Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Patriots Defensive Front Will Key New England Win

For the next two weeks, the talk will be about how the New York Giants defensive line will dominate the game and get pressure on Tom Brady while only rushing four.

Well, I'm here to tell everyone they've focused on the wrong defensive front—it will be the New England Patriots defensive front that will surprise everyone and lead the team to victory.

Go ahead and dig up whatever regular season statistics you like about how the Patriots defense was shoddy this year. I can't deny those numbers.

But I can note that the Patriots defense has been extremely good in the playoffs thus far, and that starts with the defensive front.

More often than not, both the Broncos and Ravens need to successfully run the ball in order to win. The Broncos were never really in the game to begin with and were never a threat in the passing game, so it's hard to judge the 40 carries for 144 yards they managed on the ground.

But the Patriots completely removed Ray Rice from the Baltimore attack, holding him to 67 yards on 21 carries and limiting him to only one reception for 11 yards.

They had success against Baltimore's running game because New England's front stood strong, namely Vince Wilfork, who dominated the line of scrimmage.

I can already hear the counterargument coming—that's all fine and dandy, Rapp, but Joe Flacco—Joe freaking Flacco!—threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots. What will Eli Manning and his weapons do against them?

Oh, and let's not forget another favorite talking point; the Giants are "more balanced" than the Patriots.

Not offensively they aren't. The Giants averaged an NFL-worst 89.2 rushing yards per game. The Patriots are going to be able to spend far more time game-planning against the Giants passing attack, knowing that the front should be able to handle the running game.

And for all of the talk about all of the pressure that the Giants front creates, the Patriots have eight sacks in the playoffs.

See the theme here?

Defensive line dominates running game. Bill Belichick and his defensive staff can focus extra game-planning on the Giants passing attack. Defensive line creates pressure on Brady. Belichick and his defensive staff can blitz in moderation and drop players into coverage to confuse Manning.

Everyone wants to talk about the quarterbacks and the defensive line of the Giants. They're the storylines that jump out at people.

But watch Vince Wilfork, Sean Ellis, Mark Anderson, Gerard Warren and Kyle Love carefully. They'll ultimately be the reason the Patriots win this game.

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