PHOENIX, Arizona: Plaxico Burress defended his prediction on Wednesday that his New York Giants would end the New England Patriots' winning streak at 18 in Sunday's Super Bowl.

Despite playing the unbeaten Patriots and being two-touchdown underdogs, the Giants receiver refused to back down from his forecast that his team would walk away with a 23-17 victory.

"I'm a confident player," Burress told reporters. "You can't take the field without being confident."

The logic is sound but Burress' bravado had Tom Coughlin gnashing his teeth, the Giants' coach fearing the Patriots might have a little extra motivation.

"I will speak with Plaxico in a private way and that's where it will remain," he said.

New England receiver Randy Moss was not too concerned.

"The only thing about a prediction is that you have got to make it happen," he said.

"I think the pressure is more on them now since they've guaranteed this victory," said Moss. "We've prepared very hard for the last week and a half and we still have a couple more days to get out there and tone some things up.

"But making a prediction that you are going to go out there and make it happen are very tough words to back up so we'll see when the game clock is on zero Sunday."

New England quarterback Tom Brady laughed at the prediction and said he was disappointed Burress had the Patriots' scoring only 17 points.

"Plaxico is a hell of a player," he said. "If he feels that way, I think that's great. I'd hate for him to think he's going to lose this game.

"But 23-17? I wish he'd said like 45-42 or something like that. At least he'd give us a little more credit for scoring a few points."

Crystal ball

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora refused to look into his own crystal ball for the game's outcome but defended Burress.

"I can't give you a score but I don't totally disagree with what he said," said Umenyiora. "When somebody asks you if you think you're going to win this football game, how are you supposed to answer that question?

"Him saying we're going to win, I don't really have a problem with that. That's just positive thinking.

"If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't happen nobody expected us to win anyway."

While the Patriots are shooting for their fourth title in seven years the Giants hope to claim their first crown since the 1990 season.

Brady steered clear of the guessing game.

"We don't make predictions," said Brady, a double Super Bowl MVP. "We just let our play do the talking. I learned that lesson early in my career."

Agencies

(China Daily 02/01/2008 page22)