Giants vs. Patriots: X-Factors Who Will Swing the Tide in Favor of G-Men

Four years ago, the New York Giants were a little short on stars. The New England Patriots were chock-full of stars at the time, but the Giants beat them anyway.

You might say the tables have turned. The Patriots have a lot of relative unknowns on their team, and the Giants are the ones loaded with stars. We know everything there is to know about guys like Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks on the offensive side of the ball, and we know all about the exploits of Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul on the defensive side of the ball.

Yet, you better believe the Giants are a complete team. They succeed because everyone contributes, and that's why they're going to succeed in the Super Bowl (according to me, anyway).

It can be taken for granted that the usual suspects are going to perform, but here are four lesser G-Men who are going to play major roles on Super Bowl Sunday.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Ahmad Bradshaw is not a star. He should be, but he's not. He had a great season in 2010, but he was more of a role player in 2011, as well he should be.

Bradshaw is not going to be getting an excess of carries on Super Bowl Sunday. His body really can't handle a full workload, and attacking the Patriots via the run is doing them a favor.

However, it is generally overlooked how useful Bradshaw can be in the passing game. He caught 34 passes in the regular season, and he's caught 14 in three postseason games. He's an underrated weapon out of the backfield.

Against the Patriots, the Giants can expect to see a lot of guys drop deep into coverage to deal with their studly receiving corps. The Pats will give the Giants short-yardage plays. That's where Bradshaw will come in handy.

Jake Ballard

Jake Ballard is not a volume pass-catcher. He's lucky if he gets three or four looks every game.

Manning knows when to look Ballard's way, though. He had some key touchdown receptions during the regular season, including one that sank the Patriots way back in Week 9.

Ballard's size will make him a threat in the red zone, but he'll also pick up some receptions in the area of open space between the Patriots defense and the line of scrimmage. The area will be open for Bradshaw, and it will be open for Ballard too.

The Patriots will live with short completions, but enough of them will allow the Giants to move the ball efficiently. It's not what we're used to from them, but they'll take it.

Michael Boley

It's no secret that the Giants have a dangerous defensive line. They don't need to blitz to create pressure, and that's a challenge Tom Brady is going to have a hard time overcoming.

But the Giants will mix things up a bit. Though they don't need to send any linebackers or secondary members after the quarterback, they will do it on occasion.

Of the bunch, I'm singling out Michael Boley because of what he did against the Green Bay Packers. He sacked Aaron Rodgers twice and had three tackles for loss. He spent an unusual amount of time in the backfield, and it paid off.

I won't be surprised if Boley finds himself in the backfield a lot again on Sunday. If it worked once, it can work again.

In addition, let's not forget that Boley is one of the best coverage linebackers in the league. He'll have a hand in covering Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Corey Webster

Corey Webster thinks he's pretty good. Like, really good.

“I think I’m great. I think I’m the best thing out there. I don’t think I’m second to nobody," he said in January, per the New York Daily News.

That's probably a stretch, but Webster is definitely underrated. He's a tough cover guy, and he's coming off a season in which he intercepted six passes. In Super Bowl XLII, he spent a lot of time on Randy Moss, who ultimately had a disappointing game.

Webster will spend some time on both Wes Welker and Deion Branch in this Super Bowl. Both are dangerous players, but neither of them are as explosive as Moss was. If Webster can help keep them in check, New England's offense will have a hard time moving.

If Webster wants to pick off a pass too, the Giants will gladly take it.