Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Hakeem Nicks Will Enter Elite Status

Coming off of his second straight 1,000 yard season, New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is ready to become one of the NFL's elite wide receiver threats.

He will finally be given the shot on the big stage that is the Super Bowl, as he was drafted two years after the team defeated the New England Patriots in the title game.

This season, Nicks had 1,192 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. He missed one game this season due to a troubled hamstring, a game in which was against his Super Bowl opponents. The Giants won that game, and they should be in position to win this one as well, with Nicks back in action.

Considering that he only missed one game with a hamstring injury, it should be noted that he has been playing somewhat hurt. He has been slowed because of it, but he has started to turn things around this postseason.

While wideout Victor Cruz has taken the spotlight, coming out of nowhere, Nicks has still been able to be effective.

He has been one of quarterback Eli Manning's favorite targets over the years, and Manning has been able to find his stud receiver once again in this season's playoffs.

In the team's divisional round win over the Green Bay Packers, Nicks went off for 165 yards with seven receptions and two touchdowns. That was coming off of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in the Wild Card round, where he was able to also have two scores with 115 yards on seven catches.

The San Francisco 49ers were able to keep him in check, as he only gained 55 yards on five receptions. He was slowed that game with a shoulder injury, but he did later return to action.

In this Super Bowl, Nicks should be able to come up big once again for his team.

The Patriots are one of the worst teams in the league in defending the pass, as they have been allowing their opposition to gain on average a total of 293.9 yards per game. 

The injury definitely set him back during the second half of the season, but his return to elite status in the postseason could be embodied by a huge performance on Super Bowl Sunday.

Nicks should be able to make some noise against this secondary, and it will finally give him the opportunity to prove to the world that he is one of the best.

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.