Giants vs. Patriots: Eli Manning and Tom Brady Won't Decide Super Bowl Winner

Eli Manning and Tom Brady are two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today. They have carried the New York Giants and New England Patriots to the postseason and subsequently the Super Bowl. But this Sunday it will not be the quarterbacks that determine who is going to win the Lombardi Trophy. 

It is easy to get caught up in the hype of Brady vs. Manning. This season, they combined to throw for over 10,000 yards and 68 touchdowns. Those are unprecedented numbers for two quarterbacks in a Super Bowl. 

However, to dismiss what both these defenses have been doing in the playoffs is to ignore the real story of this game. 

Earlier this week, Brady was asked about the Giants defensive line. He said he knows what they are capable of considering how many times he has gone up against them this year, saying:

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Justin Tuck and Osi [Umenyiora], I’ve played against those guys a bunch. JPP [Jason Pierre-Paul], [Chris] Canty, [Dave] Tollefson, it seems like whoever they put in there can get after the passer. Anytime you can limit a quarterback from the time it takes to make a read to make an accurate throw, it is much more challenging. It comes down to quick decision-making.

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The Patriots don't have as much talent on the defensive line as the Giants, but Vince Wilfork commands so much attention that he makes everyone look better than they are. 

It is imperative that both the Giants and Patriots create pressure in order to limit the chances that both offenses have to score. 

Considering how dominant the Giants have been this postseason up front and the way that Wilfork single-handedly picked apart Baltimore's offensive line, this game is going to be all about what happens up front. 

Manning and Brady might have their moments, but they will not be the decisive factors in this Super Bowl. The players in the trenches that don't get the credit they deserve will shine on the brightest stage that the NFL has to offer. 

Of course, that might not be enough for them to win the game's MVP award, because no one likes to honor defense, but when all the confetti has settled and the smoke is cleared, everyone will know who the stars of this game are. 

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