Fifty-seven miles from Flemington sits New Jersey's football team that New York calls their own: The Giants.

It was 2005 when I first walked into the Giants locker room. I was five years into my career covering pro sports -- one that The Democrat launched in April 2000 -- and had never been a pro football media member. NBA, MLB and NHL -- been there, done that -- but not the NFL.

Since that time, this former Delaware Valley High School graduate has been to numerous Giants games and talked with all their biggest players, but never at a time like this. The Giants are Super Bowl bound, headed to Arizona to take on the undefeated New England Patriots.

Two days last week I headed to the stadium to watch the boys practice ahead of this Sunday's historic game. The Giants love their chances, but won’t be offering up any guarantees.

“People are going to talk and say things,” cornerback Sam Madison said. “At the end of the day though, we’re two good football teams going after the same goal.”

On December 29, the Giants fell to New England, 39-35, in the Patriots’ toughest win of the season. Instead of having a negative affects on their confidence, it boosted it, thrusting them to three straight playoff road victories.

“We feel like we let them off the hook,” wide receiver Amani Toomer, who along with Michael Strahan are the only leftovers from Big Blue’s 2000 Super Bowl appearance, said. “They’re a good team and we’re going to have to play one of our better games to compete.”

Players like cornerback Aaron Ross haven’t even finished their first season and are already in the big game. For punter Jeff Feagles though, he’s played in 320 games over 20 years for this opportunity.

“This is it. This is the last goal of mine,” Feagles said. “I still want that Super Bowl ring.”

Leading the Giants will be quarterback Eli Manning, who’s brother Peyton’s team was in the Super Bowl last year. Peyton ranks among the best arms in NFL history and says his younger brother doesn’t need his advice anymore.

"What he has been able to do in these last three playoff games in as high pressure situations as you could get,” Peyton said Friday during a conference call. “I think that is just a real confidence booster for him and their team.”

The Giants, who haven’t lost a road game all year, have enjoyed proving people wrong this season. Now, they’re looking to do it again. This time on the biggest stage, in front of the largest crowd of their lives.

“I’m happy that we’ve definitely showed a lot of people we’re better than they thought we were,” defensive end Osi Umenyiora, the team’s lone Pro Bowler, said. “I’ll be even happier if we win this game.”

The Super Bowl airs this Sunday, February 3 on FOX.