Giants vs. Patriots: The Most Exciting Guys to Watch in the Super Bowl

Well, it all comes down to this.

The script could not be written any more perfectly. The powerhouse No. 1 seed New England Patriots square off with the red-hot No. 4 seed New York Giants.

The Patriots cruised through another regular season, posting a 13-3 record while sporting some gaudy passing numbers along with some pathetic defensive statistics. Meanwhile, the Giants tip-toed through a minefield of a season that saw them come out of the gates on fire, then look like one of the worst teams in the NFL whilst losing four straight, only to ignite an even more vigorous fire at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. 

These teams memorably met in the 2007 Super Bowl to the tune of a magical 17-14 New York Giants victory over the previously unbeaten Patriots. In fact, there are a few parallels that can be drawn between the 2007 Super Bowl matchup and the 2011 iteration. 

In both seasons, the Patriots garnered the top seed in the AFC, going 16-0 in 2007 and 13-3 in 2011. Meanwhile the Giants performed significantly worse in the regular season, squeaking into the wild-card spot with a 10-6 record in 2007 and needing the final game of the regular season to take the NFC East crown with a 9-7 record in 2011. 

In 2007 and 2011, Tom Brady had record-breaking seasons. His 2007 season saw him break Peyton Manning's record for touchdown passes in a season with an otherworldly 50 TD passes. In 2011, though slightly overshadowed by Drew Brees, Brady broke Dan Marino's single-season passing yards record, throwing for 5,235 yards. 

While this season was the same old story offensively for the Patriots, the Giants came through in a totally different fashion. In 2007, the Giants were much more dependent upon the run, rushing for a total of 2,148 yards, while Eli Manning threw for 3,336 yards. In 2011, the Giants struggled to run the football, amounting to a meager 1,427 yards, while Manning burst out for 4,933 yards passing. 

One thing that has definitely changed since 2007 is the playmakers for these two teams. While they are both still headed by star quarterbacks Brady and Manning, the supporting casts of these two offenses are a lot different. The Patriots are much different on the defensive side as well, while the Giants maintain a few of the same guys in the secondary and on the defensive line, along with a few new weapons. 

The rematch of the epic 2007 Super Bowl is on, but look for a few different names to steal the headlines. These are a few of the most exciting players who will take the field in the grand finale—Super Bowl XLVI.

Tom Brady

We'll just get this one out of the way early. 

Tom Brady is one of the faces of the NFL, and has been for a decade.

He holds the all-time record for touchdown passes in a season, and if it weren't for Drew Brees, he would hold the single-season passing yardage record as well. Brady is a seven time Pro Bowler, a three time Super Bowl champion and a two time NFL MVP.

Not to mention he's married to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen. 

The man has done it all. 

He is undoubtedly one of the most exciting guys to watch in this year's Super Bowl, and in the NFL in general.

Eli Manning

Eli Manning is another pretty obvious source of excitement.

Manning probably threw for the quietest 4,933 yards in NFL history in 2011.

He too has developed a flare for the dramatic.

He set the NFL's all-time mark for touchdown passes in the fourth quarter in 2011 with 15. Of course, nobody can forget the drive he engineered the last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl, highlighted by an escape and miracle catch by David Tyree and the decisive, last-minute touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. 

After three strong playoff performances thus far, it will be interesting to see what Manning has up his sleeve for the Super Bowl. 

Vince Wilfork

This big dude had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown, this season. If that's not exciting, I don't know what is.

Vince Wilfork is a force in the middle against the run for the Patriots and has been voted to three straight Pro Bowls and four overall while situating himself among the premier defensive tackles in the NFL, as well as the leader of the Patriots defense. 

Wilfork had a huge six-tackle, one-sack game while doing an excellent job bottling up the NFL's all-purpose yards leader, Ray Rice, in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Look for Wilfork to wreak havoc on the Giants' much-maligned run game in the Super Bowl.

Jason Pierre-Paul

Jason Pierre-Paul is the epitome of excitement on the defensive side of the football. 

He broke out in a big way this season, recording 16.5 sacks in just his second season in the NFL.

Pierre-Paul has a seemingly endless motor and makes plays down the field that most defensive lineman wouldn't even consider involving themselves in. That led to 86 tackles, a pretty gaudy number for a lineman. 

Pierre-Paul is just as big a threat on special teams. His blocked field goal against their division rivals, the  Dallas Cowboys, sealed a 37-34 win in Week 14 and proved to be one of the most important plays of the Giants' season. 

The Patriots have battled injuries on the offensive line all season, with 10 lineman playing at least 100 snaps this season. Look for Pierre-Paul to try to take advantage of that in the Super Bowl.

Wes Welker

Wes Welker has defied the boundaries of what an NFL wide receiver can be in his tenure with the Patriots.

Welker has caught over 110 passes four of the past five years, catching 123 and 122 in 2009 and 2011, respectively. He has led the NFL in receptions three times and led the AFC in receiving yards in 2011. 

Welker doesn't do it with crazy speed and he clearly doesn't do it with size, at 5'8". Instead, Welker dominates defenses with crisp route-running, solid hands and a trusting and reliant quarterback. 

Welker has been held in check so far this postseason, but he is liable to churn out a 10-plus-catch performance on any given Sunday. 

Hakeem Nicks

Hakeem Nicks is a physical beast. 

Nicks has emerged as one of Eli Manning's favorite targets over the last two seasons, and for good reason.

He has spectacular hands and great jumping ability, coupled with incredible body control, making him an ideal target on any part of the field. He also is relatively elusive and can be a nuisance to bring down in the open field. 

Nicks has had a huge postseason thus far, snagging 18 balls for 335 yards and four touchdowns in the Giants' three games.

While he was reined in by the San Fransisco 49ers for only 55 yards receiving in the NFC Championship Game, Nicks will surely be a focal point of the Giants offense in the Super Bowl. 

Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski just had the best season for a tight end in NFL history. 

The clear frontman of the Patriots' tight end duo, Gronkowski is a man amongst boys.

At 6'6", Gronkowski has the height to sky over defensive backs and linebackers and has some of the best hands in the game.

Tom Brady has realized these facts. 

Gronkowski broke the all-time marks for receiving yards and touchdowns for a tight end in 2011, piling up 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns.

He carried that success into the divisional-round matchup against the Denver Broncos, catching three of Brady's six touchdown passes.

Gronkowski caught five passes for 87 yards but didn't find pay dirt, nor did he get a chance to perform his patented "Gronk Spike," in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Don't expect that to happen again in the Super Bowl.

Victor Cruz

Where in the world did this guy come from?

Why, from the football hotbed of the University of Massachusetts, of course.

Every other team has to be kicking themselves after missing this undrafted, salsa-dancing stud.

Cruz put together one of the most unbelievable breakout seasons in recent memory, catching 82 passes for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Cruz, in his first full season in the NFL, has shown a knack for the big play.

He seems to have an ability to find a soft spot in coverage consistently and has the kind of speed needed to turn any play into a big one. Just take a look at this 99-yard touchdown, for example.

Cruz had a huge game in the NFC championship, catching 10 balls for 142 yards against the San Fransisco 49ers.

Look for Eli Manning to take advantage of Cruz's big-play ability in the Super Bowl, especially considering how weak the Patriots' pass defense is.