Super Bowl 2012: X-Factors Who Must Step Up for Patriots

The New England Patriots are favored to beat the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, but even the biggest Patriots homers have to realize that this is not a good matchup for the Pats.

The Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl four years ago.  On top of that, they beat the Patriots during the regular season.  Neither win was a fluke. 

The Giants are not the best football team under the sun, but they are a team that's perfectly constructed to beat the Patriots.

I've made this point so much in the last couple days that I'm starting to sound like a broken record. 

I will, however, reiterate another point: The Patriots can win. 

Of course they can win.  They're the favorites, aren't they?  If they play their game, they'll be in good shape.

They'll be in even better shape if they get significant contributions from the four players listed below. 

They don't get as much attention as they should, but each of them is a vital component to New England's success on Super Bowl Sunday.

Kyle Arrington

I wouldn't call Kyle Arrington the best cover guy in the business, but he's a dude who knows how to make plays. 

He led the league with seven interceptions during the regular season, and he was a force against the Denver Broncos in the divisional round, leading the Pats in tackles and forcing a pair of fumbles.

Arrington was less active in the AFC Championship Game, which is due largely to the eye injury he suffered in the middle of the game. 

I'm presuming he'll be just fine by the time Super Sunday rolls around; the Patriots are going to need him to be a force again. 

In all likelihood, New England's defense is not going to suffocate the Giants' offense.  It's too explosive, and New England's defense is too weak.

The tide will be easily turned, however, if the Pats can force a couple turnovers.  That's where Arrington will come into play, as forcing turnovers is something he can do better than most.

If he does his part, the Patriots will win.  Mark it down.

Deion Branch

We've seen Deion Branch step up in the Super Bowl before.  Back in Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch caught 11 passes for 133 yards, earning MVP honors. 

The Philadelphia Eagles simply couldn't contain him.

We still see flashes of the old Branch here and there, but he's more of a specialist than a primary weapon. 

He's the closest thing to a home run threat the Patriots have, but that's just not how they roll.

Containing Branch will be a priority for the Giants, though.  He may do nothing all game, but all it will take is one deep pass from Brady and the Patriots will put six points on the board. 

It doesn't happen often, but it can happen.  The Patriots will figure, at some point during the game, that they have nothing to lose, and that's when Brady will let it fly. 

Aaron Hernandez

Yes, it does feel a little odd to refer to Aaron Hernandez as an "X-Factor."  He's one of the best tight ends in the AFC.

But on the Patriots, he plays second fiddle to Rob Gronkowski, who is easily the best tight end in the NFL.  Hernandez is Gronk's sidekick.

But we've seen during the playoffs that Hernandez is more versatile than Gronk. 

He's done his typical good work in the passing game, but he's also been surprisingly effective as a running back.

Bill Belichick will surprise nobody if he lines Hernandez up in the backfield, but that doesn't mean the Giants will be able to stop him.

Hernandez just needs to do whatever he's asked in the Super Bowl.  The Giants are likely to be keyed in on stopping Gronk and Wes Welker, so there will be opportunities for Hernandez. 

If he makes the most of them, things will go well.

Vince Wilfork

Vince Wilfork is a beast of a man, and he's been a beast so far in the playoffs.  Rushing the quarterback is not Wilfork's forte, but he's been able to rack up 2.5 sacks in two games. 

He had 3.5 sacks in the regular season.

Wilfork isn't doing anything fancy.  He's just plain overpowering whoever gets in front of him. 

I've never had the pleasure of dropping back in a pocket, but I assume the sight of an unblocked 325-pound behemoth like Wilfork is rather scary.

It's up to Wilfork to make sure Eli Manning sees this sight over and over again.  Manning is going to be dropping back to pass a lot in the Super Bowl. 

If Wilfork gets after him consistently, New England's subpar defense is going to get a huge boost.

A huge boost from a huge man.