The Subway Super Bowl?
The New York Giants visit the Redskins today with a gaudy 10-1 mark. The New York Jets are 8-3 after knocking off undefeated Tennessee and defending AFC champion New England over the last two weeks.
Big Blue versus Gang Green in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa on Feb. 1? Better book a Sinatra impersonator for the halftime act because “New York, New York” may be coming.
The Giants’ “Earth, Wind & Fire” leads the NFL in rushing. The Jets “Pow and Later” includes AFC rushing leader Thomas Jones. They’re the two highest-scoring offenses less than a touchdown apart. Defending Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning versus Jets passer Brett Favre, the league’s only three-time MVP.
“The excitement is very high right now. Both teams are doing great,” Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis said. “Everything is going good for us. A lot of people are jumping on the Jets bandwagon.”
Said Giants defensive end Justin Tuck: “It is a good thing for New York. I am just happy for both franchises.”
It’s too good to be true for the NFL and television networks. Indeed, if they both host their conference championships, one will move to Monday night because the teams share Giants Stadium.
But wait, New Yorkers have been teased before. The Jets opened 10-1 in 1986 while the Giants were 9-2. The Jets then lost five straight and later stumbled in the playoffs’ second round in a double overtime loss to Cleveland. New York swept their remaining five games and beat Denver for the title.
The teams have only made the playoffs together 5 of 48 years since the AFL-NFL merger while never winning their divisions in the same season. But, with five weeks remaining, the teams could combine for the most victories since 1986 when the Giants went 14-2 and the Jets finished 10-6.
Jets coach Eric Mangini isn’t eyeing a crosstown series. That would be at least eight games away — if it happens. He’s leaving the talk of the town to the media and fans.
“I guess I look at it totally different,” he said. “I look at it as a five-game season and the next team. I know that’s not flashy or exciting or any of those things. It’s a long time to go before the end of the season. It’s over a quarter of the season still left to play. So many things can happen.
“I’m happy for the Giants. I haven’t gotten to see very many of their games, but it’s really all Jets all the time.”
Tom Coughlin, who talks less than street mimes, dismissed Super Bowl ponderings.
“I’m thinking about the Washington Redskins,” he said. “There really is no sense in looking any further. You are asking for trouble.”
And that’s an Aretha Franklin song. Instead, start spreading the news — come February, it may be New York, New York.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
