Super Bowl 2012: The Importance of the New England Patriots' Offensive Line

It's quite arguably the most obvious matchup in Super Bowl XLVI: the New England Patriots' offensive line versus the New York Giants' defensive line.

This matchup almost single-handedly cost the Pats a victory in Super Bowl XLII as the Giants sacked Tom Brady five times, had nine total QB hits and forced him to fumble once (a fumble that New York recovered and New England's sole turnover).

Fast-forward to the 2011 regular season matchup at Gillette Stadium and the Giants once again menaced Brady.

There, they only sacked him twice and had three QB hits but their presence helped force two interceptions and another Brady fumble. So, in two games against the Giants, the NFL's best player has turned the rock over four times.

Let's put it this way: none of that happens if Brady is protected well.

That being said, for anyone who really wants to understand how and why football games are won and lost, it all starts in the trenches. The offensive and defensive lines to each team are the most important units on the field.

Within a three-to-five yard radius of the line of scrimmage is where games are decided. An offensive line's importance is to obviously protect the quarterback and create lanes for the running backs.

A defensive line must not only get pressure on the quarterback but also plug up the running lanes and/or take on multiple blockers to free up the linebackers for making tackles.

It's so simple and yet so complex because the chess match that occurs in the trenches happens so quickly in such a small, confined space that the most minuscule of errors can be the difference of a first down, sack, broken tackle or turnover.

To get a more in-depth idea at why the trenches are so crucial to a game's outcome, check out this video from Super Bowl XVI between the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Easily the single greatest goal-line stand in NFL history, it was the minor details of missed assignments that cost the Bengals vital points. And the same can be said for what the Giants have done to the Pats' offensive line in Super Bowl XLII, as well as earlier this season.

That said, in an article by Rob Borges of the Boston Herald, Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins understands the challenge ahead:

"

“We can try the hurry up offense but it doesn’t affect them. They want to play their base defense. So we have to know what we’re supposed to do, recognize who’s rushing where and use proper technique. Then it’s simple. Do you want to work harder than they do?”

"

As previously mentioned, it's a simple yet complex battle and Mankins was spot on. Now all he and the rest of the Patriots' offensive line has to do is get the job done.

However, as we've seen in the past two games between New York and New England, the Giants' front four have been the difference.

John Rozum on Twitter.