Super Bowl 2012: 5 Studs Who Will Be Duds for a Day

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Super Bowl XLVI will feature two potent offenses and various star players from the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.

Specific matchups will determine the outcome of Sunday's game in Indianapolis, as Eli Manning appears to have a favorable day ahead of him against a weak Patriots defense.

On the biggest stage in sports, it's hard to judge who will achieve greatness and who will underperform.

But here are five players who will be duds in Super Bowl XLVI.

Michael Boley

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Michael Boley has undoubtedly been the Giants' best linebacker this season, and he's carried that effort into the playoffs.

His two sacks of Aaron Rodgers helped set the tone for a 37-20 win, and helped the Giants advance to the conference championship game against the 49ers.

Unfortunately, Boley will at times be called upon to cover Rob Gronkowski this Sunday, and that is an unfavorable matchup for the Giants.

Gronkowski torched the G-Men for 101 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions in Week 9, and it seems that only an ankle injury stands in the way of him dominating New York again.

Look for Boley to have a rough day if he draws the assignment of covering this beast on Sunday.

Devin McCourty

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Devin McCourty was a stud in 2010, making seven interceptions on his way to becoming a rookie Pro Bowler.

While a shoulder injury could be to blame,  the second-year captain made only two interceptions in 2011, and has just nine tackles and no interceptions in the postseason.

And it's not about to get any easier for McCourty on Sunday.

He'll be responsible for covering either Victor Cruz or Hakeem Nicks, both of whom went over the 1,000-yard receiving mark this season.

Nicks has been especially dominant in the playoffs, leading all receivers with 18 receptions for 335 yards and four touchdowns.

While McCourty hasn't been a stud this season, he's shown the capability that he can be.

It just won't happen in Super Bowl XLVI. 

Antrel Rolle

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There's no doubt that Antrel Rolle is the emotional leader of the Giants.

He put together a solid season, leading the G-Men in tackles with 96. He also made two interceptions.

But what stands out the most is his blown coverage on 49er TE Vernon Davis in the conference championship game.

If Rolle couldn't stick with Davis, I don't know how he's going to match up against the fiercest TE in the league in Gronkowski, who he'll surely have to cover at times.

Rolle has made a name for himself based on his physical play and big mouth, both of which will have him in hot water if he is matched up against Gronk.

He's been great for the Giants this season, but don't be surprised if Rolle gets burnt on Sunday.

Matt Light

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Matt Light has covered No. 12's backside since 2001 and has been one of the most reliable LTs in the NFL during that span.

But he'll be faced with the daunting task of stopping the Giants' best pass rusher this season in Jason Pierre-Paul on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Pierre-Paul led the Giants in sacks and finished fourth-best in the NFL, with 16.5 sacks during the regular season.

In their first meeting, he brought Brady down once, helping New York edge the Patriots 24-20.

Although JPP has just half a sack in the postseason, Brady and the Pats are well aware of what he and the Giants' defensive line can do.

Brady and the offense are in for a long day in Indy if JPP and the rest of the Giants' D-line can rekindle the 2008 firepower that took down the perfect Pats in Super Bowl XLII.

Brandon Jacobs

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It's no secret that the Giants' rushing attack has been dismal for a majority of the season.

Toward the end of the season and into the playoffs, New York has improved its ground game, due to the running of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Bradshaw has proven that he is the better and more consistent back of the two, evident by his 66 rushing yards per game in the playoffs to Jacobs's  42.

Jacobs has done more talking with his mouth this season than with his legs, and I expect the same on Sunday.

The Patriots defense held stud RB Ray Rice to a mere 67 yards on 21 carries in the conference championship game, which doesn't look too promising for Jacobs, who has just one 100-yard rushing performance this season.

Once a stud, Jacobs's days of being the No.1 RB in New York are numbered.

Given the dangerous passing attack led by Eli Manning, Jacobs won't have much of a chance to make an impact on this game.