Giants vs Patriots: Who Is the Most Likely to Win Super Bowl MVP?

In the 12 Super Bowls played since 2000, seven of the game's Most Valuable Player awards have gone to quarterbacks.

While it's not a foregone conclusion that the New York Giants' Eli Manning or the New England Patriots' Tom Brady will win the award should either of their respective teams emerge victorious this Sunday, the odds are certainly in their favor.

This is especially true this season, one in which quarterbacks have been the driving force of a number of teams and of the overall discussion about the NFL. Three passers have thrown for over 5,000 yards this year, two more came close and a number of offensive records fell.

Furthermore, it's Manning and Brady who have propelled their teams into the Super Bowl in the first place. Without the two, there's little chance the Patriots and Giants would be set to meet up this Sunday.

They're aided by high-caliber receiving corps, however, and it's not impossible to say that a receiver—or a tight end—could end up with the MVP award once the game is over. Since 2000, three wide receivers have won the award, while no tight ends have earned the honor since its inception in 1967.

Whether the award goes to a quarterback or a receiver largely rests on whether it's the receiver who made an incredible catch or the quarterback who made an incredible throw.

That's why Manning won the award in 2008, though Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes won it in the following year instead of Ben Roethlisberger.

If that final, game-winning touchdown is an incredible athletic feat performed by, let's say, Giants wideout Victor Cruz, then he'd be more likely to win the award than Manning. However, if Manning manages to evade pressure, to throw a pass where only Cruz can catch it, then that's more of an act of quarterbacking genius, one deserving of the MVP nod.

Should the Giants win the Super Bowl, there is a better chance of the award going to one of their receivers than should the Patriots win. Brady is surrounded by talent, to be sure, but it is his skill level at his position that makes his teammates better.

Manning, while an exceptional quarterback in his own right, has been immeasurably aided by his wide receivers this season, and if the Super Bowl comes down to a major play made by one of them, it's quite possible they end up as MVP rather than Manning.

A defensive player is less likely than an offensive one to win the award; however, it's not impossible to think that if Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul puts continuous pressure on Brady, to a successful end, that he could end up in consideration for the award.

Still, this game is more about the Patriots' and Giants' offenses more than anything else.

Should the Patriots win, look for Brady to be the game's MVP. For the Giants, Manning has the best chance. However, any of his three primary receivers could also end up with the award, depending on whether it was Manning's arm or the receiver's skill that made the game-changing play.