NFL

Patriots say other losses to Giants don’t matter

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — If you spent time with the Patriots yesterday, you got the sense they have wiped Feb. 3, 2008 from the calendar.

That was the day the Giants dealt the Patriots a crushing 17-14 loss in Super Bowl XLII in the Arizona desert. With a rematch coming in 12 days in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, the Patriots did everything they could to make the first Super meeting sound like ancient history.

David Tyree? Never heard of him.

“It’s completely a different game,” safety James Ihedigbo said. “That game happened. It’s in the history books. It’s time to make our own history.”

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Quarterback Tom Brady said the video of that game is not one that ever finds its way into his DVD player.

“I still can’t watch highlights from that game,” Brady said yesterday in a radio interview on WEEI in Boston. “I think that’s just the way it is. You get to the end and we had a great opportunity there and really squandered it because we didn’t play our very best.”

That loss spoiled the Patriots’ perfect season. No matter how much they downplay it, you know a victory in Indianapolis would carry some extra satisfaction for coach Bill Belichick and the organization.

Team owner Robert Kraft echoed Brady, saying that loss is too painful to look at.

“I’ve never been able to watch it,” Kraft said.

Players said Belichick gave them a speech yesterday about how that loss in 2008 has no bearing on what happens in 2012. In fact, there are only seven players on the Patriots’ active roster who played in that game. The Giants have 15.

The loss the Patriots are taking a closer look at is the Week 9 meeting, which the Giants won 24-20 in November. That is the last time the Patriots lost, reeling off 10 wins since.

Brady said he expects “the best game I’ve ever played” against the Giants after he struggled in Sunday’s AFC Championship against the Ravens with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Against the Giants in November, he had three of the Patriots’ four turnovers (two interceptions and a lost fumble).

“The Giants have a very good defense,” Brady said. “They have guys that can cover, one of the best pass rushes that you’ll face in the league. Very physical in the linebackers. They tackle well. It’s a very good defense.

“We didn’t score a lot of points against them last time. The turnovers hurt us last game. I think we had four turnovers last game. You’re not going to beat the Giants turning the ball over four times.”

That loss was the Patriots’ second in a row. At 5-3 and with Brady playing inconsistently for himself, people questioned whether the Patriots were vulnerable. Three months later they will play for the Lombardi Trophy.

“It was a great game and sets up for a great rematch between two teams, really, who have earned the right to represent their conferences in the Super Bowl,” Brady said about the November game. “It’s a great feeling for all of us players.

“Not that I’ve ever taken for granted being there, because I certainly haven’t, but you really realize how hard it is to get there, even when you have great teams, like a lot of teams this year, whether it’s Baltimore or Green Bay or the Saints, or San Francisco. Everyone has had great seasons, but there are only a few teams that can play in this game.”