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David and Goliath or Two Giants at the Super Bowl?

D.C. Residents Offer Predictions on Sunday’s Historic Clash

Amid below-zero temperatures and more than 70,000 fans screaming for him to fail again, New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes stood in the winds at Lambeau Field with a chance to send his team to Super Bowl XLII.

Tynes foot delivered a 47-yard field goal through the north goalposts, which cemented a 23-20 overtime victory against the home Green Bay Packers. Tynes missed two field goals in the fourth quarter to give his team a lead, but his redemption won the Giants a date with another giant: the 18-0 undefeated New England Patriots.

The Patriots have become the benchmark NFL franchise, winning three of the last six Super Bowls. With a win on Feb. 3 in Glendale, Ariz., the Patriots will post an unprecedented 19-0 and stake claim as the greatest team in NFL history.

“The Giants have no chance against the Patriots,” predicted Hakeem Harmon, a Northwest D.C. resident. “They are the best team I have ever seen.”

The Giants will play David to New England’s Goliath, and experts have the Giants as a two-score underdog.

“They (Patriots) do whatever they want on the field, whenever they want,” Harmon said. “I hate the Patriots.”

The Super Bowl game itself is often overshadowed by the flashing lights and grandeur of the country’s biggest sporting event. New England’s quarterback provided the game’s first major storyline when he was seen in New York visiting his supermodel girlfriend, bearing a walking boot on his ankle.

“Hooray, Tom Brady is nice, so any disadvantage is good for the Giants,” said Southeast D.C. resident Elliott Brown.

Brady offered reassurances to Boston faithful during a Sunday night press conference. “It’s feeling good,” he said. “I’ll be ready to go.”

The quarterback attested to slightly injuring his ankle during the AFC championship game, but was confident that it would not affect his play on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Giants were the last obstacle in the Patriots’ regular season pursuit of perfection. Resembling their kicker, the Giants have an opportunity at redeeming a failed attempt, altering NFL history and becoming the NFL’s sole giant.