A Look Back: The History of the Giants vs. Patriots

Belichick, who spent 12 years as a Giants assistant from 1979-90, is 2-4 against his former employer for his career and 2-2 during his tenure in New England. His first two losses to New York came while the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95. The esteemed head coach sports a 17-6 career record in the postseason, including a 3-1 mark in Super Bowls, and is tied with Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs for third place on the NFL's all-time list for playoff wins.

Giants sideline boss Tom Coughlin has a 3-4 record versus New England, including a 1-3 mark during his time in charge of Jacksonville from 1995-2002 that contains a win over the Patriots in a 1998 AFC First-Round Playoff and a loss in the 1996 AFC Championship. Coughlin is 4-1 when going head-to-head with Belichick, however, with two triumphs by the Jaguars against the Browns in 1995 tacked on to the Giants' positive results in both Super Bowl XLII and earlier this season.

Belichick and Coughlin, who has accumulated an 11-7 overall postseason record, worked together for three years from 1988-90 on Bill Parcells' staff with the Giants and were part of New York's win over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV that decided the 1990 NFL champion. Belichick was the Giants' defensive coordinator at the time, while Coughlin served as the wide receivers coach.