BRUSCHI TIES MOST PLAYOFF GAMES BY ANY ACTIVE PLAYER; PLAYS IN FIFTH SUPER BOWL
Tedy Bruschi is playing in his 22nd career playoff game today, tying him with Brett Favre and Adam Vinatieri for the most playoff games by an active NFL player. Bruschi has played in more playoff games than any other player in Patriots history. Jerry Rice holds the NFL record with 29 career playoff games. Bruschi is playing in his fifth career Super Bowl, tying the second highest total in NFL history behind DL Mike Lodish (who played in six Super Bowls with Buffalo and Denver). Bruschi joins 14 other players as having played in five or more Super Bowls. Bruschi’s five Super Bowls ties the NFL record for a linebacker, equaling the five appearances by D.D. Lewis (Dallas), Cornelius Bennett (Buffalo/Atlanta) and Bill Romanowski (San Francisco/Denver/Oakland).
MARONEY SCORES THIRD TOUCHDOWN IN THREE PLAYOFF GAMES THIS SEASON
Laurence Maroney gave the Patriots a 7-3 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. The touchdown was Maroney’s third of this season’s playoffs. He also found the end zone in the Patriots’ divisional playoff win over Jacksonville and in New England’s AFC Championship win over San Diego. Maroney totaled 122 rushing yards in each of those games.
HOBBS HAS INTERCEPTION FOR SECOND STRAIGHT GAME; THIRD IN LAST FOUR GAMES
Ellis Hobbs intercepted an Eli Manning pass at the Giants’ 10-yard line in the second quarter, marking his second straight game with an interception. He also had an interception against San Diego in the AFC Championship Game. His only interception of the 2007 regular season came in the season finale against the Giants on Dec. 29. New York quarterback Eli Manning had not thrown an interception since Hobbs picked him off in that game.
MOSS GRABS FIRST TOUCHDOWN IN THREE PLAYOFF GAMES THIS SEASON
Randy Moss grabbed is first touchdown of this postseason, a 6-yard touchdown with 7:54 left in the fourth quarter.
QUICK HITS
- The Patriots lost the coin toss for their fourth straight Super Bowl. New England lost the coin toss in each of its three Super Bowl victories (following the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons).
- Super Bowl XLII was just the second game that the Patriots have played this season on a natural grass surface. Seventeen of their 19 games have been played on artificial surfaces. Prior to today, New England’s only other game on grass this season was at Miami on Oct. 21.
- Jarvis Green sacked Eli Manning for a 3-yard loss in the third quarter. The sack was Green’s first of this season’s playoffs and raised his career playoff total to 5.0 sacks in 14 postseason games.
- The Patriots and Giants combined for a Super Bowl first -- a two-possession first quarter. The Giants' opening drive lasted 16 plays and took a Super Bowl record 9:59 off the clock. New England followed that up with a 12-play
