Clubhouse Article

Super Bowl XLVI Video Page

February 3rd, 2012 by Patrick Sturgeon

SUPER BOWL XLVI

AFC Champions: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
vs
NFC Champions: NEW YORK GIANTS

Feb 5th 2012 – 0.00 am Kickoff CET
from Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Check local listiings for game times in your region.

---

VIDEO: PATS’ “O” vs GIANTS’ “D”

---

VIDEO: Celebrity Picks and Super Bowl Stats & Figures

More Super Bowl Video below

---

SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS

Patrick Sturgeon [ESPN America Director of Programming]: As you may know, I’m a huge AFC guy, being a Bills fan and all. So in my heart, I’ll be rooting for the Patriots on Sunday. I mean, what’s not to like. Tom Brady is a nice guy and first ballot Hall of Fame QB, the fans are real passionate, the coach is one best that ever roamed the sideline wearing a hoodie with the sleeves cut off. And the Pats have been waiting four years to get back at the Giants for upsetting them in the Super Bowl back in 2008. I was lucky enough to be there, and like most of the people watching, I was shocked when the G-Men won. There is nothing like revenge to motivate any sports team; so a lot of neutral folk will be rooting for New England. At the beginning of the season, I predicted a Patriots-Packers Super Bowl, so at least I got half of my prediction right.
Meanwhile, the Giants made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, won two playoffs games on the road by finding a way to win in dramatic fashion. They just seem to be a team of destiny. In August, Eli Manning claimed he was a elite NFL QB when asked the question; at the time sportswriters and sports talk show hosts from around the US thought he had overstated his skills. Look who’s laughing now: one Elisha Nelson Manning – and remember you can’t spell Elite without Eli. Big brother Peyton missed the entire season for the Colts with a neck injury, so for the first time in his career (college and pros), little bro’ didn’t go through a season overshadowed by big bro’. This extra media focus definitely helped his confidence and demeanor. He believes that anything is possible and that any game is winnable. Did you see all those hits he took in the Championship game against the 49ers. Eli is one tough dude. Speaking of tough, the Giants’ monster defensive line also believe that they can get to Tom Brady, force him into making mistakes, and as much as I would like to see New England lift the Super Bowl trophy, I just don’t see it happening.

When I was a little kid, I always used to say to anyone that asked, the toughest team wins the Super Bowl. The Patriots are very good, but the Giants are tougher. So, I am going with the Giants in a very close and low scoring game.

Colin M Jarman [ESPNAmerica.com Editor]: Like most of this season’s NFL predictions, I am going to have to put Patrick right as the Patriots will win their fifth Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday. My forecast is based on extensive research, crunching the numbers, analyzing team tendencies and consulting the record books. The Patriots will win for three reasons:
1. I am a Cowboys’ fan and cannot pick the mortal enemy Giants (who also dumped us out of the playoff race on the last day of the season). Though some logic persists that if the Giants win, then the Cowboys will have been ousted by the Super Bowl champs … but still no way am I backing New York.
2. In this seasons’ ESPN America NFL Fantasy League I had the first overall pick and took … Tom Brady, followed by Wes Welker – so I was inextricably linked throughout the regular season to the Pats. Unlike myself (beaten in the Final Game), New England will not falter and will have the perfect end to their record-breaking year.

3. Tom Brady admitted he had a less-than-perfect outing against the Ravens in the AFC Championship game, while Eli Manning hasn’t put a foot wrong for weeks. I cannot see Brady having two bad games back-to-back and it’s about time Eli had an off day. Had the 49ers been representing the NFC, I would have gone with them as their defense stacks up mightily against the Patriots’ multi tight-end formation. The Giants have an overpowering D-line but Brady and Belichick will find a way to get off enough passes to their wide array of receivers to make it count. Also look for the Pats to ramp up their lackluster running game – another BB wrinkle we are likely to see.
All in all in it promises to be a great game and if it matches the climactic scenes of their 2008 Super Sunday, then we fans are going to be the winner!

---

VIDEO: TEAMS MEDIA DAYS

Left: Manning & Coughlin (Giants) and Right: Gronkowski, Welker & Brady

---

VIDEO: PLAYERS TALK ABOUT SUPER SUNDAY PREPARATIONS …

Left: Manning & Tuck (Giants) and Right: Welker & Faulk (Patriots)

---

VIDEO: A TALE OF TWO SUPER BOWL QUARTERBACKS …

How do our ESPN analysts view Eli Manning and Tom Brady? On the left, “First and Ten” debates Eli’s status, while on the right “Mike & Mike” look at Tom’s looks.

---

WATCH the SUPER BOWL and PARTY!

Get along to an ESPN America Party featuring the Super Bowl.

Phone the venue for more details.

Austria – Vienna
Marriot Hotel, Parkring, Vienna, 1010
Start time: 9pm Phone: +43-1-515180

Czech Republic – Prague
Hard Rock Cafe Prague – Dům U Rotta, Malé náměstí 3, Praha 1, 110 00, Česká Republika
Start time: 8:30 pm Phone: +224 229 529

France – Paris
“Le Players Bar” – 161, rue Montmartre, 75002 Paris
Start time: 8:00 pm Phone: 00 33 (0)1 40 26 92 00

Germany – Munich
Hard Rock Cafe Munich – Platzl 1, 80331 München
Start time: 9pm Phone: +4989-242-9490

Germany – Munich
Tonhalle, Grafinger Straße 6, 81671 München
Start time: 9pm Phone: +4989-628344-11

Germany – Berlin
Hard Rock Cafe Berlin, Kurfürstendamm 224, 10719 Berlin
Start time: 9pm Phone: +4930-884-620

Italy – Roma
Hard Rock Cafe – Via Vittorio Veneto, 62 a/b 00187 Roma
Start time: 10 pm Phone: +39-06-4203051

Italy – Monza (Milano)
Kookaburra, via Buonarroti 115, Monza (MB)
Start time: 10 pm Phone: +39 347.0681496

Italy – Firenze
Via Brunelleschi 1, (Piazza della Repubblica), 50123 Firenze
Start time: 10 pm Phone: +39 055 26 70 499

Portugal – Lisbon
Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon, Av. da Liberdade 2, 1250-144 Lisboa, Portugal
Start time: 10 pm Phone: +213 245 280