New England Patriots fans have waited five years for this weekend’s Super Bowl rematch.

They have waited patiently, sitting through a few rough seasons that included star quarterback Tom Brady missing all of 2008 with an injury. Those seasons also included the 2009 and 2010 playoffs, in which the Patriots were knocked out of the American Football Conference division game by the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets.

Patriots fans had to spend the past three seasons listening to New York Jets coach Rex Ryan talk about how he wasn’t in New York to kiss the Super Bowl rings of New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and how his team was going to win the Super Bowl every year.

Patriots fans have waited, heard the talk and listened to criticism that New England is finished, and Brady can no longer win a big game.

That wait is finally over, and those detractors could finally be silenced.

On Sunday, the Patriots will face the New York Giants in the Super Bowl for the long-awaited rematch.

The Giants in 2007-08 beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl that year, crushing the dreams of an undefeated season as New England entered the game 18-0. It was the first time in National Football League history a team had won 18 games without a loss.

The Patriots had a chance of becoming the second team to roll through an entire NFL season undefeated and win the Super Bowl. The first was the Miami Dolphins in 1972, but they went 17-0 as the league only played 14 regular season games instead of 16.

Alas, the elusive 19-0 season ended in a surprise 17-14 defeat by the Giants as quarterback Eli Manning escaped a Pats defender, launched the ball down the field and David Tyree caught it against his helmet while falling to the ground and being tackled. It was the most painful catch in Patriots history. Fans wondered how Manning escaped the Patriots’ clutches, and how Tyree, who the Giants cut the next year, made such an unlikely catch. That moment set the stage for Plaxico Burress as Manning hit him in the end zone on the next play for the game-winning score.

It was also a moment that set in motion some difficult times for Patriots fans that had seen their team win the 2001, ’03 and ’04 Super Bowl titles.

Now, all of that emotion, pain and doubt can be erased on Sunday as the Patriots have the opportunity for sweet redemption against that same Giants team.

It won’t be easy, however, as Manning is playing like an elite quarterback with his most popular wide receiver target being the upstart Victor Cruz.

In the National Football Conference title game on Jan. 22, the San Francisco 49ers defense sacked Manning six times. He still led the Giants to 20 points.

The 49ers have one of the best defenses in the league. The Patriots do not. Manning could have a field day against the Pats’ secondary, which ranks 31st in the league in yards allowed.

New England, however, has the most explosive offense in the league with Tom Brady throwing to slot receiver Wes Welker, and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. They are hard to stop.

It will be interesting come Sunday when the Patriots and Giants hit the field. Will the Patriots avenge 2007-08, or will the Giants once again rise to the occasion for another Super Bowl title?

We’ll have to wait and see.

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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.