By Rod Woodson

Woodson played in three Super Bowls, most recently for the Raiders

Super Bowl XLII
NY Giants v New England Patriots
Sunday, 3 February
Venue: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Kickoff: 2315 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TWO, BBCi and the BBC Sport website (UK users only); listen on Radio 5 Live

As a defensive back, Rod Woodson played in three Super Bowls for Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Oakland, winning with Baltimore in 2001. He is an analyst for BBC TV on Super Bowl XLII.

Playing in the Super Bowl is a great feeling in itself. You know you're one of the last two teams standing, realising the dreams you had as a kid.

It is an honour and privilege to play in it and if you're the team that loses the Super Bowl there are another 30 teams that would take your spot in a heartbeat.

But in 10 years' time, no one will remember who played in the game. They just remember who won.

It's a great memory to have but you want to win it. If you win there is so much joy, you receive a beautiful ring; you get to see the Lombardi trophy every day when you go to practice.

If you lose, all the hard work and long hours during the year was for nothing.

Tom Brady has so many weapons and he doesn't get caught up in throwing to one guy

This year's game matches the New England Patriots, the dynasty team of this decade who have not lost a single game, with the New York Giants, who surprised a lot of people by getting this far.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning is a big reason they would have won the games they have, especially late in the year.

He doesn't try to match the opposing quarterback. As long as the Giants win, that's his ultimate goal, whatever his statistics look like. That is a great leadership quality.

Of course, it helps to have a 270lb running back behind you, as Manning does with Brandon Jacobs.

I met Jacobs in his rookie year. As he walked up to me he just got bigger and bigger. I didn't know who he was. I thought he was a lineman. When he said he was a running back I said, "I'm glad I'm retired."

Jacobs is a tone-setter because he can run over people and he is faster than people think.

But the real onus will be on the Giants defence to perform, as they did when New York ran the Patriots so close in the final week of the regular season.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has so many weapons and he doesn't get caught up in throwing to one guy.

I really believe the Giants are going to squeak this one out

After the two leading receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker, you have Donte' Stallworth, Ben Watson the tight end and in the play-offs running back Kevin Faulk has been the second-best receiver on the team.

You can stop one guy but it's hard to stop all five. However, in week 17 the Giants only lost to them by three points and they had a good defensive game plan.

Steve Spagnuolo, the defensive coordinator gave them multiple looks on coverage and got after Brady with the front four defensive linemen, while the linebackers played a vital part in both.

It slowed them down and made them punt several times, which we have not seen often this year, and that gave their offence the chance to win the game.

There were a couple of miscues in that game and New England took advantage but I don't think they'll let those miscues happen again.

My head is telling me that New England are a veteran group who understand what it takes to win

But I really believe the Giants are going to squeak this one out. I think they're going to win this game.