The NFC champion San Francisco 49ers arrived in New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday. The AFC champion Baltimore Ravens will hit town Monday afternoon. A year ago, of course, your New York Giants were touching down in Indianapolis for Super Bowl 46 against the New England Patriots.
Throughout the course of this Super Bowl week Big Blue View will dig into its archives to look back at what we were writing about during Super Bowl week a season ago. We begin today with a few BBV headlines from Super Bowl XLVI Monday, which was Jan. 30, 2012.
Coughlin Has 'Reclaimed New York?' But, When Did He Lose It? - Big Blue View
In an article headlined 'Tom Coughlin Supplants Rex Ryan As New York's Coaching King With Second Super Bowl Trip' the folks from NESN wrote that the Giants coach had "reclaimed New York from Rex Ryan" by getting to his second Super Bowl in five seasons.
NESN writes that Ryan "was the king of the city during his first two and a half years on the job."
Did I miss something here? Since when has Coughlin not been a better, more accomplished coach than Ryan? Maybe Ryan was "king of the city" in his own mind -- and that of Jets fans -- because Ryan cares about such things. He has made sure we know that with all of his "big brother" talk and his all of his bluster about the Jets were better than the Giants the last couple of years, and would continue to be for the next decade or so.
Valentine's View: A year removed from this story, even with both New York teams having missed the playoffs this time around, it seems even more unbelievable that there was ever a real question abut which New York football team has the best coach.
Super Bowl 2012, Key Matchup: Giants Defensive Line Vs. Patriots Offensive Line - Big Blue View
By now anyone who has studied the 2012 Super Bowl matchup between the New York Giants and New England Patriots knows that the Giants defense has got to pressure Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to have a chance to win the game. The Giants did that successfully in the 2008 Super Bowl and again in a 24-20 regular-season victory this season.
Can they do it again? The Giants have said they want to "kill the snake," referring to Brady. To do that, the Giants front four will have to win its matchup with the New England offensive line.
Valentine's View: I think we know how this turned out.
Ann Mara Injury Update: Wellington's Widow Heading To Indy - Big Blue View
You can take Ann Mara, 82-year-old widow of late New York Giants co-owner Wellington Mara off the Giants injury report. Broken shoulder and all, Mara says she will be in Indianapolis to watch the Giants face the New England Patriots in the 2012 Super Bowl this Sunday.
"If I had to crawl to Indianapolis I'd be there," Mara told ESPNNewYork.com by phone. "I have no intention of staying home. I'll be ready to go on the plane on Thursday."
Valentine's View: If an 82-year-old with a busted up arm could be "All In," how could the Giants not be? You still have to admire her toughness.