Worth the Wait: Giants-Patriots Super Bowl Rematch Great for NFL

As the New York Giants and New England Patriots have been getting ready for their Super Bowl rematch, the hype, of course, has been nonstop, and it will continue straight through kickoff.

Some fans, particularly those outside of the New York and Boston markets, weren't thrilled that they'd be seeing New York and New England battle it out again. However, a Super Bowl rematch between these two teams is actually great for the league, and great for fans too.

Here are the top 5 reasons why the Giants vs. Patriots rematch is great for the NFL.

Epic First Encounter

Super Bowl XLII in 2008 was an absolutely fantastic game, and is routinely ranked right at the top of the list of the best Super Bowls ever. The crazy David Tyree helmet grab. The massive upset. The last minute touchdown drive. The game had it all. So why not see it again?

A Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowl rematch is going to drive up ratings and interest even higher than usual, because the first game was so ridiculously amazing. You can't expect a repeat in terms of the drama that the first game had, but getting a chance to play it out a second time is a wonderful opportunity.

Do the Giants and Eli Manning have their number? Will Tom Brady and Bill Belichick get their revenge? We'll find out soon enough.

Elite Quarterbacks

The NFL is a quarterbacks league, and that has never been more true than it was in 2011, when three quarterbacks surpassed 5,000 yards, and a rookie, Cam Newton, was amongst the 10 total quarterbacks who eclipsed 4,000 yards. Brady threw for 5,235 yards on the season, breaking Dan Marino's longstanding record but still only ranking 2nd in the league for the season, while Manning ranked 4th, coming just shy of the 5k mark with 4,933 yards.

By quarterback rating, Brady was ranked 3rd in the league for 2011, with a 105.6 mark, while Manning ranked 7th, at 92.9. Brady passed for 39 touchdowns, 4th best, and Manning threw 29 touchdowns, 6th best. Brady had an 8.6 yards per attempt average, 2nd best in the league, and Manning had an 8.4 average, fourth best. The stats go on from there, of course.

In the pass-happiest season in the history of a quarterback's league, two of the absolute best quarterbacks are the ones left standing and attempting to guide their squads to a title. It's only fitting.

Anymore Harbaugh Would Have Been Way Too Much

In 2011, NFL fans got their fair share of Harbaugh time, as Jim and John, and even their father, Jack, were plastered all over our televisions. With the Giants and Patriots advancing to the Super Bowl, as opposed to the 49ers and Ravens, fans and league executives were saved from having to endure more Harbaugh. Enough was enough for the year; no offense of course.

Not to mention that their defensive-first teams don't exactly always make for compelling television or exciting matches. Offense, touchdowns and quarterbacks are what bring in the ratings and jack up fan interest.

Never Too Much Manning

Super Bowl XLVI will mark the fourth time in six seasons that a Manning has played in a Super Bowl, with both Peyton and Eli making two appearances. A Manning making a Super Bowl appearance is a near annual rite of passage.

A Manning facing a Brady is also a yearly ritual, and it will be the fourth time in five seasons that Eli will face Brady. This comes after Peyton and Brady served up the league's best ongoing rivalry for nearly a decade.

In addition, Manning the Younger, Eli, now may be the league's official Manning representative. With rumors swirling that Peyton could be on the brink of retirement, as Eli has risen from his shadows to become a great player all on his own, Manning the Younger has a chance to seize the big stage once again, eclipse his brother in championships, and advance his mark against Tom Brady to 3-1 all at the same time. It all makes for great television and great football.

The Peyton & Indy Factor

If you looked ahead and saw the 2012 Super Bowl being scheduled for Indianapolis, you probably thought there was a good chance that a Manning would be playing in the game. Peyton Manning, of course, the Colts quarterback who calls Lucas Oil Stadium home -- for the time being at least. Instead, it's Eli and the Giants, but it's still Manning vs. Brady, in Indianapolis. That's a touch of poetic justice.

In his Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King summed it up thusly: "Peyton's brother faces Peyton's (friendly) arch-rival in The House That Peyton Built ... with Peyton, I'm assuming, watching from a luxury suite."

Sources: Fox NFL Coverage; Yahoo! Sports, Giants.com, Sports Illustrated, NFL.com

Jake Emen is a lifelong Giants fan from New Jersey. He also runs the