Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Superstars Who Will Flop on Big Stage

Superstars and the Super Bowl just go hand in hand. The best players in the NFL shine on the biggest stage. But not all superstars are created equally. Some are able to put the spectacle of the game aside, while others get so caught up in the hype that it consumes them. 

This year's final four has a different feel to it. Aside from Tom Brady and Eli Manning, you would be hard pressed to find one household name who is still in his prime. That is what makes this year's conference championship games so appealing. 

So which big-time players will fall flat on their faces in the Big Game? (Note: We made one prediction for each team still alive.)

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

The biggest problem with Rice is that Cam Cameron is his offensive coordinator and Joe Flacco is his quarterback. He is not going to get any support in the game plan or the execution of it, which means he is on his own. 

Considering that the Ravens will be playing against the New York Giants or San Francisco 49ers, who boast two of the best defensive lines in the NFL, it is hard to envision a scenario in which he is able to run for more than 50 yards. 

If Flacco were to figure out all of his issues in order to keep opposing defenses honest, there would be some hope. You can forgive me if I don't see that happening in the next three weeks. 

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Yes, the Golden Child makes the list. Bear in mind, that a bad game for him is throwing for 275 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. But using those parameters, it is not hard to imagine him struggling against either of the NFC defenses he may face. 

We saw what happens to Brady when he faces a relentless, attacking defensive line when the Patriots lost to the Giants in 2007. 

One of his worst games of the 2011 season came against the Giants, when he threw for 342 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

In addition to that game, he also struggled against Pittsburgh, which plays the physical kind of football that both the Giants and 49ers do. 

Eli Manning, New York Giants

Manning has put together another great postseason run, but there is always that feeling where he is going to have one of those games where he completes 50 percent of his passes and throws three interceptions. 

It would be more likely that game would come against Baltimore than New England, but he can be his own worst enemy, even against the worst defenses. 

The Giants proved that they don't need Manning to be great in order to win by defeating the New York Jets in Week 16. He completed just 9-of-27 passes, but because the defense played so well they were able to win. 

Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

While Gore was the star of the 49ers offense in the regular season, I think that Jim Harbaugh and the rest of the coaching staff are more than happy to use the two-back system with Kendall Hunter getting 10-15 carries. 

And we saw the team resort to more passing during the game against New Orleans, so it would not be a shock to see Gore's numbers take a hit in the Super Bowl. 

Plus, the last time he played the Ravens defense, he had just 39 yards on 14 carries. They are not a good stylistic matchup for the 49ers. 

The Patriots, meanwhile, would likely force Alex Smith to throw the ball more than he normally would. Gore won't be the menace in the Super Bowl that he was throughout the regular season and at times in the Saints game. 

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