The Super Bowl is supposedly a neutral game, but don't tell the New York Giants.
The University of Phoenix Stadium is in the desert, a long way from the homes of Sunday's combatants New England and New York. It should not favor either side, but the Giants have good reason to treat it as an away game.
New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau (55) walks with teammates after speaking to the team before their practice for the NFL's Super Bowl XLII football game in Tempe, Arizona, Jan. 31, 2008. The Patriots will play the New York Giants in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
"It's not Giants Stadium," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "We had to go on a plane to get here."
No wonder they feel that way. They've reeled off 10 straight road wins, the most in an NFL season, including three in the playoffs over division winners Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay.
The unbeaten New England Patriots, of course, went 8-0 on the road this year. That makes the Patriots and Giants a combined 18-1 as visitors this season.
The Giants posted an ugly 3-5 record in the Meadowlands and didn't win a home game after October 21. They're a different bunch in white shirts.
"We have played very well on the road, and I really believe, as I've said many times, that the team concept is the reason we have played well on the road," coach Tom Coughlin said. "We have bonded well together and we have supported one another."
Coughlin said he had "a lot of secrets" that might explain the Giants' road success, but he wouldn't share them.
The Patriots said there's no secret to their success away from Foxborough. It's all about consistency, the mantra stressed by coach Bill Belichick.
"We just do a good job of preparing ourselves," wide receiver Troy Brown said. "This isn't a field trip here. We're getting paid to do this, and guys should take a lot of pride in doing their jobs."
New England's last road victory was a 38-35 win over the Giants on December 29. Because of a scheduling quirk, the Super Bowl will be only the Patriots' second game away from Foxborough since December 3.
The Giants launched their streak by rallying from a 17-3 halftime deficit to beat Washington 24-17 on September 23.
New York Giants running back Reuben Droughns(C) sprints downfield at the start of practice Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, in Tempe, Ariz. The Giants will play the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday Feb. 3, 2008. (AP Photo)
"We won six straight games following that, and the boost that it provided for our players was very evident in the way that the players responded at halftime and going back on the field," Coughlin said.
The Giants added victories at Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia and Buffalo. They also were designated the visiting team in a victory over Miami in London.
"For some reason we play well on the road," defensive end Michael Strahan said. "I mean, 10 in a row. We seem to play better when we are underdogs against the ropes and no one believes that we have an opportunity to win."
They managed to win even when they didn't play well.
New York turned the ball over four times at Chicago on December 2 and still held off the Bears. Playing in rain, sleet and snow, the Giants overcame four more turnovers - and a 14-0 first-quarter deficit - to beat Buffalo on December 23.
The previous team to win three postseason road games was the Pittsburgh Steelers, who carried the momentum to victory over Seattle in the 2006 Super Bowl.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily February 1, 2008)
