Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Championship Rematch Will Come Down to Kickers

As much as it hurts to admit it, Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots will not come down to past Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterbacks Tom Brady and Eli Manning, but instead the kickers.

No disrespect to the Giants' Lawrence Tynes or the Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski, but fans like myself are tired of watching set pieces decide winners in hugely critical games. 

Sure, field goal kicking has been a part of football throughout the history of the sport and to eliminate it now after all this time would be ridiculous. But when, in any other sport is a game, of any magnitude decided by such limited contributors?

The answer is never.

Moving on, both kickers had solid regular seasons, each missing five field goals but usually performing consistently from inside 40 yards. The postseason has produced much more success for Tynes and Gostkowski, though.

Each kicker sent their team off to Super Bowl XLVI with strong outings on Championship Sunday two weeks ago. Gostkowski notched three big kicks and two extra points in the AFC Championship Game over Baltimore, but was reduced to watching another kicker, Billy Cundiff, ruin his team's chances with a missed field goal.

A few hours later in San Francisco, Tynes nailed a chip shot in overtime to convert his second field goal of the day and the Giants' second NFC title in four years.

Ironically, both Harbaugh brothers were eliminated on the last play of the game on plays involving a kicker and a field goal post. Cundiff's miss cost the Ravens while Tyne's make ruined the 49ers dream season.

Tynes is 6-8 on field goal attempts in three playoff games this season, while Gostkowski is a flawless 4-4. Each kicker is averaging two made field goals per game this postseason, which means Sunday's championship rematch between the Giants and Pats will come down to the most detached player from the 53-man roster. 

Four years ago, it was Eli Manning's arm that decided a winner in Arizona, but so many times before it was Adam Vinatieri knocking through a last-second kick as time expired to give the Patriots a Super Bowl title.

Something tells me this Sunday the much-leaned-on legs of Tynes and Gostkowski will be called upon to determine who goes home with the Lombardi Trophy.