INDIANAPOLIS — Mathias Kiwanuka thinks the Giants can take home Super Bowl XLVII next year in New Orleans and repeat as champs — Deja Blue Part 2.
“If we won it this year, there’s no doubt in my mind that we can,” the linebacker said yesterday, the morning after their 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI victory over the Patriots. “We’ve just got to get in the playoffs. That’s it.”
The last NFL team to repeat was the Patriots, who won consecutive championships in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons, beating the Panthers and Eagles. The Yankees were the last New York team to repeat as champs, winning three World Series in a row from 1998 to 2000.
“The big thing for us is to get one next year,” Kiwanuka said. “We had a great season a couple years ago, and we had a letdown the year after. We’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
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When the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007-08, they began the next season 11-1 before faltering down the stretch — in part because of Plaxico Burress’ absence after shooting himself in the leg. The Giants were then ousted in the Divisional round by the Eagles.
“I feel like the sky’s the limit for this organization and our team,” receiver Hakeem Nicks said. “I feel like we can be at this level for a long time.”
With quarterback Eli Manning in his prime and the core of the team set to remain intact, there is little reason why the Giants shouldn’t be a contender again next year. They have not finished worse than 8-8 in Manning’s seven seasons as the full-time starter, winning two championships and three division titles.
“Actually we won the game, but I still don’t feel like we played our best game yet this whole season,” defensive tackle Linval Joseph said. “I feel like next year is going to be a good year. Just everybody stays focused and everybody stays hungry, and I think we should have a good season next year, too.”
The Giants have a number of free agents, including Super Bowl receiving hero Mario Manningham, but they have a prudent front office and organizational stability.
Said Joseph: “I pray that everybody stays together, but it doesn’t work that way.”
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