New York Giants

Victor Cruz says the Patriots 'don't want to see us' in the Super Bowl

Published Dec. 28, 2016 10:23 a.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

For the first time in five years, both the New England Patriots and the New York Giants have clinched a playoff berth. The last time that happened, they met in the Super Bowl. As we all know by now, Super Bowls between the Giants and Patriots have not typically gone well for the folks from New England.

According to Giants receiver Victor Cruz, that's enough reason for the Patriots to fear the Giants this postseason.

"They don't want to see us," Cruz told the New York Daily News. "I'm sure if you ask them (they'd say) they'd play anybody, they don't care. I'm sure they don't want to see us. That's for sure."

You could probably spend a little while debating the merits of that statement. It's true that the Giants seem to be the Patriots' Achilles' heel when it comes to Super Bowls, as they're the only team to beat New England (twice) in the Pats' six Super Bowl appearances over the last 15 years. Maybe another matchup against the Giants would put more fear or anxiety into the Pats and their fans than they're comfortable with.

But it's also likely that many proud members and followers of the Patriots want another chance to avenge past losses and prove that the Giants don't necessarily own them on the world's biggest stage.

Now, it's probably a little early for anyone to be getting jazzed up about a possible Super Bowl matchup -- and Cruz made it clear he doesn't care who the Giants face as long as they get there -- but he recognized that a possible Giants-Patriots III would be something special.

"Oh man, you can't even put it into words almost," Cruz said. "For it to be round three, us and them in another epic Super Bowl showdown. It'd be for all the marbles. The third time is when, I mean they'll have a lot riding on it, we will have a lot riding on it. It'll just be one of those moments you (couldn't) forget."