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These battles may determine Super Bowl winner

Even though the Giants defeated the Patriots 24-20 at Foxborough in Week 9 of the regular season, and 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII, New England is a 3-point favorite Sunday.

There are a number of individual matchups that will help determine the outcome, including the following:

<I>Ÿ</I>Giants safeties Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips vs. Patriots TE's Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez

Never in the history of the NFL has one team gotten as much production from its tight ends as the Patriots did this year. During the regular season, the Dynamic Duo combined for 169 receptions, 2,237 yards and 24 touchdowns. In two postseason games, they totaled 26 catches, 353 yards and 4 scores.

They present a matchup nightmare for any defense, especially the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Gronkowski. Fortunately for the Giants, Gronkowski suffered a high ankle sprain in the AFC title game and will not be 100 percent. He had 90 catches for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns (an NFL record for tight ends) during the regular season, and he might be better at 70 percent than any other tight end at 100 percent.

"They're great tight ends," Rolle told reporters in Indianapolis. "Gronkowski pretty much does it all. He has great hands, great route-running and catching ability, and most of all, he just always finds a way to get open."

The Giants will also use utilize undersized linebacker Michael Boley to combat the Patriots' tight ends because he is excellent in coverage and, coincidentally, was drafted by the Falcons when new Bears general manager Phil Emery was Atlanta's director of college scouting.

"He's one of the better cover linebackers in the NFL," Emery said.

<I>Ÿ</I>Giants DRE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Patriots OLT Matt Light

The Patriots are very good at protecting Tom Brady, but the Giants are better at getting to the quarterback, and their pass rush is led by Pierre-Paul, who was fourth in the NFL with 16½ sacks. Light is normally reliable when it comes to protecting Brady's blind side, but he missed practice Monday and Media Day on Tuesday because of a stomach illness. If he needs help Sunday, it could create opportunities for the Giants' other pass rushers, like Osi Umenyiora (9 sacks) and Justin Tuck.

The Patriots' passing game relies heavily on short-to-medium passes, which enables Brady to get the ball out quickly. But when the Giants defeated the Patriots in Week 9, they forced Brady to throw sooner than he wanted to, harassing him into a subpar performance. His 75.4 passer rating was his worst of the regular season.

"I think it starts with hitting him, even when you don't actually get sacks, just keeping people around him so he can't step up," Tuck told Super Bowl reporters. "There are a lot of things that can get him rattled, but it just seems like not too many people are able to do that. He is a (heck) of a quarterback, and he is going to do a lot of things to throw us off our rhythm. I really expect them to use their screen game, quick throws to kind of get us out of rhythm early."

<I>Ÿ</I>Patriots DT Vince Wilfork vs. Giants C David Baas

The Patriots have played more 3-4 in the postseason after using a 4-3 alignment for most of the regular season. In a 3-4, Wilfork will play on the nose and provide a tough matchup for Baas, who will need help from guards Chris Snee, the Giants' best O-lineman, and Kevin Boothe. Wilfork is listed at 325 pounds, although he appears to be close to 375. Baas (6-4, 330) is one of the bigger centers in the NFL, but Wilfork has rare athleticism to go along with his girth, and he is coming off an exceptional performance in the AFC title game, when he was disruptive and dominant.

Baas was in over his head vs. the 49ers Ray McDonald, who had 2½ sacks in the NFC title game, and Wilfork is a much better player than McDonald. But the sum of the Giants' line is better than its individual parts, as Wilfork told reporters in Indianapolis.

"They should feel like they're the team to beat," Wilfork said. "They're playing some good, good football. They're probably playing the best football that's out there."

ŸFollow Bob's Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.

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Images: Super Bowl Media Day

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski makes his way to Media Day for Super Bowl XLVI Tuesday. Associated Press
New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez reacts after catching a pass for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos. Associated Press, December 2011