Giants vs. Patriots: Tom Brady Will Thrive in New England Super Bowl Win

The Super Bowl matchup between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots will make for a Tom Brady vs. Eli Manning showdown.

There is no doubt who the better player is between Brady and Manning, as Brady has proven to be the more successful of the two in his accomplished career with the Patriots.

Yet with the season Manning has brought to the table for the New York Giants, it will be all the more vital for Brady to bring his experience in this contest.

Manning set an NFL record with 15 fourth-quarter touchdown passes in the regular season, surpassing the mark of 14 held by his brother Peyton Manning.

With the type of season Manning has been able to put together, the majority of the attention has been on the talent out of New York. While the spotlight has been shining brightly on Manning, Brady has easily put together the better season.

2011 Regular Season Stats:

Eli Manning

4,933 Passing Yards

29 TDs, 16 INTs

61 Percent Completion Rate

Tom Brady

5,235 Passing Yards

39 TDs, 12 INTs

65.6 Percent Completion Rate

What makes these statistics all the more telling is not only the fact that Brady has outdone Manning in each of the four areas, but also that he works with fewer targets at the wide receiver position than does Manning.

Manning has the luxury of playing alongside three top-notch receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz. The three have combined for nearly 3,000 yards on the season and are three of the more deadly young talents in the game today at the position.

Wes Welker and Deion Branch have been essential for the Patriots' success this season, but in no way give Brady deep-ball opportunities in the same manner that Manningham, Cruz and Nicks regularly do for Manning.

Brady will be the key in a Patriots' victory on Super Bowl Sunday, as his ability to break down the Giants' streaking defense will be the x-factor. The Ravens were able to bring the heat on Brady early and often, yet down the stretch, it was Brady prevailing yet again.

With the Pats' lackluster defense, Brady's play also becomes all the more essential to a Super Bowl victory. The team allowed nearly 300 yards a game through the air, a mark that ranked the Patriots No. 31 in the NFL.

In what will be a fourth Super Bowl win for Brady, head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, Brady will have to be the difference maker in the win.