10. Matt Cassel, Kansas City, 27: 3,693 yards, 23 TDs (2 rushing), 11 INTs, 1 300-yard game, 2 400-yard games, 5 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. Without Randy Moss (or even Tony Gonzalez) may be more Tyler Thigpen than Tom Brady. Worth a shot, though.
11. Jay Cutler, Chicago, 26: 4,526 yards, 27 TDs (2 rushing), 18 INTs, 7 300-yard games, 1 400-yard game, 8 multiple-TD games, 4 duds. Major drop-off seems inevitable since his trade-inducing tantrum landed him with a team that doesn't employ receivers.
12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh: 27: 3,301 yards, 19 TDs (2 rushing), 15 INTs, 3 300-yard games, 5 multiple-TD games, 7 duds. That 32-TD season a few years ago starting to look a bit fluky, but he's always good for about 20 scores.
13. Matt Schaub, Houston, 28: 3,043 yards, 17 TDS (2 rushing), 10 INTs, 3 300-yard games, 1 400-yard game, 5 multiple-TD games (8 duds, including 5 games missed to injury). Injury-prone Schaub would be awesome in college fantasy league, having played in 11 games in each of his two years as Houston's starter.
14. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle, 33: 1,216 yards, 5 TDs, 10 INTs, 1 multiple-TD game, 15 duds (including 9 games missed to injury). His spine apparently is no longer the consistency of Silly Putty, he gets a great new receiver and tackle Walter Jones set to return. Had 28 TD passes two years ago and has shaky run game.
o, 25: 2,699 yards, 14 TDs (3 rushing), 10 INTs, 2 multiple-TD games, 9 duds (including 2 games missed to injury). Showed real signs of being kind of OK last year, and that was before he got Terrell Owens and the return of the Buffalo no-huddle offense.
16. David Garrard, Jacksonville, 31: 3,620 yards, 17 TDs (2 rushing), 13 INTs, 2 300-yard games, 3 multiple-TD games, 6 duds. Torry Holt addition could be huge, or could just be footnote to season when Maurice Jones-Drew rushes for 30 TDs.
17. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati, 29: 731 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs, 14 duds (including 12 games missed to injury). Like Brady and Hasselbeck, attempting to return to big stats after a big injury. Unlike them, he doesn't have a lot to work with and his team wants to run a lot more.
18. Kyle Orton, Denver, 26: 2,972 yards, 21 TDS (3 rushing), 12 INTs, 1 300-yard game, 7 multiple-TD games, 8 duds (including 1 game missed to injury). Had a spurt of decent fantasy games last year and could get a lot better with all Denver's weapons.
19. Brett Favre, Minnesota, 55 (OK, so he's really 39 but seems a lot older): 3,472 yards, 23 TDs (1 rushing), 22 INTs, 6 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. Let's just go ahead and assume Favre says yes to the Vikings on July 30. Even his tired old arm can float more than a few TDs against schemes stacked up to stop Adrian Peterson.
Ts, 1 300-yard game, 5 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. Run-first (and second and third) approach led to Manning's failure to reach 200 yards in 10 of final 12 games last year. No reliable receivers, either.
21. Jake Delhomme, Carolina, 34: 3,288 yards, 17 TDs (2 rushing), 12 INTs, 5 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. When he's terrible, he's Grossman-caliber terrible. May throw a lot less if he has two healthy RBs, but there will be those days when he goes crazy with Steve Smith.
22. Shaun Hill, San Francisco, 29: 2,046 yards, 15 TDs (2 rushing), 8 INTs, 6 multiple-TD games in 8 starts. Get the feeling 49ers coaches allowing a QB competition with Alex Smith as favor to front-office types who drafted Smith. Whoever wins gets seventh offensive coordinator in seven years.
23. Jason Campbell, Washington, 27: 3,245 yards, 14 TDs (1 rushing), 6 INTs, 2 300-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 9 duds. Made strides in first year with coach Jim Zorn, but Redskins were awfully busy trying to snag another QB in offseason.
24. Chad Pennington, Miami, 33: 3,653 yards, 20 TDs (1 rushing), 7 INTs, 2 300-yard games, 6 multiple-TD games, 6 duds. Was comeback player of the year in 2006, then stunk it up the next year. Was again comeback player last year, too, so another flop is pretty much guaranteed.
nsidered a potential fantasy star? Now he's that guy who hands off to Steven Jackson.
26. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland, 24: 2,423 yards, 14 TDs (1 rushing), 8 INTs, 5 multiple-TD games, 7 duds. Mostly looked horrible along with the rest of the Raiders, but did throw two TDs in each of his final three games.
27. Whoever emerges as the least harmful choice to start in Cleveland. Surely 2007's big stats weren't entirely fluky for Derek Anderson (26: 1,615 yards, 9 TDs, 8 INTs, 1 300-yard game, 2 multiple-TD games, 9 duds, 1 benching, 1 injury last year). And maybe that one time Brady Quinn had a pretty good game wasn't fluky either.
28. Somebody in Detroit. Rookie Matt Stafford could be a pretty good gamble. Or Daunte Culpepper (32: 786 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTS, 1 midseason unretirement, 1 multiple-TD game, 6 duds) could recapture some of his old magic with a much-improved supporting cast.
29. Joe Flacco, Baltimore, 24: 2,971 yards, 16 TDs (2 rushing), 12 INTs, 5 multiple-TD games, 10 duds. Should improve after nice rookie season, but Ravens still want to run first. (He should also quit shaving, eat more, scowl more, or do something so he doesn't look like he's 12.)
30. Whoever emerges out of the Tampa Bay gaggle could post good numbers with Antonio Bryant, Kellen Winslow and decent options out of the backfield.
uds. Not a lot going for him fantasy-wise, but at this point on the list he's a starter on a good team so what the heck.
32. Whoever wins the New York Jets competition. Fourth-year player Kellen Clemens and rookie Mark Sanchez combined for 0 NFL touchdowns last year.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 24: 1,760 yards and 10 TDs rushing (4.8 yards per carry), 21 catches for 125 yards, 10 100-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 3 duds (defined as games under 80 yards and no scores). Everyone picking first in every draft in America is required to take him.
2. Michael Turner, Atlanta, 27: 1,699 yards and 17 TDs rushing (4.5 yards per carry), 6 catches for 41 yards, 6 100-yard games, 2 200-yard games, 4 multiple-TD games, 4 duds. Most every back who carries as many times as Turner did last year flops in a big way the next year. But Turner's legs are awfully fresh from all those years on San Diego's bench.
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville, 24: 824 yards and 12 TDs rushing (4.2 yards per carry), 62 catches for 565 yards and 2 TDs, 3 100-yard games (1 receiving), 4 multiple-TD games, 6 duds. He's scored 38 times from scrimmage in three seasons - all before he was the featured back.
s stock up.
5. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina, 26: 1,515 yards and 18 TDs rushing (5.5 yards per carry), 22 catches for 121 yards and 2 TDs, 8 100-yard games, 5 multiple-TD games, 4 duds. Can he do it again if Jonathan Stewart's completely healthy? (Here's a hint: Stewart's already been hurt twice in the offseason.)
6. Chris Johnson, Tennessee, 24: 1,228 yards and 9 TDs (4.9 yards per carry), 43 catches for 260 yards and 1 TD, 4 100-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 6 duds. Technically he shares time with LenDale White, but he still averaged 20 touches a game. (Beware, though, if your league penalizes for ridiculous TD celebrations.)
7. Steve Slaton, Houston, 23: 1,282 yards and 9 TDs (4.8 yards per carry), 50 catches for 377 yards and 1 TDS, 5 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game. Was a monster once the Texans figured out what they had, with 4 100-yard games and 4 scores in his final 7 games.
8. Clinton Portis, Washington, 28: 1,487 yards and 9 TDs (4.3 yards per carry), 28 catches for 218 yards, 6 100-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 4 duds. A little older, but should again be pretty much every option for the offense.
ool highlights flattening little defensive backs).
10. Steven Jackson, St. Louis, 26: 1,042 yards and 7 TDs (4.1 yards per carry), 40 catches for 379 yards and 1 TD, 4 100-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 9 duds (including 4 games missed to injury). So good but so fragile. Before he gets hurt, will get plenty of touches behind an improved line.
11. Marion Barber, Dallas, 26: 885 yards and 7 TDs (3.7 yards per carry), 52 catches for 417 yards and 2 TDs, 4 100-yard games (1 receiving), 2 multiple-TD games, 7 duds (including 1 game missed to injury). First go as every-down back didn't really pan out, online football betting so expect fewer carries. But he's always going to be the guy on the goal line.
12. Frank Gore, San Francisco, 26: 1,036 yards and 6 TDs (4.3 yards per carry), 43 catches for 373 yards and 2 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 5 duds (including 2 games missed to injury). Lone bright spot in pathetic offense. (How many years have we been saying that?) Maybe the latest 49ers coordinator will realize he should have the ball.
13. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego, 30: 1,110 yards and 10 TDs (3.8 yards per carry), 52 catches for 426 yards and 1 TD, 2 100-yard games, 3 multiple-TD games, 5 duds. Sorry, LaDainian, but your first-round fantasy draft days are over. High-mileage back has hit the dreaded 30, and little Darren Sproles should swipe many carries.
nd 9 TDs (4.0 yards per carry), 54 catches for 402 yards and 5 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 5 multiple-TD games, 9 duds (including 2 games missed to injury). Shockingly low ranking due to big red flags: He's 30, had 2 offseason surgeries, has never played a full 16 games, and the Eagles drafted a back with their second pick. (Take his backup, too.)
15. Ryan Grant, Green Bay, 26: 1,203 yards and 4 TDs (3.9 yards per carry), 18 catches for 116 yards and 1 TD, 4 100-yard games, 6 duds. Recovered from early season injury woes. Surely he'll score more than 4 times this year.
16. Ronnie Brown, Miami, 27: 916 yards and 10 TDs rushing (4.3 yards per carry), 1 TD pass, 33 catches for 254 yards, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 8 duds. Vanished at the end of the season, going scoreless in 6 of his final 7 games.
17. Kevin Smith, Detroit, 22: 976 yards and 8 TDs rushing (4.1 yards per carry), 39 catches for 286 yards, 2 100-yard games, 6 duds. It took the Lions about half the season to realize they should give the ball to a good running back. Had 100 yards or a score in 4 of 6 games when he got 20 carries.
njury.
19. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh, 28: 791 yards and 5 TDs (3.8 yards per carry), 3 catches for 13 yards, 4 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 9 duds (including 5 games missed to injury). Yards per carry have dropped for four straight years, but a featured back for the Steelers is always money. (Just make sure you get his backup, too.)
20. Larry Johnson, Kansas City, 29: 874 yards and 5 TDs (4.5 yards per carry), 12 catches for 74 yards, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD games 11 duds, including 4 games lost to injury. Despite health problems, high mileage, legal woes and general surliness, should get plenty of touches. (Until he gets really mad about something.)
21. Thomas Jones, NY Jets, 31: 1,312 yards and 13 TDS (4.8 yards per carry), 36 catches for 207 yards and 2 TDs, 5 100-yard games, 3 multiple-TD games, 5 duds. Defied NFL history by being a good 30-year-old, and I'm too much of a believer in the 30-year-old-dropoff rule to believe he'll repeat at 31.
22. Reggie Bush, New Orleans, 24: 404 yards and 2 TDs (3.8 yards per carry), 52 catches for 440 yards and 4 TDs, 1 100-yard receiving game, 2 multiple-TD games, 11 duds (including 6 games missed to injury). Emergence of Thomas as inside runner could mean fewer touches but bigger payoff as Bush gets more passes and chances to work in open space.
0 yards and 1 TD, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 6 duds (including 1 game lost to injury). Don't forget he won't be joining us until the fourth game, thanks to gun-related suspension. And he shares with Fred Jackson a bit too much.
24. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati, 26: 747 yards and 2 TDs (3.5 yards per carry), 20 catches for 185 yards, 3 100-yard games, 9 duds in 12 games played. Came on strong late and is now center of run-based offense, factors that would make for a higher ranking if he weren't Cedric Benson and his team weren't the Bengals.
25. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis, 26: 544 yards and 5 TDs (3.5 yards per carry), 25 catches for 206 yards and 2 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 2 multiple-TD games, 11 duds (including 4 games missed to injury). Can be a TD machine when healthy, it's just that he's never healthy. Will be sharing carries with rookie Donald Brown.
26. LenDale White, Tennessee, 24: 773 yards and 15 TDs rushing (3.9 yards per carry), 5 catches for 16 yards, 2 100-yard games, 4 multiple-TD games, 6 duds. He gave way to Johnson as the season wore on, but he'll still barrel into the end zone plenty.
27. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina, 22: 836 yards and 10 TDs (4.5 yards per carry), 8 catches for 47 yards, 2 100-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. He scores a lot for a guy who never starts, and plays a lot for a guy who seems to be injured a lot.
rds and 1 TD (5.4 yards per carry), 29 catches for 342 yards and 5 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 2 multiple-TD games, 12 duds. Explosiveness, big-money contract and slowing LT could spell surprisingly big numbers.
29. Knowshon Moreno, Denver, 22: Rookie. Broncos took a break from signing journeyman backs in the offseason long enough to spend a first-round pick on Moreno. Not the official starter yet, but could be soon. (Wasn't the Denver RB confusion supposed to leave with Mike Shanahan?)
30. Darren McFadden, Oakland, 22: 499 yards and 4 TDs (4.4 yards per carry), 29 catches for 285 yards, 1 100-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 13 duds (including 3 games missed to injury). Sorry for last year's suggestion that he'd be good simply because the first back drafted each year usually is. Maybe now?
31. Tim Hightower, Arizona, 23: 399 yards and 10 TDs (2.8 yards per carry), 34 catches for 237 yards, 1 100-yard game, 2 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. All those scores are great, but a run or two over 5 yards would be nice, too. Move him way up if he wins the camp battle with rookie Chris Wells, down if he doesn't.
32. Donald Brown, Indianapolis, 22: Rookie. Last year at Connecticut led the nation in rushing with 2,083 yards and scored 18 times. Set to share time with Addai.
Left the Giants' crowded backfield for ... the Bucs' crowded backfield. He's expected to share carries with Earnest Graham.
34. Julius Jones, Seattle, 28: 698 yards and 2 TDs (4.4 yards per carry), 14 catches for 66 yards, 2 100-yard games, 14 duds. Could wind up as a solid pick because the Seahawks want to run more. Seahawks may still have rule that only T.J. Duckett gets to score touchdowns, though.
35. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland, 30: 1,002 yards and 4 TDs (3.6 yards per carry), 23 catches for 178 yards, 10 duds. He kind of looked like he'd had it last year, team's rotten and now he's 30.
36. Ahmad Bradshaw, NY Giants, 23: 355 yards and 1 TD (5.3 yards per carry), 5 catches for 42 yards and 1 TD, 13 duds. Moves into the No. 2 RB spot, which occasionally becomes the No. 1 spot when you play behind Jacobs.
37. Chris Wells, Arizona, 20: Rookie. Move him way up if he wins the starting job. Also let's hope he finally shakes the "Beanie" nickname.
38. LaMont Jordan, Denver, 30: 363 yards and 4 TDs (4.5 yards per carry), 1 multiple-TD game, 13 duds. Starts atop the giant stack of Denver running backs, though it's a little unclear how long he'll remain there. Scored four times in final three games with Patriots last year.
39. Fred Jackson, Buffalo, 28: 571 yards and 3 TDs (4.4 yards per carry), 37 catches for 317 yards, 1 100-yard game, 12 duds. He's a starter for at least the first three games.
40. Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay, 29: 563 yards and 4 TDs (4.3 yards per carry), 23 catches for 174 yards, 2 100-yard games, 10 duds (including 6 games lost to injury). Returns from ankle injury to find himself sharing job with Ward.
41. Tashard Choice, Dallas, 24: 472 yards and 2 TDs (5.1 yards per carry), 21 catches for 185 yards, 13 duds. Hard to figure out exactly how Cowboys will spread carries. But Choice should be a prominent player, especially when the other two break down.
42. Felix Jones, Dallas, 22: 266 yards and 3 TDs (8.9 yards per carry), 2 catches for 10 yards, 14 duds (including 10 games lost to injury.) Speedy, but brittle.
43. Willis McGahee, Baltimore, 27: 671 yards and 7 TDs (3.9 yards per carry), 24 catches for 173 yards, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 10 duds, including 3 games lost to injury. Best to avoid Ravens backs until late in the draft. McGahee may be the best bet, but has injury problems and may lose job to Ray Rice. Whoever wins sits down near the goal line anyhow.
44. Laurence Maroney, New England, 24: 93 yards rushing, 13 games missed to injury. Could be huge in the very unlikely perfect storm in which he starts and stays healthy and doesn't lose too many carries to Fred Taylor and the Patriots run more.
l keep getting the 1-yarders at the goal line.
46. Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore, 24: 902 yards and 10 yards rushing (3.9 yards per carry), 19 catches for 123 yards and 1 TD, 1 100-yard game, 2 multiple-TD games, 5 duds. Think Maurice Jones-Drew, only rounder. Or Duckett, only smaller. Great in TD-only leagues, but should be moving back to fullback with Lorenzo Neal gone.
47. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City, 22: 357 yards (5.3 yards per carry), 27 catches for 272 yards and 1 TD, 1 100-yard game, 13 duds. Move him way up if L.J. gets the boot.
48. Shonn Greene, NY Jets, 23: Rookie. Could be goal-line back and pick up tons of carries when Thomas Jones' old parts creak to a halt.
49. Chester Taylor, Minnesota, turns 30 Sept. 22: 399 yards and 4 TDs (4.0 yards per carry), 45 catches for 399 yards and 2 TDs, 10 duds. A must-have for Peterson owners.
50. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta, 26: 489 yards and 4 TDs (5.1 yards per carry), 36 catches for 338 yards and 2 TDs, 1 multiple-TD game, 10 duds. A must-have for Turner owners.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona, 26: 96 catches for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns, 7 100-yard games, 3 multiple-TD games, 1 10-catch game, 2 duds (defined as any game under 80 yards with no TD). No reason to think he won't have similar numbers.
D game, 5 duds. Texans only seem to have passing plays designed for Johnson, who had 10 or more catches seven times last year. And he stayed healthy.
3. Randy Moss, New England, 32: 69 catches for 1,008 yards and 11 TDs, 4 100-yard games, 3 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. Brady's back, so Moss is back to unstoppable.
4. Steve Smith, Carolina, 30: 78 catches for 1,421 yards and 6 TDs, 8 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 6 duds (including 2 games missed to suspension). Imagine his numbers if he hadn't been missed those 2 games. (Move him down some if he randomly punches another teammate in camp.)
5. Calvin Johnson, Detroit, 23: 78 catches for 1,331 yards and 12 TDs, 5 100-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 4 duds. Couldn't be stopped even when the Lions only had all those backups named Drew throwing to him. Should benefit from overall offensive improvement in Detroit.
6. Greg Jennings, Green Bay, 25: 80 catches for 1,292 yards and 9 TDs, 5 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 4 duds. Rodgers' favorite target should have another big year, as long as he doesn't get fat and happy with rich new deal.
7. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis, 30: 82 catches for 1,145 yards and 6 TDs, 4 100-yard games, 8 duds. No more Marvin Harrison should spell 100-catch year.
issed to injury). This ranking assumes he's still a Cardinal, which he would prefer not to be.
9. Roddy White, Atlanta, 27: 88 catches for 1,382 yards and 7 TDs, 7 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 1 10-catch game, 6 duds. Tony Gonzalez may help him get open, but he'll also steal some catches.
10. Marques Colston, New Orleans, 26: 47 catches for 760 yards and 5 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 11 duds (including 5 games missed to injury). Hard to stop when he's upright. Once he got healthy last year, had a TD or 100 yards in five of last six games.
11. Terrell Owens, Buffalo, 35: 69 catches for 1,052 yards and 10 TDs, 1 200-yard game, 1 100-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 6 duds. Always does well in honeymoon period with new QB. He'll surely blame lower fantasy rankings on Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia and perhaps Nicolette Sheridan.
12. Brandon Marshall, Denver, 25: 104 catches for 1,265 yards, 6 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 3 10-catch games. If his trade request doesn't go through, expect a scene like this when camp opens: "Very funny, guys. Great Kyle Orton joke. ... Now where's Cutler?"
13. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle, 32: 92 catches for 904 yards, 4 TDs, 2 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 2 10-catch games, 13 duds (including 1 game missed to injury). Numbers should return with a healthy Hasselbeck and no OchoCinco lobbying for more balls.
s Welker, New England, 28: 111 catches for 1,165 yards and 3 TDs, 4 100-yard games, 1 10-catch game, 9 duds. Surely he'll top 3 TDs with Brady back. And how amazing is 223 catches the past two years?
15. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay, 28: 83 catches for 1,248 yards and 7 TDs, 5 100-yard games, 1 200-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 9 duds. Averaged 128 yards and a score in final 4 games. Still no real QB on the roster, but there wasn't last year, either.
16. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City, 24: 86 catches for 1,022 and 7 TDs, 2 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 4 duds. QB situation got a lot better, but with no Tony Gonzalez around he's going to see far fewer open spaces.
17. Roy Williams, Dallas, 27: 36 catches for 430 yards and 2 TDs, 12 duds. Managed to underwhelm for two teams last year, but now takes over for T.O. as the No. 1 receiver. Still, really may be the third option behind Jason Witten and whoever's taking handoffs at the time.
18. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis, 25: 57 catches for 664 yards and 4 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 12 duds. Should slide right in to that No. 2 receiver spot.
19. Lance Moore, New Orleans, 26: 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 2 multiple-TD games, 8 duds. The clear No. 2 opposite Colston. And being the No. 2 receiver in this offense is not a bad thing (especially when the No. 1 gets carted off the field so frequently).
t Jackson, San Diego, 26: 59 catches for 1,008 yards and 7 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 7 duds. Was huge at the end of the year, and could be ready to be break out in a big way. (Though it seems we've been predicting his big breakout for a while now.)
21. Torry Holt, Jacksonville, 33: 64 catches for 796 yards and 3 TDs, 11 duds. Really not as old as he seemed in St. Louis. Averaged nearly 1,400 yards and eight TDs in the eight seasons before last year's disaster. Might rebound with a QB who can throw.
22. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh, 33: 81 catches for 1,043 yards and 7 TDs, 4 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 7 duds. Old guy known most for his fierce blocks on a run-first team, but he always comes through.
23. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland, 26: 55 catches for 873 yards and 3 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 10 duds, 1 billion drops. Maybe he's done a lot of finger exercises or gone to an opposable-thumb-usage clinic or something.
24. Santana Moss, Washington, 30: 79 catches for 1,044 yards and 6 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 9 duds. Stats suffered late, with one TD and no 100-yarders in his final eight games.
25. Eddie Royal, Denver, 23: 91 catches for 980 yards and 5 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 10 duds (including 1 game missed to injury). Vanished at end of season, and may vanish altogether without Cutler.
d 4 TDs, 1 multiple-TD game, 13 duds. Never even hit 80 yards last year. Could be better with the return of Palmer. Could be worse as Bengals try to become more run-oriented.
27. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota, 28: 48 catches for 964 yards and 7 TDs, 4 100-yard games, 9 duds. Numbers could really jump if Favre stays upright and explosive rookie Percy Harvin stays healthy.
28. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia, 22: 62 catches for 912 yards and 2 TDs, 2 100-yard games, 10 duds. Exploded onto the scene as a rookie, with 100-yard games in his first two games, but didn't have any after that.
30. Jerricho Cotchery, NY Jets, 27: 71 catches for 858 yards and 5 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 9 duds. Finally gets to be No. 1 receiver, but for a team that doesn't have a QB.
31. Lee Evans, Buffalo, 28: 63 catches for 1,017 and 3 TDs, 4 100-yard games, 8 duds. Deep threat should be able to stretch the field even more with T.O. in the lineup.
32. Steve Breaston, Arizona, 26: 77 catches for 1,006 yards and 3 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 8 duds. Move him way up if Boldin actually winds up somewhere else, and move him down a bit if Boldin sticks around Arizona.
33. Donald Driver, Green Bay, 34: 74 catches for 1,012 yards and 5 TDs, 2 100-yard games, 11 duds. A decent bye-week fill-in, but you just can't count on him every week like you used to.
s and 5 TDs, 7 duds (including 1 missed game). Should be solid again, and no worries on the legal front now that marijuana charges against him have been dropped.
35. Laveranues Coles, Cincinnati, 31: 70 catches for 850 yards and 7 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 10 duds. You have to wonder about a guy who goes to Cincinnati on purpose.
36. Devin Hester, Chicago, 26: 51 catches for 665 yards and 3 TDs, 9 duds. Cutler's used to big, sure-handed Denver receivers, but a tiny former defensive back's about as good as it gets in Chicago.
37. Domenik Hixon, NY Giants, 24: 43 catches for 596 yards and 2 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 14 duds. Briefly looked like a poor man's Plaxico Burress last year, then reverted to random tall and skinny guy. (Also keep an eye on the camp battles to see if Steve Smith and Sinorice Moss are worth drafting.)
38. Ted Ginn Jr., Miami, 24: 56 catches for 790 yards and 4 TDs (2 rushing), 1 100-yard game, 10 duds. Fast and dangerous, just doesn't get many touches.
39. Donnie Avery, St. Louis, 25: 53 catches for 674 yards and 3 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 11 duds. He's the only Rams receiver I can name, so he made the list.
40. Mark Clayton, Baltimore, 27: 41 catches for 695 yards and 3 TDs. Derrick Mason's retirement promotes him to kind of mediocre Ravens starter.
on offense doesn't get hurt again.
42. Devery Henderson, New Orleans, 27: 32 catches for 793 yards and 3 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 10 duds. Not a bad guy to have on the bench since he seems to catch an 80-yarder every few weeks. He averaged about 25 yards a catch last year, but doesn't get many touches.
43. Patrick Crayton, Dallas, 30: 39 catches for 550 yards and 4 TDs, 10 duds. If Williams isn't so great and none of the backs stay healthy and Crayton can hold on to the ball with regularity ... he's a steal here.
44. Kevin Walter, Houston, 28: 60 catches for 899 yards and 8 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 2 multiple-TD games, 9 duds. Always wide open for those rare occasions when Johnson doesn't get the ball.
45. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia, 31: 33 catches for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns, 13 duds (including 7 games lost to injury). Retains shred of fantasy value based on memories of his 221-yard, 3-TD game against the Lions in 2007.
46. Chris Chambers, San Diego, 31: 33 catches for 462 yards and 5 TDs, 1 multiple-TD game, 12 duds. Had 5 scores in first 5 games last year, but really wasn't heard from again. It's been an awful long time since his only 1,000-yard season (2005).
47. Percy Harvin, Vikings, 21: Rookie. Has the speed to turn short passes into big plays.
veterans.
49. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco, Rookie: Guy from fluky college offense that throws every down joins quarterbackless team. But at this stage in the draft ... why not?
50. Plaxico Burress, Unemployed, 32: 35 catches for 454 yards and 4 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 12 duds (including 6 games missed for a wide variety of reasons). Surely somebody will take a shot - er, gamble - because he's still tall and good. Move him way up if he gets a job.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta, 33: 96 catches for 1,058 yards and 10 TDs, 3 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 4 duds (defined as game under 60 yards with no TDs). Imagine how open he'll be on an offense with other weapons.
2. Jason Witten, Dallas, 27: 81 catches for 952 yards and 4 TDs, 2 100-yard games, 8 duds. Should get more catches with T.O. gone.
3. Antonio Gates, San Diego, 29: 60 catches for 704 yards and 8 TDs, 1 multiple-TD game, 7 duds. Even with kind of an off 2008, averaging 10 scores over the past five seasons.
4. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis, 30: 77 catches for 848 yards and 6 TDs, 2 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 8 duds (including 1 missed game). Should get more catches with Harrison gone.
5. Greg Olsen, Chicago, 24: 54 catches for 574 and 5 TDs, 10 duds. May be Cutler's most reliable new target.
e'll score more than once this year.
7. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay: 43 catches for 428 yards and 3 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 13 duds (including 6 missed games). He's used to producing with no real QB. He's also extremely awesome, he says.
8: Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans, 29: 50 catches for 483 yards and 0 TDs, 14 duds (including 4 games lost to injury). Brash prediction: He won't be held out of the end zone for two straight years.
9. Owen Daniels, Houston, 26: 70 catches for 862 yards and 2 TDs, 2 100-yard games, 1 multiple-TD game, 1 10-catch game, 9 duds. Always quietly solid.
10. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota, 29: 42 catches for 596 yards and 7 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 1 multiple-TD game, 9 duds. Favre's known to look for a big man in the end zone.
11. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh, 26: 48 catches for 514 yards and 3 TDs, 10 duds (including 2 games missed). Had career low in TDs last year.
12. John Carlson, Seattle, 25: 55 catches for 627 yards and 5 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 7 duds. Hasselbeck's return helps.
13. Zach Miller, Oakland, 23: 56 catches for 778 yards and 1 TD, 10 duds. More than one score with an improved Russell?
14: Vernon Davis, San Francisco, 25: 31 for 358 yards and 2 TDs, 13 duds. Will the Niners ever figure out how to use musclebound TE?
s, but lots of scores.
16. Tony Scheffler, Denver, 26: 40 catches for 645 yards and 3 TDs, 1 multiple-TD game, 9 duds (including 3 games missed). Hard to figure his role in new offense.
17. Kevin Boss, NY Giants, 25: 33 catches for 384 yards and 6 TDs, 9 duds. Lots more blocking ahead, but did lead team in TD catches.
18. L.J. Smith, Baltimore, 29: 37 catches for 298 yards and 3 TDs, 13 duds (including 3 games lost to injury)
19. Bo Scaife, Tennessee, 28: 58 catches for 561 yards and 2 TDs, 1 100-yard game, 12 duds. Didn't score or surpass 40 yards in final 7 games.
20: Todd Heap, Baltimore, 29: 35 catches for 403 yards and 3 TDs, 1 multiple-TD game, 13 duds. What happened to this guy?
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
1. Pittsburgh, 20 INTs, 51 sacks, 1 safety, 9 fumble recoveries, 3 TDs.
2. Minnesota, 12 INTs, 3 safeties, 45 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, 4 TDs.
3. Philadelphia, 15 INTs, 48 sacks, 1 safety, 14 fumble recoveries, 7 TDs.
4. NY Giants, 17 INTs, 3 safeties, 43 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries, 3 TDs.
5. Baltimore, 26 INTs, 35 sacks, 3 safeties, 9 fumble recoveries, 6 TDs.
6. Tennessee, 20 INTs, 44 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, 4 TDs.
7. Dallas, 8 INTs, 1 safety, 59 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries, 2 TDs.
8. New England, 14 INTs, 30 sacks, 8 fumble recoveries, 1 TD.
9. NY Jets, 14 INTs, 40 sacks, 16 fumble recoveries, 6 TDs.
ay, 22 INTs, 27 sacks, 6 fumble recoveries, 9 TDs.
11. Tampa Bay, 22 INTs, 29 sacks, 8 fumble recoveries, 7 TDs.
12. Chicago, 22 INTs, 1 safety, 28 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, 6 TDs.
13. Arizona, 13 INTs, 31 sacks, 17 fumble recoveries, 6 TDs.
14. San Diego, 15 INTs, 1 safety, 27 sacks, 9 fumble recoveries, 4 TDs.
15. Carolina, 12 INTs, 37 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, 2 TDs.
16. Seattle, 9 INTs, 35 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, 4 TDs.
17. Miami, 18 INTs, 1 safety, 41 sacks, 12 fumble recoveries, 2 TDs.
18. Indianapolis, 15 INTs, 31 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, 4 TDs.
19. Buffalo, 10 INTs, 24 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, 5 TDs.
20. Atlanta, 10 INTs, 1 safety, 34 sacks, 8 fumble recoveries, 3 TDs.
KICKERS:
1. Stephen Gostowski, New England, 148 points, 36 FGs.
2. David Akers, Philadelphia, 144 points, 33 FGs.
3. Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay, 131 points, 32 FGs.
4. John Kasay, Carolina, 130 points, 28 FGs.
5. Rob Bironas, Tennessee, 127 points, 29 FGs.
6. Jason Elam, Atlanta, 129 points, 29 FGs.
7. Ryan Longwell, Minnesota, 127 points, 29 FGs.
8. Mason Crosby, Green Bay, 127 points, 27 FGs.
9. Nate Keading, San Diego, 127 points, 27 FGs.
10. Nick Folk, Dallas, 102 points, 20 FGs.
11. Garrett Hartley, New Orleans 67 points, 13 FGs.
12. Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis, 103 points, 20 FGs
awrence Tynes, NY Giants, 4 points, 1 FG.
14. Rian Lindell, Buffalo, 124 points, 30 FGs.
15. Matt Prater, Denver, 114 points, 25 FGs.
16. Kris Brown, Houston, 124 points, 29 FGs.
17. Robbie Gould, Chicago, 119 points, 26 FGs.
18. Neil Rackers, Arizona, 119 points, 25 FGs.
19. Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh, 117 points, 27 FGs.
20. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland, 97 points, 24 FGs.
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