Giants & Patriots Equals A Rare Inter-Conference Rivalry

Wednesday night, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 6-3, in what was both team's last preseason game. Even though it was a meaningless contest, any game between these two franchises means something to both the organizations and their fans.

These two teams have played each other in two of the last five Super Bowls, with the Giants winning both. In Super Bowl XLII, at Glendale, Arizona, New York upset the heavily favored Patriots 17-14, ending New England's bid for a perfect season.

During the 2011 regular season, the Giants defeated the Patriots 24-20, at Gillette Stadium, snapping the Pats 20-game home winning streak.

New York would of course go on to beat the Pats 21-17, in Super Bowl XLVI, last February in Indianapolis.

The Giants have now won three consecutive run-ins with the Patriots (not including preseason), making this New York/Boston match up a very rare inter-conference rivalry.

While the Patriots/Jets and Red Sox/Yankees vitriol takes place within the context of a battle for division supremacy, the Giants/Pats conflict, though far rarer, often takes place when there's a whole lot more on the line.