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By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer at large-Football Reporters Online

As the saying goes in the National Football League, “Any given Sunday…”

That phrase will especially apply on Sunday, when the New York Giants (12-7) and New England Patriots (15-3) reunite in their “Super Sequel,” a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, won by New York, in the final minute, four years ago.

What might happen this time around, in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, will be affected by so many varying factors, that particularly in a game in which the Patriots are only about a three-point favorite, it’s tough to predict the outcome.

The low point spread, especially for a pair of teams that were a significant three seeds and four wins apart during the regular season, is a reflection of how closely the Giants and Patriots seem to match up in several different areas.

However, if the game should come down to which team has been challenged more in recent weeks, New York will hold a clear advantage.

While the Giants played the league’s toughest second-half schedule, the Patriots faced the NFL’s softest slate over that time.

Ever since New York ended New England’s NFL-record 20-game regular season home winning streak with a 24-20 victory in Week 9, the Giants have faced either a tough game, a must game, or both on a weekly basis.

The beginning of that stretch was the low-light of New York’s year, a period that subsequently led right into the best part of the Giants’ season.

Four straight losses and five in six games during a brutal schedule followed the Giants’ win in New England, sending New York from a 6-2 first-half finish, into a sputtering tailspin that had them at 7-7 and just one more loss from missing the postseason.

At that point, the Giants were automatically forced into playoff mode for the remainder of the season. They had to win each game they played to continue their season, and they did.

Regular season wins over the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys gave New York a 9-7 record, good enough to secure an NFC East title and a home playoff game.

From there, the Giants had three straight playoff wins, with the last two coming on the road – the only road playoff victories in the NFL this year – over the NFC’s top two seeds, to reach the Super Bowl, which for New York, will feel like a sixth straight playoff game.

Conversely, for New England, Super Bowl XLVI might seem like only their second consecutive postseason game.

That’s because unlike the Giants, the Patriots have largely cruised through a cupcake schedule ever since the second half of the regular season began.

Finishing the first half at 5-3 with the loss to the Giants marking a second straight defeat, the Patriots haven’t lost since, as they enter Super Bowl XLVI riding a ten-game winning streak.

But, they mostly haven’t played anyone of note over that time either.

New England’s second half began with a three-touchdown road win over the underachieving Jets in what was supposed to have been a much tougher showdown for AFC East supremacy.

After that, the Patriots didn’t face a single winning team to conclude the regular season.

Of all of the teams New England played during the second half, only the Denver Broncos – who backed into the playoffs with a mediocre 8-8 record, despite dropping their final three regular season games – didn’t have a losing record.

The Patriots won that game in Denver by 18 points, and a playoff rematch with the Broncos in New England was even more of a mismatch in a dominating 45-10 New England victory.

While New York has been fighting for its playoff lives ever since Christmas Eve, second-seeded Baltimore, in last week’s AFC title game, is the only good team New England has played since long before Thanksgiving.

A lot can be said for repeatedly confronting and overcoming character-building adversity, especially this time of year, as opposed to cakewalking to football’s biggest game.

It helped the Giants go from 10-6 and a five seed to a Super Bowl win over the undefeated Patriots four years ago, and it aided the sixth-seeded Green Bay Packers’ run from likewise, a 10-6 record, to a Super Bowl title last year.

Perhaps being battle-tested won’t mean much on Sunday.

If it does though, expect the Giants to have a major edge.

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By Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer at large-Football Reporters Online

Between 2003 and 2009, Indianapolis Colts fans watched their team produce an NFL-record seven straight seasons with at least twelve regular season victories, a Super Bowl victory, two Super Bowl appearances, three conference title game appearances, and four league MVP’s for future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

The second of those two Super Bowl visits came just two years ago, and although the 12-win streak ended last season, the Colts still made the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season.

So, it was a pretty safe bet that when the National Football League named Indianapolis as the host city for this year’s Super Bowl, the Colts would have more than a decent chance at becoming the first NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium.

Especially, when Manning was the NFL’s reining iron man with 227 straight starts.

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By David Levy-Fan Experience Reporter-FRO

The New York Jets controlled the big apple during the post season over the last two years. In fact, Jets fans like myself anticipated that the team would finally be the Kings of New York instead of the Giants. After all, since 2008 the Giants hadn’t come close to returning to the Super Bowl, while their former weak sisters nearly went there twice.  The Jets had control for once in New York.

But a whole new season can make a really big difference, considering where New York’s two teams are right now. Not only have the Jets free fallen into the murky abyss, they may have lost their chance to seize control of New York permanently at this rate while the Giants approach another Super Bowl.  Both teams were in control of their destiny this season.  The Giants took control while the Jets let control slide from their hands.

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By David Levy-Fan Experience Reporter from LevysBakeryProductions.com & @LevysBakeryProd

Sunday’s Jets romp over Kansas City was the last Jets home game I will be filming at for my documentary.  Since August 2008, I have attended as many home games as I could to to tell countless fan stories.  Some long time season ticket holders watch the games from home while others still attend with fewer friends beside them.  There have been a few season ticket holders I have talked to who have passed away, leaving voids amongst friends and family at the games.

This last game I ventured over to the Izod Center and the non PSL parking.  I had not heard any perspective from those ticket holders yet and I needed to.  It seemed the consensus was the same from everyone I talked to.

Many non PSL holders seem to prefer parking over by the Izod.  They say it is easier to park and one does not have to wait on long lines to leave the lots.  There is easy access to any main roadway where ever you are going.  One can find a great spot for tailgating with plenty of space and not be disturbed.

Many say the walk over to the stadium takes about 15-20 minutes.  No one seems to mind the walk.  They would rather have that walk over rather than park close and fight others just to get out of the parking lot.  The non PSL lots do fill up closer to kick off as many single game ticket holders park over there.  It seems the more casual fan can find a good spot amongst the tailgaters but may have to arrive early depending on who the Jets are facing.

Even though there is a little walk, some PSL holders will park in the non PSL section.  Why?  To be able to tailgate with friends.  They prefer to keep their tailgate group together rather than break it up because the Jets say they can not park together.

Funny thing about some of these non PSL parking permits.  Some are paying $15 per game where others are paying $20 per game to park there.  I head different stories from several on different prices.  I believe the PSL holders who chose to park there pay the higher rate where the non PSL holders pay a lower ate.  I find that quite interesting.

It just seems no matter where season ticket holders park, there will always be mixed feelings on the situation.  There are pros and cons with everything.  But the bottom line here is everyone has at least one negative comment to say about the organization.  I have yet to meet one person that will say everything positive.

For many years, there was always one constant when it came to tailgating.  That constant were the Jet Nuts.  You could always tell where they were by their bus in the bus parking lot.  When I talked with Steve and the guys last season, they were not sure if they were coming back for the 2011 season.  As it turned out, they didn’t.  The costs did not warrant them to come back with the bus.  They came back in a small group and did casual tailgating, but that was it.

Steve and the guys were putting out more than they were seeing.  When you take that into account with others not purchasing a PSL or any type of season ticket there was less money to rely on.  Like other tailgating groups, they saw a decline in numbers that made it harder to keep a long standing group together.  The Jet Nuts had been together as a group since Shea Stadium.  But when an organization decides to make a change, it does not always benefit everyone.

I will be visiting with Steve and some of the other Jet Nuts before the Eagles game this Sunday.  I am sure the Nuts will have a lot to say about past and current tailgating affairs.  I already know their famed bus will not be there.  Steve sold the bus to a Jets group in Virginia.  So without the bus, a true era for the Jet Nuts has ended.

As more time passes, the long standing committed Jets season ticket holder seems to be fading out of the tailgating scene.  Being replaced by a younger, rowdier, eager to spend season ticket holder.

The make up has changed at Jets games.  The veteran fans see it.  They see less of their friends and fresher faces around.  The changing of the guard has happened.  The Jets have officially lost a seasoned, dedicated group that stuck with them for 40 years for a contingent that seems to care more about spending and  status.

If you do not believe me, check out Twitter and Facebook.

By David Levy-Fan Experience Reporter

This past Sunday night, the Jets had an opportunity. An opportunity to show not just their fans, but everyone who follows football that they should be taken seriously. That the Jets are a team who not only want to go back to the AFC Championship for a third straight year, but win and go on to the Super Bowl. The Jets and Patriots both stood at 5-3. All they needed to do was win in convincing fashion against their AFC rivals.

But they didn’t

The Jets lost 37-16 and now sit wondering if they can still make the playoffs. Albeit there are seven games left in the season, but which Jets will show up the rest of the year. The Jets who claim they are Super Bowl contenders who defeated the Cowboys, Chargers, and Bills in convincing fashion? Or will it be the same old Jets the fans are used to seeing from years past. Only the players can determine which version of them will be ready at game time.

The fans are salivating for a championship. Rex Ryan has made predictions, guarantees, and comments about how this is the Jets year and the team that will bring home a championship. Maybe it is time for Rex to stop talking and come through on his promises. Everyone loves how outspoken and confident he is. But all that bravado does not win game or transfer that attitude to the players. The players need to believe in themselves and show that on the field, not Rex Ryan.

For the past few season, Rex has reached out to the fans for support. Season ticket holders get a pre recorded call at the beginning of the season as well as pleas throughout the season. The fans are always there for the team. But Rex has not delivered back to the fans. Rex Ryan also took the opportunity in his postgame press conference to apologize to Jets fans after he challenged them earlier in the week to make this past Sunday’s game difficult for the Patriots.

“I thought we’d play a lot better. I thought we had really improved, I really did. I think we did improve, but when you make those types of mistakes – you fumble a punt, you have a poor timeout … time management was an absolutely critical error. That’s my responsibility. I own that one. You make that many mistakes against that team, there’s no chance. “

The playoffs are not coming up soon, for sure, so the Jets aren’t eliminating themselves from the AFC playoff picture by any means but Rex Ryan recognized, whether it was in jest or not, that the Jets division title chances took a big hit on Sunday night.

“It looks doubtful right now. What am I going to say? Maybe I should guarantee the fact that we’re out of it. The last time I did that, we made the playoffs. Yeah, we don’t have a chance.”

Maybe Rex should not guarantee anything. Maybe Rex should impose a media blackout on himself. Maybe he should just coach and let his actions speak louder than any words he can say. But once again, his words this past Sunday seemed to get him in trouble…..again. This time, getting caught on tape using profanities at a fan during halftime.
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On the video, Ryan and the Jets’ players and staff are seen walking into the tunnel. A fan yells out to Ryan, “Belichick’s better than you,” and Ryan tells him to shut up, adding an expletive for good measure.

This team and their coaches need to resolve any issues they have to make their play playoff worthy. The fans are tired of the talk and empty promises. Please back up that talk with convincing play on the field every game. Show the fans that you REALLY want to go and win a Super Bowl. Not just say it. The Jets show flashes of brilliance, but not often enough. Is this the players fault, or the coaches?

The fans have heard enough. It is time for the Jets to live up to expectations. It is time for Mark Sanchez and Darelle Revis to lead the team convincingly. To show they are a Super Bowl caliber team and not just a playoff contender, which they do not look presently. If they could not beat the Patriots and the worst ranked defense in the NFL, now do they expect to make it to the playoffs?

Impose a media blackout on yourselves. Focus on winning and not talking. Rex Ryan may be a great coach. But he needs to show everyone he can back those words up with actions. Will three times be the charm? Rex said they were going to win even before the season started. Actions speak louder than words. Show us you can win, do not tell us.

Shut up and play.