4 Reasons Tom Brady Will Embarrass Eli Manning and the Giants

Doesn't it feel like we already know the story of Super Bowl XLVI?

Vegas has decreed the teams even, and commentators guarantee that the matchup will portray an epic struggle between two offensive powerhouses.

We are prepared for a Super Bowl shootout—a scenario in which whoever holds the ball last will go home with the ring.

But did you ever consider that Super Bowl XLVI could be a blow out?

Here's a look at four reasons why Tom Brady could embarrass Eli Manning and the Giants—and run away with Super Bowl XLVI.

Outstanding O-Line

This week, you'll hear a lot about how on February 3, 2008, the Giants' D-line rattled Tom Brady, sacking him five times.

But don't underestimate New England's O-line. On November 6, 2011, the Giants sacked Tom Brady just twice.

As the Patriots prepare to face one of the NFL's best sack attacks (the Giants placed third in the league for total sacks in the 2011 season, racking up 48), they have every reason to worry about No. 12 getting roughed up.

But New England's offensive line is an underrated force on the field, and with the victor of Super Bowl XLVI likely to be determined in the trenches where the Giants' defensive line will try to bash through the Pats' O-line to get to Tom Brady, it's good to fly under the radar.

Though plagued by injuries, New England's O-line has not let affliction define them. In the 2011 regular season, they allowed 32 sacks and have let up just one so far this postseason.

The Pats' line could get a boost on Super Sunday with the probable return of Sebastian Vollmer.

Vollmer started all 16 regular season games in 2010, and the Associated Press honored him as one of the four best tackles in the NFL.

His return would allow rookie Nate Solder to line up as an extra blocker.

This worked well in Week 9 against the Giants when Vollmer's presence allowed for Solder to slip into more versatile roles, offering added protection for Tom Brady.

That strategy caused the Giants' mighty D-line to noticeably run out of gas in the fourth quarter.

Tom Brady took full advantage, utilizing the no-huddle extensively on an 88-yard touchdown drive that was topped off by a Gronkowski spike in the end zone.

Ball Will Stay in Brady's Hands

As pundits reflect on the Patriots' Week 9 loss to the Giants, they emphasize the heart-breaking, nail-biting nature of the affair, droning on about Eli Manning's excellence in the fourth quarter and how he led the Giants to a razor-thin margin of victory.

But when you dig beneath the surface, you'll find that statistics from that game don't reflect razor-thin.

For a Patriots team that had a turnover differential of plus-17 in the 2011 regular season, their four turnovers in Week 9 stick out as anomalous.

Brady was picked twice in that game from 29 and 39 respective yards outside the Giants' end zone. Both of those drives should have ended in scores.

Further, each of the Patriots' two fumbles occurred within 60 seconds of New England regaining the ball, causing Tom Brady to lose two drive opportunities completely.

First, Julian Edelman fumbled a punt return—a muff that rendered the same result as a 43-yard Eli Manning lob.

Later, TB fumbled on the first series of a drive, setting up a nice 1st-and-goal situation for the Giants. It took one play for Brandon Jacobs to waltz into the end zone and turn that fumble into six.

In fact, New York gained 10 of its 24 points off of New England turnovers.

Tom Brady should have embarrassed the Giants in November. Luckily, he has the opportunity to avenge that atrocious showing this Sunday.

Don't expect the Pats to cough it up four times in Super Bowl XLVI.

Offensive Weapons Match Up Well

Come Sunday, the Giants hope to put enough pressure on Tom Brady to force him into dumping the ball off quickly and carelessly.

In 2008, the Giants succeeded in doing just that, inspiring anxiety in Tom Brady who repeatedly tried to drop back and wait in the pocket while Randy Moss sprinted 40 yards downfield.

But this offense is structured in a way that matches up well with the Giants.

Tom Brady looks to complete short passes underneath. The 2011 Patriots lean on that play, practicing and utilizing it repeatedly.

And Tom Brady has multiple receivers to look to in the short field this year. He will call on all of them to keep a leaky Giants' secondary guessing.

Further, the New England Patriots of 2011 don't just haul in a five-yard pass and go down—this team fights for yards, boasting receivers who rank first, fourth and ninth in the NFL for yards-after-catch in the 2011 regular season (Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez respectively).

Yes, Tom Brady will surely be in business against the Giants.

Legacy

This year marked the 10-year anniversary of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady's pairing as head coach and starting quarterback—the beginning of their legacy.

In the 2001 season, Tom Brady was quarterback anonymous, leading a presumably doomed team through the playoffs to win Super Bowl XXXVI—the silence of the Rams.

He went on to win two more, and so, New England ascended from underdog to champion to dynasty to...18-1.

The 2008 Giants were a team made in the image of the 2001 Patriots—a Super Bowl contender facing daunting odds, led by an overshadowed quarterback, going up against the NFL's elite.

The Patriots' loss in '08 was almost sickly poetic, thrusting New England into the dark ages of its dynasty decade.

Season after season, the Pats were favored to go deep in the playoffs, but 2010 concluded with the team's third playoff loss in a row.

Now, New England is presented with another opportunity.

If Tom Brady does not win on Sunday, if he never wins a Super Bowl again, people can unanimously point to Eli Manning and the Giants and proclaim them the undoing of the New England dynasty.

From underdog to champion to dynasty to undone.

You want to know why Tom Brady will embarrass the Giants?

Because he's desperate to defend his legacy.