About Light: The 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pounder enjoyed a renaissance in his 11th season, with his statistics better in most categories, including sacks allowed (2.5) and hurries (30). Light, who yielded 7.5 sacks last season, allowed 41 total quarterback pressures in 2010, and just 30 this season. He shut out some of the best pass rushers from the end of the first quarter against the Eagles until the end of the regular season. “Matt Light is obviously a good football player,’’ said Giants end Osi Umenyiora.

About Pierre-Paul: After just one season the University of South Florida and one with the Giants, Pierre-Paul (6-5, 270, 4.71 in 40-yard dash) has blossomed into a star in his second season. Including the playoffs, profootballfocus.com has him leading the Giants in sacks (17), quarterback hits (15), hurries (35), and run stops (56). “He’s still learning,’’ Umenyiora said. “He has a tremendous upside and he’s going to be one of the great ones.’’

The skinny: The Patriots did a great job limiting Pierre-Paul to just one sack in the Week 9 matchup (against center Ryan Wendell and right guard Brian Waters). Pierre-Paul didn’t have a hurry, knockdown, or run stuff. Light held a similar player, Terrell Suggs of the Ravens, to a hurry and half knockdown in the AFC Championship game. Pierre-Paul had one sack, one hit, and five pressures in the Giants’ NFC title game win over the 49ers.

Edge: Patriots.

GREG A. BEDARD