The Patriots have the best offense in the league this year and arguably the best in league history (though it performed only modestly on Sunday), but have they had to face any great defenses? In fact who are the great defenses in the league this year? Indy, Pittsburgh, Tampa, San Diego, Tennessee? None of those are even in the class of the 2006 Ravens, let alone, the all-time great defenses. Is the Giants defense right now the best unit in the NFL?

For most of the season the team's weakness was in the secondary, but with Aaron Ross getting experience and Corey Webster seeming to turn the corner these last few games, suddenly the pass defense is a strength. It doesn't hurt to have the best pass rush in the NFL, but even when Favre had time to throw, the secondary held up. And aside from one blown coverage on Donald Driver and a short field after a long kickoff return, Green Bay didn't score a touchdown. In other words, the Giants defense didn't give up a single drive of more than 45 yards in Green Bay.

It would have been great to see the Patriots offense face one of the all-time great defenses, but largely they've dealt with merely good ones, and with pretty good results. (They struggled a bit with the Colts and Chargers, but San Diego benefited from the bad weather). Over the course of the year, the Giants weren't even a good defense, but during the playoffs, they have been very good. Probably not good enough to stop New England on a clear day in Arizona, but then again, I didn't think they'd win in Green Bay or Dallas, either.