The toughest part is over for the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. That would be winning their conference championships, as the AFC and NFC title games are the toughest games to win all season, because those are the games that "get" you to the Super Bowl.
It's also the toughest game to lose, as you fight all season for that one goal, of reaching the big game, and lose when you're one step away. Almost every player We have spoken with over the years would rather lose in the Super Bowl because at least you can say you were there!
So the stage is set. It's like the Yankees and Red Sox; New York vs. Boston in Super Bowl XLII. Yes, we have an East Coast bias from this year's big game, but at least it's being played in Arizona, west of the Mississippi.

Two definite story lines are brewing for this year's game. Can the Patriots become the first team in NFL history to go 19-0 or can the Giants increase their NFL record of 10 straight road wins to 11 against the Patriots? On top of this, what are the chances that a father, Archie Manning, could possibly have both of his sons, Peyton last year and Eli this year, win back to back Super Bowl titles? Their is definitely an added mystique to this year's Super Bowl with these story lines which will make this game even more interesting.

The Patriots are already 14 point favorites, which is exactly what the Giants like, as they have been underdogs all season. No one would have thought this team would have made it to this year's big game with their head coach, Tom Coughlin, almost shown the door after last season, and QB Eli Manning has been dealing with bad press since he arrived in New York four years ago. But the Giants are there and 30 other teams are at home watching. So there!

However, there seems to be a groundswell brewing for the Giants. Their ability to win on the road, a QB that has always been second banana to his brother Peyton, the other QB who won his Super Bowl last year, and a defense that has respect around the league, but not like the Patriots. Everyone loves an underdog and when their opposing team has won three Super Bowl titles in the last six years, fans tend to say, "hey they've won theirs. It's someone else's turn." I'll let you make that call.

 Let the hype begin as players and coaches will have to forget about football for the next week and a half, dealing with all the press, tickets, issues, families and travel. But as we get down to February 3rd, player's minds will start playing tricks on them as it finally hits you that you are in fact playing in the biggest game of your life, the Super Bowl. And once you hit the field in Arizona and they play that National Anthem pre-game, your nerves will be shot and it becomes pure instinct as you try to join the most exclusive club in football, something only 55 players a year will be lucky enough to secure -- a Super Bowl ring. It's something that can never be taken away from you, the fact that you are a Super Bowl champion.

Good luck to both teams as the Giants look for the upset of the century while the Patriots look to make NFL history.