But the ground game has stagnated at times because the line has been inconsistent in its blocking. The Giants will try to spring Bradshaw and Jacobs behind guard Chris Snee (76) and tackle David Diehl (66), but the line’s main chore is keeping quarterback Eli Manning (10) upright long enough for him to do damage.
And Manning, in his best season of an eight-year career, has been superb. Even in the NFC championship game, when the numbers didn’t seem great in the 20-17 overtime win at rainy, slippery Candlestick Park, Manning made enough big plays to get the Giants to their second Super Bowl in four years. He did so against the league’s most punishing defense and despite six sacks.
Snee, fellow guard Kevin Boothe (77) and center David Baas (64) will see plenty of tackle Vince Wilfork (75), by far the best performer on defense for New England. Wilfork even will rush off the edge at times, but has been immovable in the middle of the line during the playoffs.
The Patriots have eight sacks in the postseason and get pressure from a variety of people: linebackers Rob Ninkovich (50), Jerod Mayo (51) and Brandon Spikes (55), and linemen Mark Anderson (95), Shaun Ellis (94) and perhaps a blitzing safety.
Where New York matches up best is with wide receivers Hakeem Nicks (88), Victor Cruz (80) and Mario Manningham (82) against a jumbled secondary that, at times, has included wide receivers Julian Edelman (11) and Matthew Slater (18). Cornerback Kyle Arrington (24) tied for the league lead with seven interceptions, but also injured his eye in the AFC championship win over Baltimore. He should be fine.
New York’s biggest edge is in this area, especially if the Giants can get man coverage on one of those receivers against some relatively untested cornerbacks, or against safeties James Ihedigbo (44) or Patrick Chung (25). Backup cornerback Sterling Moore (29) was victimized for a 29-yard touchdown by Baltimore’s Torrey Smith, but then stripped Lee Evans of a potential winning TD catch in the final moments.
INDIANAPOLIS — Shortly before the New York Giants left for the Super Bowl, a pep rally was held for wide receiver Victor Cruz at his old school, Paterson (N.J.) Public School No. 21.
"They blocked the streets off, and all kinds of fans and people were in the streets," Cruz said. "They were wishing me good luck and were really happy for my success."
Not long ago, the reception was much different for Cruz back home.
After being sent home for the second time by the University of Massachusetts for academic shortcomings, Cruz said the response by the locals was: "Man, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in school."
Cruz was as down as a young man could be. His father had just passed away, his college football career was in jeopardy. His life's course had reached an abrupt dead end.
"It was one of the lowest points in my life," he said. "It was one of those things where you feel like you don't know how you can come out of it."
He had two academic strikes against him, and didn't know if he'd get another chance.
"I just wasn't applying myself," Cruz said.
There was no dramatic moment, no miraculous epiphany that got Cruz back on track. But with the help — and urging — of his family, he got back to UMass, got his schoolwork squared away, even earned a degree. On the football field, he signed with the Giants as an undrafted rookie in 2010, but barely survived the final roster cuts coming out of camp in 2010 and 2011.
And now? Cruz, who is half Puerto Rican, is a multicultural phenomenon. When it comes to touchdown dances, his salsa has taken the NFL by storm, to the point that he turned down an offer to join "Dancing with the Stars" on television. Sex appeal? Reportedly, more women own No. 80 Cruz Giants jerseys than any jersey in the league.
"I see them on Twitter all the time," Cruz said.
And you should see him catch a football. After zero receptions in an injury-shortened rookie season, Cruz caught 82 passes for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns this season for the NFC-champion Giants operating as the team's slot receiver. In the long and illustrious history of the Big Blue, no Giants receiver has had that many receiving yards in a season.
"We had Victor Cruz ranked just like everyone else," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said of the days when Cruz was a prospect. "We had him ranked as a free agent, and he was a free agent. He has surpassed all of our expectations."
But rarely to this degree. From a Rams perspective, it would be like seeing 1,600 yards from Dominique Curry next season. Cruz certainly can't explain it.
"Nobody expected this kind of performance from me, including myself," he said.
The only thing that prevented him from being cut after the 2010 preseason might have been New York Jets coach Rex Ryan. After Cruz caught three touchdown passes against the Jets in an exhibition game that year, Ryan said afterward: "I hope they cut him. I know one team that would be ready to sign him, and that'd be us."
So much for trying to stash Cruz on the Giants' practice squad. He made the roster in 2010, but played in only three games, didn't catch a pass, suffered a hamstring injury and ended up on injured reserve.
This season, the Giants lost Steve Smith in free agency. Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon suffered early-season injuries. So the Giants turned to Cruz, and he took charge.
He's not promising any touchdowns Sunday, but no matter what happens against New England, Cruz insists success won't go to his head.
"I think about it all the time," he said. "I think about how close I've come to being a guy that nobody knew about and just being lost in the shuffle of the NFL."
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
