NFL's Tom Brady & Eli Manning from High School to College to NFL Super Bowl XLVI

The 2012 XLVI Super Bowl will have two veterans Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and New Yor Giants Eli Manning at it again! We will likely have a showdown to remember as we look back through time and see these two greats grow into two of the best quarterbacks of this era!

From the humble beginnings of high school we could start to see the talent...

TOM BRADY

Junipero Serra High School

 

ELI MANNING

Isidore Newman High School

Next stop college and the legacy continues....

TOM BRADY

University of Michigan

 ELI MANNING

University of Mississippi

"Ole Miss"

 

now they are in the NFL....

TOM BRADY

New England Patriots

ELI MANNING
New York Giants

and we will get to see them both Super Bowl Winners!!!

TOM BRADY

XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX

ELI MANNING

XLII

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The Superbowl links have great highlights!

2012 AFC Conference Championship Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots

New England Patriots 

vs. 

Baltimore Ravens

Sunday, 3:00 p.m. ET, Gillette Stadium

The Offenses

Brady

Flacco

Green-Ellis

Rice

Welker

Boldin

Dickson

Gronkowski

If the game will be won by the New England Patriots it will be on the offensive side of the ball. The weapons of Tom Brady leading the way with accurate passes that come quickly and often can disrupt any defense ask the Denver Broncos, whom they put up 45 points against! He may not have to hand off much to his backs Ben Jarvis Green Ellis or Kevin Faulk, the running game is just to set up the pass. The efficiency of the passing offense has been the strength for a few years and Wes Welker has been a key part as a number one receiver with Deion Branch and Chad Ochocinco getting the leftovers. There aren't many scraps left because the tight end position for the Patriots is making history. At tight end they have to of the best in the game, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez who can take over any game and dominate the opposition.

The Baltimore Ravens have a few more challenges in their offense Joe Flacco has been criticized for whether he can put together a good enough game to beat the New England Patriots? He will have to us all the tools he has to keep the clock running while they have the ball to limit the touches for Brady and the Patriots. The Ray Rice show will need to be front and center to pound the offensive line into submission while using Vonta Leach as a battering ram and catapulting into the secondary of the Patriots. The torching on the line should help to balance the offense and allow Flacco to get the ball to Anquin Boldin and rookie Torrey Smith. Boldin so far in the playoffs has been their only deep threat so, Smith will have to make his talents show on the big stage. Ed Dickson has been a serviceable tight end and should be held in check especially if Flacco has trouble finding his receivers. He could have a big game, but needs to cease every opportunity!  

The Defenses

 Wilfork

Lewis

Arrington

Reed

Mayo

Suggs

McCourty

Webb

Could the defense of the Patriots keep the over under 70 or less. The offense may score 35 points so that means the defense will need to keep the Ravens under 35 points, right? Vince Wilfork will man the middle to help stop the bruiser backs while Jerod Mayo helps the middle of the field and the break-aways! So Devin McCourty and Kyle Arrington will man the outside deep threats. Sounds like a good plan, so Brandon Spikes and Patrick Chung needs to take every chance to double team and take any threats of the deep ball and even with clock management will have a tough time putting up 36 points.

Grrr! Grrr! The Purple will be looking to turn red, white and blue just black and blue. The Patriots flag will need to be white if the ring leader and captain Ray Lewis has any say in this game. His game may have lost a step or two but finesse and know how keeps the fire burning hot! Now that Terrell Suggs is healthy and back on the field there will be blitzing going on in Gillette Stadium. The passing defense will not be sold short if Ed Reed, Lardarius Webb and Bernard Pollard can get a few interceptions that could disrupt Brady and his ability to find the open receiver!

PREDICTION

With defenses winning championships, Bill Belichick the mastermind, Tom Brady on pace to break every season and post season record, the tight end tandem of the Patriots, the blitzing ability by the Ravens and ok all the intangibles!

PATRIOTS 37 and RAVENS 13

Here is the cheering section!
(Check out Stacy Keibler '99 Ravens Cheerleader)

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2012 AFC Divisional Playoffs Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots

New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos

Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET, Gillette Stadium

The Quarterbacks

Brady

Tebow

The number two in passing New England Patriots Tom Brady led offense will need to show why Tom threw for 5235 yards this season? Hitting the 6000 yard mark might be a possiblity in the future but for now the Denver Broncos will need to stop Brady from steering the drives down field with his uncanny precision in hitting any reciever from anywhere on the field. His talents led to 39 touchdowns this year almost doubling the 20 touchdown passes thrown by the Denver Broncos.

In their last meeting Brady threw for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns with a passer rating of 117.3 and put 41 points on the board to seal a win.
Wow! "Tebowing" has become a household word. Tim Tebow has made believers out of a lot of fans that did not believe a run first, wobbley throwing, mechanicaly unsound, rookie quarterback could make it happen. Well, the Pittsburg Steelers found out the hard way with 319 yards passing and two touchdowns there is something special happening in Denver. Could we see the offense open up again in New England? Against the Patriots in December Tebow only had a 50% completion rate and 194 yards passing, but his legs scored two touchdowns rushing and was the leading rusher for the Broncos with 93 yards.
All of this can be thrown out the window with Tebow behind center, especially in the fourth quarter.
Advantage - Patriots

Running Backs

Ridley

McGahee

Green Ellis

Ball

The Patriots rely on the passing game to win ballgames so Steven Ridley and Ben Jarvis Green Ellis will be looked to for keeping the pressure of Brady. They share the backfield nicely giving way to the tight ends for the short yardage and wide receivers for the big plays. The Patriots were 20th in the NFL that rushes for 110.3 yards per game still has the presence to keep the defense honest or they will score on you! Green Ellis is also a threat in the passing game a strength often used in screens to open the lanes.
Run, run and run is or was the offense of choice for the #1 ranked rushing team in the NFL until last weekend against Pittsburg. Willis McGahee had 19 carries for 61 yards and Tebow had only 50 yards. Lance Ball did get 4 touches for only 11 yards to give them a breather. We could see more action from this trio to keep Brady off the field and conrol the clock. This becomes a real mystery this weekend.
Advantage - Broncos

Wide Receivers

Welker

Thomas

What can we say about Wes Welker the little engine that could. He seems to be the redzone target on every play even on their 5 yard line. He was clutch again this year with 1569 yards receiving and 9 touchdowns. The true leader of the receiving corp. He caught 122 passes this year showing his  durabilty and health issues are behind him. He may be a huge factor in this game going against the 18th ranked passing defense.

A star is born! Demaryius Thomas had the game of his life last week and will want to carry on the the new found fame. The final play in overtime for the win capped off a 204 yard day with the winning touchdown that he has skills. Can Tim Tebow find this star in the making against the porous 31st ranked New England defense, if so get your horseracing tickets. He did struggle for the yards all season with only 551, but with a 17.2 yards per catch he has the big play ability. 

Advantage - PUSH

Tight Ends

Gronkowski

Fells

Hernandez

Rosario

This is where the game could be won. The outstanding historic run that the tight ends in New England are having is reshaping the offenses and defenses in the NFL. How do you stop the playmakers Rob Gronkowski 6'6" 285lbs that caught 90 balls for 1,327 yards and scored 17 touchdowns and Aaron Hernandez 6'1" 245lbs on the other side receiving for 910 yards and scored 7 touchdowns. Combined the tandem scored 24 touchdowns at the tight end position. That will have to scare the secondary of the Broncos.

The tight end position for the Broncos is bleak at best. Daniel Fells 256 yards and Dante Rosario 117 yards all season are mainly blockers the rushing attack and protection for the unorthodox quarterback Tim Tebow. They do there job and they are in the playoffs so no ones complaining!

Huge Advantage - Patriots

Prediction Patriots 38 - Broncos 16

Now fans time to show your pride!

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