Special teams

Adam Vinatieri played a leading role in all three Patriots Super Bowl wins, and then won a title with Indianapolis last year. Now Stephen Gostkowski (3) does the place-kicking, and he’s money.

Lawrence Tynes (9) was inconsistent in his first year with the Giants, and he missed two potential winning field goals at frigid Green Bay in the title game. But he made a 47-yarder to send New York to the Super Bowl.

Patriots punter Chris Hanson (6) didn’t get used much during the season, and his gross average in the playoffs is 38.0 yards, less than 20-year veteran Jeff Feagles’ net. Feagles (18) is appearing in his first Super Bowl despite two decades in the league.

Neither team has dangerous threats on kick or punt returns, although Domenik Hixon (87) has given the Giants a late-season spark.