Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Projecting Stats for the Giants' Biggest Playmakers

Despite their 9-7 regular-season record, the New York Giants didn't get to the Super Bowl by sheer luck.

They boast some of the most explosive offensive players in the NFL, all of whom will need to have a good game if the team is to defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl for the second time in four years.

The Giants' success this season starts and finishes with quarterback Eli Manning, who has had the best season of his eight-year career with 4,933 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Manning might just be the best playoff quarterback of 2011. He's thrown for 923 yards, eight scores and just one interception in three postseason games. If the Giants are going to keep things close with New England on Sunday, he will have to yet again have another 300-plus passing day.

That's more than possible considering the porous Patriots secondary and the trio of receivers Manning has at his disposal. Manning should easily throw for 300 to 315 yards for two, perhaps three, passing touchdowns.

Two of those touchdowns will likely be thrown to wide receivers Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks. Cruz and Nicks have both logged over 100 yards in the postseason and one of the two should again hit that mark on Sunday.

Cruz has the best chance of going over 100 yards on Sunday, simply because he's been the most successful Giants receiver this season, gaining 100 or more yards seven times and 90 or more.yards 10 times

He's been able to have such an impact because opposing defenses have keyed in on Nicks, who as a result has had just four games in 2011 with 90 or more receiving yards.

While there is potential for both Cruz and Nicks to put up huge numbers on Sunday, it's more likely that Cruz will be the one to total over 100 yards and a score. Nicks won't be too far behind putting up anywhere between 70-85 yards with a touchdown as well. Both should be targeted around 10 times.

Manningham's role as No. 2 receiver was taken over by Cruz earlier this season, and he's not done enough to win it back. However, he's still an important component to the Giants' offense, and will still make an impact in the Super Bowl, just one that is lesser than his counterparts.

Manningham should end the day with five or six receptions for 55 to 65 yards. That doesn't discount his importance to his team, it just reflects his position as the Giants' No. 3 receiver.

New York is riddled with high-level players, just like the Patriots, however it will be Manning and his three primary receivers who will be the prime movers of the Giants' overall performance in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

If they perform as projected, it should be a compelling, high-scoring shootout that will come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes and makes the most of their final possession in the game.