Giants vs. Patriots Predictions: Why Wes Welker Is Ultimate X-Factor vs. Giants

Rarely does a receiver who registered 1,569 yards in the regular season become an afterthought in an offense, yet somehow that’s what has happened to Wes Welker.

If you were put on the spot to name the best part of the New England Patriots, you’d probably fire back with the effectiveness of their two tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

A combined 2,237 yards and 24 touchdowns has that effect on people.

But we can’t forget the impact of Welker.

The 30-year-old has his best season yet in his seven-year NFL career. He set career bests in yards (1,569) and TDs (nine) while not fumbling the ball once. These are All-Pro-type numbers.

While he hasn’t had more than 55 yards in his last three games, why wouldn’t he be the focal point of the offense once again just as everybody switches their attention to the two-headed monsters at tight end? IF we know anything about Bill Belichick, it’s that he loves to get the opponent comfortable with one sort of offensive game plan only to completely flip the script on them.

Despite leading the league in receptions and coming in second in yardage, Giants cornerback Corey Webster isn’t going to give Welker any credit:

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I don't know if it's that Welker is the challenge, or he has a great person throwing him the ball. Kind of throwing off the timing between the quarterback and the receivers, I think, will help us a lot.

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While Webster may not believe in Welker, Giants receiver Victor Cruz sure does. He admitted to watching Welker’s film and taking a few notes:

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Moving laterally is something I do well, and he's been exceptional at that for years. So I've watched film on him, and I know how good he is, and I try to steal a few things from his repertoire.

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That’s more like it.

If the Giants forget about Welker, it’s going to be a repeat performance of Week 9, when he caught nine receptions for 136 yards and had a carry for 13 yards. He was the main target that game and the catalyst for allowing Tom Brady to get rid of the ball quickly before the deadly Giants pass rush got to him. By a very odd coincidence, Gronkowski and Hernandez combined to register 136 yards.

While Webster will likely face off against Deion Branch or Chad Ochocinco, Aaron Ross better not listen to Webster.

The speed at which Welker plays is something special and just because he hasn’t been the focal point of the offense in the past month doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of putting up 155 and two TDs in a performance that not only wins his team the big game, but gives him Super Bowl MVP as well.

Welker wasn’t around for the last Patriots Super Bowl win and he’s tired of hearing about it. Sunday will be his chance to join some of his older teammates in the exclusive “has won a Super Bowl” club and playing against a Giants pass defense that ranked 29th in the league, I like his chances.