The prediction here is that Eli does not have to win this game for us. He manages the game, limits the turnovers, and lets the defense do its thing. GIANTS 20 49ERS 10. (The Jewish Star, sports column, January 19, 2012).

I don’t mean to gloat, but there are a lot of columnists getting paid a lot more than I am, who were a lot farther off than I was. Now that I have that prediction, as well as the more general prediction of the path to victory over the Packers, on my resume’, I think what I have to say this week will be accepted with the necessary seriousness.

For many years, I have attended my son, Menashe’s, ice hockey games. Over that time, Menashe has described me as the father who “only sees what I did wrong, never crediting me for how well I played.” Menashe was partially right. There were many times when he was clearly the best player on the ice. However, there were many times when his level of effort and quality of decision making would have left him at a tremendous disadvantage against a higher quality opponent. As his #1 fan, I felt it was my responsibility to point out some of his flaws.

With that introduction, I would like to praise the Giants for one of the gutsiest playoff performances I have ever seen. In conditions that beckoned every ball handler to put the pigskin on the ground, they had zero turnovers. Against a defense that was head and shoulders above any defense they’ve faced since the last 49ers game, they found a way to score 20 points. They went into San Francisco with one goal, and they achieved that goal. We are going to the Super Bowl!!

If we coach and execute in Indianapolis the same way we did in San Francisco….we will surely go home as Super Bowl losers. I appeal to Tom Coughlin to heed my advice and give some serious thought to some of the points I’m about to bring up.

Tom…can we come up with a better play for 3rd or 4th and 1. No matter what team we play; no matter which player gets the ball; we cannot get that yard. May I recommend abandoning the run completely or coming up with a running play that doesn’t start five yards behind the line.