Giants vs. Patriots: Can Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs Make an Impact?

The New York Giants were the NFL's worst rushing team during the regular season, averaging just 89.2 yards per game. On Sunday if they want to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, the G-Men will have to find their ground game and get it moving.

The Giants have relied on running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs all season with mixed results. Bradshaw rushed for 659 yards and nine touchdowns on 171 carries this year, while Jacobs ran for 571 yards and seven scores on 152 carries. Neither guy averaged more than four yards per carry.

In the team's three postseason games so far Jacobs has rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries (4.5 yards per carry), while Bradshaw has gone for 200 yards on 46 carries (4.3 yards per carry). I'm not sure what the Giants have figured out but the team's running game has bounced back a bit over the last month.

On Sunday New York will need its running game to come through simply so the offense can control the clock and get the ball out of New England quarterback Tom Brady's hands.

The Patriots ranked 17th during the regular season at stopping the run, allowing 117.1 yards per game. But in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, they managed to keep running back Ray Rice in check, holding him to just 67 yards on 21 carries (3.2 yards per carry). Rice also caught just one pass out of the backfield for 11 yards.

New England's defense has gotten better as the season has gone along and it won't be easy for the Giants to find running room on Sunday. But if Bradshaw and Jacobs make an impact on the game, it will go a long way toward securing a championship for New York.