The New York Giants spent all last week insisting that the 2007 season was old history. But try as they might, the comparisons between this season's squad and the one that shocked the world en route to winning Super Bowl XLIV wouldn't go away.
Former Giants wide receiver David Tyree, the hero of that upset of the New England Patriots, visited his old team Friday -- two days before the NFC Wild Card Game against the Atlanta Falcons -- and told the New York Daily News the similarities between the two teams are uncanny.
"I think all the parallels are there," the now-retired Tyree said. "There's a lot of cool little markers that you could look at that kind of get you wondering and excited."
Tyree pointed to the Giants' regular-season win over the Patriots when tight end Jake Ballard made a catch reminiscent of Tyree's helmet-catch, and how they lost to the then-undefeated Green Bay Packers by a score of 38-35 -- the same margin as their regular-season loss to the undefeated Patriots in 2007.
"I think, honestly, it was just so many points to this season, these moments that make you say, 'Hmm,'Â " Tyree said.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin, to his credit, didn't take the bait Friday. But he did say he hopes the 2011 Giants can go on a similar playoff run.
"I'm hoping that the fire and the momentum and the confidence and the way in which we played can be reflective of how it was in '07," Coughlin said. "... That would be a great thing."
