Super Bowl 2012: Underrated Stars Who Will Become Household Names

Tom Brady will not win this Super Bowl. Neither will Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, Wes Welker or Rob Gronkowski. 

Just like Super Bowl XLII was, this game will be won as much by the role players as the stars. Did anyone know who David Tyree was before Super Bowl XLII?

Now, we're all well aware of who Tyree is and what he's done. So, who is going to step up and be this year's David Tyree?

Jake Ballard, TE, New York Giants

The Giants are going to move the ball; there's no way around that. But when they get into the red zone and speedsters like Cruz and Hakeem Nicks don't have as much room to operate, Manning is going to have to look elsewhere. 

That is where the 6'6", 275-pound Ballard enters the picture. He torched the Patriots for four catches and 67 yards and the game-winning touchdown. 

That is the kind of weapon that Ballard has been all season. He had over 600 yards receiving and four touchdowns on the season. He is a massive target in the red zone. Manning will exploit that. 

Deon Grant, S, New York Giants

The front four may get the majority of the attention for the Giants, but if they're going to win this game, New York will have to find a way to contain Welker, Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. 

A key figure in that containment will be Grant. The concern is not allowing them to catch the ball, as that's unavoidable. But when the ball is in their hands, the Giants defenders will need to make the tackle immediately. 

That is where Grant will be a big factor. If the Giants are going to win this game, Grant will need to make a lot of tackles. If not, the big-play ability of New England will overwhelm the Giants. 

Kyle Arrington, CB New England Patriots

In the same way that the Giants will need to contain Welker, Gronkowski and Hernandez, the Patriots will need to bottle up Cruz, Nicks and Mario Manningham. 

The 49ers did a good job of keeping those receivers in front of them all game long. The Giants won, but they didn't convert a lot of big plays. If the Patriots have anywhere near that same success, they will win. New York will not keep New England at 17 points like they did San Francisco. 

Also, if Manning ever does make a mistake, the Patriots defenders will need to take advantage of that. Nobody would know who Tyree is if this play had gone different. 

Arrington intercepted seven passes during the regular season. If he is given the same opportunity that Samuel was, he will need to take full advantage. 

Follow @mdixon1985