Super Bowl Predictions: Predicting the Stats for the Top 10 Offensive Players

If you happen to miss the Super Bowl matchup between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots and need to check the box score on ESPN, there are certain players who your eyes are going to be drawn towards first.

Tom Brady, the quarterback of the Patriots, might be the first one you check. Or maybe it's Eli Manning, the quarterback of the Giants. It might depend on which team you're rooting for.

But then you might want to check out how the super tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, did against the hot Giants defense.

But if you want early predictions for how all of the star players are going to perform in the Super Bowl, you came to the right place.

Here's a list predicting the stat lines for the top 10 offensive players.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Predicted stat line: 12 carries, 56 yards, 0 touchdowns

BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran extremely hard last weekend against a very talented Baltimore Ravens defense. He only gained 68 yards on the ground, but every single one of them was hard earned.

Don't expect the Patriots to be running the ball as often against the Giants, however. He has only carried the ball more than 20 times twice this season.

The Giants defense is susceptible through the air, so expect Tom Brady to take the ball out of Green-Ellis' hands and throw the ball a lot this game.

Mario Manningham

Predicted stat line: 5 catches, 47 yards, 1 touchdown

With Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz lining up out wide, Mario Manningham becomes a very formidable third option for Eli Manning.

Manningham corralled the game-winning touchdown pass against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, which showed that Manning isn't afraid to go to him in crucial situations.

Wes Welker

Predicted stat line: 12 catches, 98 yards, 1 touchdown

We're waiting for Wes Welker to have a big game this postseason. He has had two six-catch, 50-yard performances thus far, but we all know Welker is capable of doing much more.

This will be the game that Welker is featured in.

He led the league in first-down catches with 77 during the regular season, so expect Tom Brady to be looking his way during clutch situations.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Predicted stat line: 17 carries, 83 yards, 0 touchdowns.

Ahmad Bradshaw had a solid game against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend. Against a defense that makes you work hard for every yard, Bradshaw had 74 yards rushing. Albeit he did have 20 carries, he had some clutch runs in overtime to set up the game-winning field goal.

He should have a much easier time running against the Patriots run defense, however, which was just a middle-of-the-pack unit during the regular season.

Bradshaw will get some touches to set up the play action, but Eli Manning will be doing all of the scoring in this game.

Aaron Hernandez

Predicted stat line: 9 catches, 112 yards, 2 touchdowns

Aaron Hernandez is my player to watch this game. Vernon Davis, the tight end of the San Francisco 49ers, torched the Giants defense last weekend.

While Hernandez isn't nearly as athletic as Davis, that isn't anything to be ashamed of. He'll get more opportunities to make plays with Tom Brady throwing to him anyways.

Plus, the Giants will focus on containing Rob Gronkowski, and that will give him some opportunities to make some plays.

Hernandez will be Tom Brady's main target this game.

Victor Cruz

Predicted stat line: 11 catches, 121 yards, 1 touchdown

Victor Cruz simply went off against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend. He caught 10 passes for 142 yards, and most of those catches came on third downs.

He was Eli Manning's main target when Hakeem Nicks injured his shoulder midway through the game.

Expect more of the same from Cruz this weekend. With Nicks healthy again, he'll demand more attention from the defense and open up windows for his teammates.

Rob Gronkowski

Predicted stat line: 6 catches, 82 yards, 1 touchdown

Everyone thinks that Rob Gronkowski is going to shine in the spotlight during the Super Bowl—and rightly so. He set the record for most touchdowns in a season by a tight end with 18 in 2011.

His sprained ankle will play a factor, but it won't completely prevent him from putting his stamp on this game.

He won't be the playmaker he was all season, but once the Patriots are in the end zone, he'll be the main target.

Hakeem Nicks

Predicted stat line: 6 catches, 77 yards, 1 touchdown

Hakeem Nicks is easily the biggest threat on the New York Giants receiving core. He's big, fast and has absolutely enormous hands.

He wasn't able to make much of an impact last game against the San Francisco 49ers, but that's because he injured his shoulder midway through the game.

Nicks will make some plays but expect him to act mostly as a decoy for his teammates.

Tom Brady

Predicted stat line: 306 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception.

Tom Brady was the first one to admit that he had a bad game last weekend. He was trying to throw against the stingy Baltimore Ravens defense, but we have all seen Brady pick apart even the most intimidating defenses in the past.

Brady will bounce back. This New York Giants defense is playing well at the moment, but the New England Patriots offensive line will give him a nice pocket to go through his progressions.

The last thing the Giants want is trying to stop Brady who feels like he has something to prove.

Eli Manning

Predicted stat line:  344 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception.

Eli Manning is hot, and the New England Patriots defense is not. The Patriots pass defense was ranked second-to-last during the regular season, but they also had the second-most interceptions with 23.

You have a feeling that Manning is going to torch this thin and banged up Patriots secondary. He has been doing this to defenses all season. But don't be surprised if someone like Patrick Chung on the Patriots catch Manning napping and pick him off at least once.