Rating the teams: Comparing the Giants and Patriots, then and now
By Pete Prisco | CBSSports.com Senior NFL Columnist Follow PeteAre the 2011 New England Patriots better than the 2007 team that was minutes away from perfection, only to have history taken from them in Super Bowl XLII?
How about the 2011 New York Giants? Are they better than that 2007 team that upset the Patriots in that Super Bowl?
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As we ready for Super Bowl XLVI, a rematch between those two teams, I wanted to compare the 2007 versions to the 2011 teams. Here's the reality:
The 2011 Giants are better than the 2007 Giants and the 2011 Patriots are not as good as that 2007 team.
So why are the Patriots favored? Good question.
In comparing the 2007 Patriots to the 2011 Patriots position-by-position, the 2007 team had the edge at 15 of 24 spots, counting kicker and punter. The 2011 Giants have the edge over the 2007 Giants in 17 of 24 spots.
So does the data say the Giants will win Sunday? No, but on the surface it sure looks like this Giants team is much better than the last one that upset the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Here's the comparison of the teams
| New England Patriots offense: 2007 vs. 2011 |
Quarterback: 2007) Tom Brady; 2011) Brady. Comment: He had Randy Moss in 2007 and he had a record-setting season. Edge: 2007.
Running back: 2007) Laurence Maroney; 2011) Benjarvus Green-Ellis. Comment: Neither one was great and the team runs by committee now, but Maroney had a better yards per attempt (4.5 to 3.7). Edge: 2007.
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| Randy Moss put the Pats up late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII. (Getty Images) |
Wide receiver: 2007) Wes Welker; 2011) Welker. Comment: This year's Welker led the NFL in receiving and averaged nearly three yards more per catch than he did in 2007. Edge: 2011.
Tight end: 2007) Kyle Brady; 2011) Rob Gronkowski. Comment: This is one of the easiest choices there is to make. Brady was more blocker than receiver, although they did have Ben Watson. Edge: 2011.
Left tackle: 2007) Matt Light; 2011) Light. Comment: Although Light has played better lately, he was a better player in 2007. Edge: 2007.
Left guard: 2007) Logan Mankins; 2011) Mankins. Comment: Mankins had a good year, but he was better in 2007. Edge: 2007.
Center: 2007) Dan Koppen; 2011) Dan Connolly. Comment: Connolly is starting because Koppen got hurt in the opening game. Koppen is a much better player than Connolly. Edge: 2007.
Right guard: 2007) Stephen Neal; 2011) Brian Waters. Comment: Neal was a mauler, but Waters has surprisingly played to a Pro Bowl level. Edge: 2011.
Right tackle: 2007) Nick Kaczur; 2011) Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer. Comment: I think Solder and Vollmer get the edge. Kaczur was just a guy. Edge: 2011.
Tight end: 2007) Ben Watson; 2011) Aaron Hernandez. Comment: Watson was a good player, but he wasn't as valuable to his offense as Hernandez is to his. Edge: 2011.
Kicker: 2007) Stephen Gostkowski; 2011) Gostokowski. Comment: He missed three field goals in 2007 and five this season. Edge: 2007.
| New England Patriots defense: 2007 vs. 2011 |
Right end/outside linebacker: 2007) Adalius Thomas; 2011) Mark Anderson. Comment: Thomas was more of an outside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme, but Anderson had 10 sacks to 6½ for Thomas. Edge: 2011.
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| Vince Wilfork has expanded his game since 2007. (Getty Images) |
Defensive tackle: 2007) Ty Warren; 2011) Kyle Love. Comment: Warren was steady with four sacks and played the run well. Love has been a big surprise. Edge: 2007.
Defensive end: 2007) Richard Seymour; 2011) Brandon Deaderick. Comment: Seymour was an elite player back then, and Deaderick is an injury replacement. Edge: 2007.
Outside linebacker: 2007) Mike Vrabel; 2011) Rob Ninkovich. Comment: These two have similar styles, but Vrabel did it a little bit better. Edge: 2007.
Outside linebacker: 2007) Junior Seau; 2011) Brandon Spikes. Comment: Seau was on his last legs but still made some plays. Spikes is a big reason why the Patriots have improved on defense. Edge: 2011.
Inside/middle linebacker: 2007) Tedy Bruschi; 2011) Jerod Mayo. Comment: Bruschi was a fan favorite, but he wasn't as good as Mayo has been this season. Edge: 2011.
Cornerback: 2007) Asante Samuel; 2011) Devin McCourty. Comment: McCourty really struggled this season, which gives this to Samuel, who had six picks in 2007. Edge: 2007.
Cornerback: 2007) Ellis Hobbs; 2011) Kyle Arrington. Comment: Arrington had seven picks this season, but Hobbs was a better player. Edge: 2007.
Free safety: 2007) James Sanders; 2011) Patrick Chung. Comment: Chung has been hurt much of this season, so we'll go with Sanders. Barely. Edge: 2007.
Strong safety: 2007) Rodney Harrison; 2011) James Ihedigbo. Comment: Harrison's career was winding down, but he was still a good player. Ihedigbo struggles in coverage. Edge: 2007.
Punter: 2007) Chris Hanson; 2011) Zoltan Mesko. Comment: This one isn't close. Mesko is one of the league's best. Edge: 2011.
| New York Giants offense: 2007 vs. 2011 |
Quarterback: 2007) Eli Manning; 2011) Manning. Comment: This version of Manning is now a star. The other one was finding his way. Edge: 2011.
Running back: 2007) Brandon Jacobs; 2011) Ahmad Bradshaw. Comment: Jacobs averaged 5 yards per attempt that season, while Bradshaw is at 3.9. Edge: 2007.
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| Hakeem Nicks has been explosive in these playoffs after a solid year. (Getty Images) |
Wide receiver: 2007) Plaxico Burress; 2011) Hakeem Nicks. Comment: Nicks is a much better receiver than Burress. He can do damage down the field with his speed. Edge: 2011.
Wide receiver: 2007) Amani Toomer; 2011) Victor Cruz. Comment: Toomer averaged 12.9 yards per catch. Cruz averages 18.7 yards. Edge: 2011.
Tight end: 2007) Michael Matthews; 2011) Jake Ballard. Comment: The Giants lost Jeremy Shockey in Week 15 in 2007, which put Matthews in as the starter. Ballard is a much better player than Matthews. Shockey would win this if he were a candidate. Edge: 2011.
Left tackle: 2007) David Diehl; 2011) Diehl. Comment: The 2007 version of Diehl was a better player than this one. Edge: 2007.
Left guard: 2007) Rich Seubert; 2011) Kevin Boothe. Comment: Seubert was a battler. Boothe has been one of this team's pleasant surprises. Edge: 2007.
Center: 2007) Shaun O'Hara; 2011) David Baas. Comment: Baas has had injury troubles and hasn't played great. O'Hara was a little better than Baas. Edge: 2007.
Right guard: 2007) Chris Snee; 2011) Snee: Comment: Some would say Snee was better in 2007. I don't buy it. Edge: 2011.
Right tackle: 2007) Kareem McKenzie; 2011) McKenzie. Comment: The 2007 version was much better. This one has struggled. Edge: 2007.
Kicker: 2007) Lawrence Tynes; 2011) Tynes. Comment: Tynes was 23 of 27 in 2007 and 19 of 24 this season. Edge: 2007.
| New York Giants defense: 2007 vs. 2011 |
Right end: 2007) Osi Umenyiora. 2011) Justin Tuck. Comment: Umenyiora had 13½ sacks in 2007, but Tuck is a more well-rounded player. Edge: 2011.
Defensive tackle: 2007) Barry Cofield. 2011) Linval Joseph. Comment: Cofield was a good player, but Joseph has emerged as a big-time run stuffer. Edge: 2011.
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| Super Bowl XLII 'backers Antonio Pierce and Kawika Mitchell helped the D. (Getty Images) |
Left end: 2007) Michael Strahan; 2011) Jason Pierre-Paul. Comment: Strahan's career was winding down in 2007. He had nine sacks. Pierre-Paul had 16½. Edge: 2011.
Outside linebacker: 2007) Reggie Torbor; 2011) Michael Boley. Comment: Boley is a big part of the Giants' defense. Torbor was just a guy who had five starts that year. Edge: 2011.
Middle linebacker: 2007) Antonio Pierce; 2011) Chase Blackburn. Comment: Pierce was a much better run player than Blackburn, who was a midseason pickup. Edge: 2007.
Outside linebacker: 2007) Kawika Mitchell; 2011) Mathias Kiwanuka. Comment: Mitchell was just a guy, although he did have 54 tackles that season. Kiwanuka is a good run player and can rush the passer. Edge: 2011.
Cornerback: 2007) Aaron Ross; 2011) Ross. Comment: Ross was a rookie in 2007. This Ross is a much better cover player. Edge: 2011.
Cornerback: 2007) Corey Webster; 2011) Webster. Comment: Webster has improved a lot since 2007. That postseason helped him gain some confidence. Edge: 2011.
Cornerback: 2007) James Butler; 2011) Kenny Phillips. Comment: Butler was a solid player, but Phillips has had a nice season. Edge: 2011.
Free safety: 2007) Gibril Wilson; 2011) Antrel Rolle. Comment: Wilson always seemed a step slow. Rolle is a better cover player who can play the slot receiver when needed. Edge: 2011.
Punter: 2007) Jeff Feagles; 2011) Steve Weatherford. Comment: Feagles was a good directional punter, but Weatherford can do it all. Edge: 2011.
