Super Bowl XLVI: Is a Giants vs. Patriots Rematch Good for the NFL?

New England had a chance to be only the second team since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to finish the season with a perfect record, but it was the New York Giants who ruined it in Super Bowl XLII. The incredible reception by David Tyree went down in history as one of the best clutch catches in the history of football. How bad did that game hurt the mighty Patriots? Tom Brady says to this day he still can't watch film from that game. New England hasn't been back to the big game ever since, and they are anxious to exact some revenge.

Before this season, there were numerous questions about the state of the NFL. The lockout was threatening to run into the season and fans were losing patience. The two sides got together and worked out a deal in a timely manner, and the entire regular season was salvaged. After an entertaining regular season, a rematch of the Super Bowl from early 2008 is set to decide this year's champion. Is this rematch good for the NFL?

Cons of a Giants vs. Patriots Rematch

• There is always some benefit to two new teams getting to the Super Bowl so that another fan base gets rewarded. These two teams have been in the big game plenty of times, so that could be seen as a negative for the sport.
  
• The game will have a huge amount of appeal in the northeast, but much of the country will likely be less than thrilled to see this rematch.
  
• Both pass defenses have been terrible this year, and the pure football fan might be a little bit disappointed that this game could turn into an aerial shootout. The Giants gave up 255 yards through the air per game this year. New England allowed 294 passing yards per contest.
  

Pros of a Giants vs. Patriots Rematch

• Most fans love to see a battle between two very good quarterbacks, and that is exactly what we'll have in this game. Tom Brady and Eli Manning have both proven to be clutch players that are at their best in the last few minutes of the game.
  
• Most fans will remember what a terrific game Super Bowl XLII was, and that should help this game be popular with the average fan. Even if your favorite team isn't in the big game, most fans can appreciate the storyline behind this rematch.
  
• The Patriots and the Giants are both teams with a lot of strong supporters as well as those who loathe the team. There should be plenty of people screaming at their television set because of this matchup.
  

Giants vs. Patriots Rematch: A Fitting End

On the whole, this game has to be seen as a fitting end to a terrific season of football. There hasn't been a better Super Bowl game in recent years than the first time these two teams played, and there is no reason to expect anything less than a great game once again.

Sources:

NFL.com "Team Stats"

NBC Sports "Tyree Makes Catch of a Lifetime"