Beating Jets turning point for both Super Bowl teams

INDIANAPOLIS – The Jets, of all teams, could forever hold a special place in the hearts of the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

Beating Rex Ryan’s ornery bunch proved to be a key turning point in an otherwise up-and-down season for the two Super Bowl teams.

Since coach Bill Belichick’s squad routed the Jets in the Meadowlands in mid-November, the Patriots haven’t lost. And since a Christmas Eve victory over their stadium co-tenants, the Giants haven’t, either.

Although neither side will call those wins singularly pivotal, they clearly were the benchmarks for when things started to get a whole lot better.

“I don’t think you can point to one thing,” Giants cornerback Corey Webster said, “but I do know when you develop good chemistry, when you don’t have anyone pointing fingers, it does not matter what happened the week before. We reached that point, we kept fighting and fighting to win on the field, and we are here today.”

By “here,” he means Lucas Oil Stadium, a place the Giants (12-7) couldn’t see for all the losses they experienced after starting 6-2. They dropped four in a row – three to eventual division winners – and were 7-7 before that “road” game against the local rival Jets.

By then, the Giants knew each week brought an elimination game. They’ve won all of those to reach their second Super Bowl in four years, against the team whose unbeaten season they wrecked in the 2008 title game.

“When we came out of the Dallas game, I thought that would be it,” Giants owner John Mara said, referring to a 37-34 victory that broke the slide. “Then we come out so flat “ against Washington, he said. “So that wasn’t it.”

The Giants manhandled the Jets with a fierce defense. That victory coincided with important players such as DE Justin Tuck and LB Michael Boley getting healthy enough to play up to their usual high standards. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora also was close to returning from an ankle injury.

Health also was a major factor for the Patriots (15-3), who took off following a home loss to the Giants. They went to the Meadowlands and routed the Jets in a much-hyped game – just as the “Battle of New York” would be ballyhooed later – and kept right on going, straight to Indy and their fifth Super Bowl with coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.