Super Bowl 2012: 4 Playmakers with Lots to Prove

The Super Bowl matchup that no one was expecting when the playoffs started, but has the most mainstream appeal, will take place on February 5 when the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots. 

These two teams are loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball, so there is no doubt that there will be plenty of fireworks on display in Indianapolis. 

There are also some big-time playmakers who have a lot to prove in this game. The Super Bowl is where legends are made and goats are born.

So which players need to step up to have a great performance to put their team over the top?

Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants

This is just speculation on my part, but Jacobs could be fighting for his spot on this team next season. He has had his share of problems with the Giants and head coach Tom Coughlin, and his uninspired play at times drives people nuts. 

Jacobs is not going to touch the ball a lot in this game, but he should be able to run over the smaller defensive front seven of the Patriots when he does. If he would run straight ahead instead of side to side all the time, good things could happen. 

Antrel Rolle, S, New York Giants

Covering Vernon Davis was supposed to be Rolle's primary job in the NFC Championship Game, yet he lost track of him a few times and gave up two big touchdown passes that could have ended the Giants' season if not for some mistakes by Kyle Williams. 

Rolle will likely have the task of spying on Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who are basically similar players to Davis. He is going to have to step up and make plays against them in order to keep Tom Brady in check. 

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Yes, the Golden Child has a lot to prove in this game. If you take out his performance against the Denver Broncos, who were the weakest playoff team this year, and look at his numbers in the last four playoff games, they aren't pretty. 

Going all the way back to Super Bowl XLII against the Giants, Brady has completed 103-of-181 passes for 958 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. 

He knows that if he plays like he did against Baltimore, the Patriots are going to lose. He has to get back on track against arguably the best defensive front four in the NFL. 

Devin McCourty, CB, New England Patriots

Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham from one of the best wide-receiving trios in the NFL. 

The Patriots, on the other hand, boast one of the worst secondaries in the NFL. They made enough plays against the Ravens to win, but they also got lucky at the end of the game. Joe Flacco was able to have his way with them at times, and now they have to play Eli Manning. 

McCourty is supposed to be the best defensive back for this team, so it is incumbent upon him to set the tone for everyone else by locking down whoever he is defending. He has had problems this season, but he can wash all of that away with one great performance. 

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