Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Victor Cruz and Giants WRs Will Outshine Patriots

The New York Giants wide receiving corps will thoroughly outshine the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XLVI next weekend in Indianapolis.

The Giants boast a trio of talented wideouts while the Pats rely heavily on their athletic tight ends to present mismatch problems for opposing defenses, which they often do.

Wide receivers Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham combined for 197 of Eli Manning's 359 completions during the 2011 regular season, as well as 20 of his 29 touchdown passes. Meanwhile, more than a quarter of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's completions have been in thanks to one guy, Wes Welker. 

Welker's 122 receptions were tops in the league during the 2011 regular season and more than every other Patriots' wide receiver combined. A lot of that is because of the emergence of gifted tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who combined for 169 catches and 24 receiving touchdowns this season.

Still, one can argue the Patriots lack the wide receiving threats necessary to win a championship. Deion Branch and Chad Ochocinco are beyond their primes and are hardly legitimate threats, combining for just 122 of Brady's 612 targets this year.

The Giants trio on the other hand has been targeted 334 times. That's well over half of Manning's targets this season. The lesson to be taken away from this is that the Giants rely on their wide receivers heavily on offense, and why not, they are incredibly dependable based on the numbers.

Now that Patriots' superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski is nursing a sore ankle heading into the biggest matchup of the year, even more pressure will be thrust upon the Patriots wide receiving corps. That means New England will have to rely on Branch and Ochocinco to create threats down the field considering tiny Welker is strictly an underneath option.

If you don't believe me just look at the numbers. Welker averages less than 13 yards per catch and managed to lead the league in receptions, racking up 22 more than the next guy without leading the league in receiving yards.

A limping Gronkowski and a smothered Welker will have Brady pinned down in the pocket against one of the NFL's most feared pass rushes. The edge ultimately goes to the Giants who won't have the same problem. Their wide receivers play true to the position and can beat defenses in every way possible.