Super Bowl Predictions 2012: XLVI Winner Will Feature Former Super Bowl MVP

There are six former Super Bowl MVPs spread across five teams taking the field this weekend in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

The three teams without a Super Bowl MVP—San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos—will not be playing in the Super Bowl this year.

It is certainly possible with two games to go, but their young, inexperienced rosters will ultimately be overtaken by the teams and players that have been there before.

Heck, all three will likely be eliminated this weekend.

That leaves the five teams toting MVPs to fight for the title.

The New England Patriots actually have two, Tom Brady and Deion Branch, the Baltimore Ravens have the only other non-quarterback, Ray Lewis, and the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants respectively start Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Eli Manning under center.

It is a truly remarkable feat to see so many MVPs vying for the Lombardi Trophy this year, and there is a great chance we see two of them square off in Super Bowl XLVI itself.

Brady's Patriots and Rodgers' Packers have the best chance. They each carry a distinct home-field advantage and, as No. 1 seeds, have it throughout the postseason.

The Ravens, a team whose stingy defense—led by former Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis—and run game are the only reason they are where they are, avoid a huge hurdle of potentially having to play their divisional rival Steelers in the AFC Championship Game thanks to Tim Tebow.

Should Baltimore beat Houston this week, they'll take on the winner of the Patriots-Broncos with a chance at a Super Bowl berth on the line. The Ravens beat the Patriots in Foxborough in the playoffs only two years ago.

As for the NFC, three of their four remaining teams are powered by former Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks. The one team that isn't, the San Francisco 49ers, have the daunting task of knocking off at least two of these three quarterbacks to earn a Super Bowl berth.

As good as their defense is, their run will end before the Super Bowl.

This NFL season was dominated by elite quarterback play, and it will stay that way.

Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis is still 25 days away and anything can happen. But with arguably the league's four best quarterbacks (all former MVPs) still in play, and a Ravens defense more than capable of winning two more games against any combination of AFC teams, this year's biggest game will be decided by players that have been there and done that before.

Don't be surprised if one of them repeats as the MVP either.