Giants vs. Patriots: Tom Brady Will Expose Overrated Giants Defense

The New York Giants defense has been spectacular in the last five weeks but as a whole, the unit is overrated and will be exposed by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his offense in Super Bowl XLVI.

The Giants pass defense was ranked 29th in the league this season despite having a very good but inconsistent pass rush.

Super Bowl XLVI's most important matchup is the Patriots offensive line versus the Giants pass rush, but if Brady and his line can slow down that pressure, he will carve up a Giants secondary that is average at best.

New York's secondary has battled many injuries this season and has zero playmakers that can shut down great wide receivers or talented tight ends.

In their three playoff games thus far, the Giants have intercepted just one pass, which came against Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. They don't have the cornerbacks with the ball skills to make huge plays, especially against a team such as the Patriots who have a quarterback like Brady that is so accurate in all parts of the field.

The Patriots offensive line is better prepared to protect against the Giants pass rush this season because they have more skill throughout the line than they did in Super Bowl XLII in 2008. That year, the left side of the Patriots line was fabulous but the right side was an issue. This season, All-Pro-caliber and veteran right guard Brian Waters has given New England a reliable pass-protector at a position the team has not had a dominant player at in the Bill Belichick era.

Through two games this postseason against two of the best defensive lines in football, the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, the Patriots have allowed just one sack.

Another way the Patriots will expose an overrated Giants defense is by running the ball effectively. The Patriots don't have a stud running back but with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead they have some reliable and talented rushers who excel in several different formations.

Against the Broncos, the Patriots rushed for 146 yards, and they totaled 96 yards on the ground against an elite Ravens run defense. The Patriots have committed to the run thus far in the playoffs and I expect them to do the same against the Giants.

New York ranked 19th in run defense this season, allowing an average of 121 yards per game on the ground, and gave up 150 yards to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

The Patriots can and will put up a lot of points on the overrated Giants defense in the Super Bowl. If the Giants pass rush is playing well, the Patriots can run the ball to counter it, and if the pass rush is not effective, Brady will destroy the Giants secondary.

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Nicholas Goss is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist, follow him on Twitter.