"Back in his Buffalo days, Perry Fewell talked about being a light sleeper.

Typically, it was the week before the New England game. Coaches are like that. They'll lie there in the middle of the night, eyes closed, game film projecting through their unconscious mind.

Sometimes, Fewell would bolt awake, enlivened by some fresh idea, some new way to move defensive players around like chess pieces. This is the coach's joy and his obsession, the urge to tinker and teach gifted young players to a higher level.

Now, two years after leaving Buffalo and more than a quarter century into his coaching journey, Fewell finally has a chance to prepare a defense for the biggest game of all. On Sunday, his Giants defense faces the formidable task of trying to slow down the Patriots and Tom Brady.

"Last week I didn't sleep very much," Fewell said with a hearty laugh. "This week, things keep going off in my head. What can you do? How you can do it better? What kind of disguises and looks can you give the guy?"

Six weeks ago, it appeared Fewell would soon be looking for a job. The Giants were 7-7 at that point. Fewell's defense, which had finished seventh in the NFL in 2010, had underachieved because of injuries and miscommunication on the field. Fans were clamoring for former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo, who had been fired by the Rams."