Are the Patriots playing up the ankle injury TE Rob Gronkowski suffered in the AFC Championship game? Both the Patriots and Giants know that Gronkowski’s contributions are a major factor in the success of the Patriots this year,.  Knowing the extent of his injury will certainly affect the Super Bowl XLVI game plans of the Giants and Patriots.

Early last week, Gronkowski’s dad Gordie gave away some injury information which the Patriots would rather keep secret.  Mr. Gronk told WIVB’s John Murphy (via CSNNE.com) that his son has a high ankle sprain.

On Sunday, Gronkowski got off the team plane wearing a walking boot on his injured left leg but at Tuesday’s Super Bowl Media Day he fielded questions in sneakers.

Was the leg boot and injury info released by Rob’s daid a ploy to affect the game plan of Giants coach Tom Coughlin?  It wouldn’t be the first time that Patriot coach Bill Belichick tried to get a leg up on his competition.

Remember Spygate?

Regardless of the status of Gronkowski, you can bet Coughlin and the Giants will have an answer for Gronkowski.

What NFC teams have the most first downs in 2011?  An intelligent answer would be one of the NFC Division contenders, like the Green Bay Packers (7-0), San Francisco 49ers (6-1), Detroit Lions (6-2) or New York Giants (5-2). But in fact, none of them are in the top 3 NFC teams with the most first downs heading into Week 9 of the NFL season.

The top 3 NFC teams with the most first downs are the New Orleans Saints (5-3), Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) and the Carolina Panthers (2-6). The Saints have accumulated 202 first downs so far in 2011, 51 rushing and 140 passing.  The Eagles are next with 170 first downs, 74 on the ground and 92 in the air.  Surprising, the Carolina Panthers have the third most first downs in the NFC with a total of 177, 65 rushing and 99 passing.

The Saints also hold the distinction of leading the NFC in 3rd down efficiency, successfully converting a 1st down 56.3% of the time.

More on First Downs Don’t Equal Success In The NFC

Giants

Eagles QB Michael Vick thinks a pet dog would be good therapy. Vick won’t get that opportunity soon, but he’ll get the chance to watch the Giants “dogs” run all over his Eagles defense.

On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles travel up the turnpike to take on the Giants in Week 15 NFL action. The winner gets sole possession of first place in the NFC East playoff race.

Expect the game to be a throwback, smash-mouth football game. The Giants will try to control the ball, and the clock with their rushing game. The Eagles, on the other hand, will lean on the throwing and running abilities of QB Michael Vick.

Although the Eagles won the first meeting (27-17), the Giants are healthier than ever and playing their best defense. The Giant “D” is confident that they will be able to contain Michael Vick and keep the Eagles from scoring.

But the difference in this NFC East matchup will be the Giants “dogs” Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. The pair of running backs will eat up the clock and make the Eagles defense play the run. Eli Manning and the Giants receiver Corp will then exploit the Eagles fun defense with the “play-action-pass”.

The result - Giants beat the Eagles by a touchdown in a low scoring affair – and Vick and the Eagles will lick their wounds and wish they had “dogs” like the Giants.