PREVIEW | Patriots vs. Giants

Game time: 6:17 p.m.
TV: (17/62) (8) (53)
Opening line: Patriots by 131⁄2. Record vs. spread: Giants 13-6; Patriots 10-8.
Playoff record: Giants 19-23; Patriots 21-12.
Series history: Patriots lead series 5-3. (Last meeting: Patriots 38, Giants 35, Dec. 29, 2007 at New York.)
Notebook: Early weather forecasts call for scattered showers and temperatures in the 60s at gametime. University of Phoenix stadium has retractable roof. ... New England has won four straight in series, including 38-35 victory in Week 17. ... Four wild-card teams, all from AFC, have won Super Bowl with last team being Pittsburgh in 2006 game. ... AFC has won four straight championships and New England can tie AFC’s longest winning streak, set in 1972 season through 1976. ... Giants are 2-1 in Super Bowl, with last appearance 34-7 loss to Baltimore after 2000 season. ... New York, 7-1 away from Giants Stadium during regular season, has set franchise single-season record with 10 straight road wins. Last away loss was Week 1 at Dallas. ... QB Eli Manning (3,336 yards, 23 TDs) led NFL with 27 turnovers (20 INTs, 7 fumbles lost) during regular season, but has none in playoffs, with four TDs. He tied career best with four TD passes and posted 118.6 passer rating in last meeting. ... Giants will wear white jerseys. They are 7-0 this season in those uniforms. ... 20-year veteran P Jeff Feagles will play in first Super Bowl. ... WR Plaxico Burress (70 receptions, 1,025 yards) had career-best 11 receptions for 151 yards against Green Bay. Burress caught two TDs last meeting. ... CB R.W. McQuarters has interception in three straight games and CB Corey Webster has two INTs this postseason. ... G Rich Seubert (knee) and CB Kevin Dockery (hip) are expected to play. ... New York allowed 28 yards rushing in NFC championship and has surrendered 206.7 yards passing per game in postseason. ... Last game, K Lawrence Tynes missed two FGs, but hit 47-yard winner in overtime. ... Rookie RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who didn’t have first NFL carry until Week 12, is averaging 54.3 yards rushing in playoffs and scored against Green Bay. ... RB Brandon Jacobs has scored in three straight, with four TDs in that span. ... KR Domenik Hixon has NFL-high 251 kick return yards this postseason and had 74-yard kick return for TD last meeting. ... DEs Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck have one sack in postseason after combining for 32 in regular season. ... New England is looking to become first 19-0 team and win its fourth championship in seven years. ... Coach Bill Belichick has second-best postseason winning percentage (.833, 15-3) in NFL history (Vince Lombardi, .900, 9-1). ... QB Tom Brady, who set NFL record with 50 TD passes in regular season, is expected to play after missing several practices with high ankle sprain. League MVP Brady threw season-high three INTs in win over Chargers, but had two TDs and 116.8 passer rating in last meeting with Giants. With two TD passes in AFC championship, Brady moved into sole possession of second place with TD pass in 14 straight postseason games. ... New England is averaging 228 yards passing in playoffs after throwing for 295.7 in regular season. ... WR Randy Moss (NFL-record 23 TD receptions) has two catches for 32 yards in playoffs. He caught six passes for 100 yards and two TDs in Week 17 matchup. ... RB Laurence Maroney (185 carries, 835 yards) has scored in five straight games, with two TDs rushing in last meeting.

Associated Press