Super Bowl 2012: 5 Underrated Players Who Will Steal the Spotlight

As we prepare for the grand finale of the 2011-12 NFL season, we'll examine five underrated players who are primed for big games in Super Bowl XLVI.

The improbable New York Giants and the dynastic New England Patriots will square off on the biggest stage in all of football, and each team has its share of players who have not gotten the recognition they may have deserved this year. 

That may change for these five players following great Super Bowl performances.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, New England Patriots

The Law Firm, as many affectionately refer to him, is one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL. Green-Ellis may not even be the most talented player in New England's backfield, but he is extremely effective in the Patriots' system and could have a big day against the Giants.

BJGE had a pretty average year, rushing for just 667 yards, but he did score 11 touchdowns and add 159 yards receiving. He had a very quiet day against the Broncos in their first playoff game, surrendering the spotlight to Tom Brady. But a week later against the tough Baltimore Ravens, he turned 15 carries into 68 yards and a very important touchdown on a day when Brady failed to throw a touchdown pass.

ESPN's Skip Bayless is boldly predicting Green-Ellis to be the Super Bowl MVP, and while I wouldn't go that far, I do agree that he will have a good game against a Giants defense that will be much more focused on getting to Brady and stopping the fearsome trio of Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants

Like BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Ahmad Bradshaw has had a mediocre year, rushing for just 659 yards and nine touchdowns on a sub-4.0 yards-per-carry clip.

Bradshaw has, however, carried the rock 46 times for 200 yards over the course of the playoffs and has been a big part of the resurgent Giants running game. He has also added 95 yards on 14 receptions.

Not only have both Bradshaw and his offensive line improved since the regular season, but like the New York defense with Gronk, Welker and Hernandez, the Patriots will be similarly preoccupied with receivers Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham. How are they going to effectively cover those three and bottle up Ahmad Bradshaw? I don't see it happening.

If Bradshaw's showing against the stout 49ers is any indication, he's going to be a constant thorn in Bill Belichick's side.

Rob Ninkovich, OLB, New England Patriots

Rob Ninkovich has had a great year, totaling 74 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two picks and a forced fumble. However, I certainly haven't heard much about him this year.

Ninkovich will be in the spotlight on Sunday, though, after totaling 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks in New England's two playoff games. He led the charge in the dismantling of Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble before contributing seven tackles against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Patriots are going to have to get after Eli Manning like crazy if they want to stop Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, and Ninkovich will have a big say in whether or not that happens. I think he will have another solid game and help this defense stand relatively firm against the Giants.

Jacquian Williams, LB, New York Giants

Who?

Jacquian Williams is a late-round rookie out of South Florida who was a questionable pick according to some analysts. Williams responded by taking full advantage of injuries and notching 78 tackles and a sack despite starting just twice.

Williams has also been a force on special teams and has collected 12 tackles, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles in three playoff games.

Williams could really make a name for himself with a solid performance against an offense as prolific as New England's.

Deion Branch, WR, New England Patriots

It's almost unfair how many threats the New England Patriots have offensively, yet a lot of their guys don't get much recognition for their contributions. A guy like Deion Branch, who has caught 51 passes for 702 yards and five touchdowns this year, fits that description.

Branch is a perfect example of the Patriots' incredible efficiency. He did next to nothing while he was with the Seahawks and has ultimately only had much success when Tom Brady was throwing the ball his way.

The 10-year veteran has five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown this postseason, and he could be in for a big game with the Giants preoccupied by the Pats' top three pass-catchers.