Giants vs. Patriots Predictions: Running Game Will Determine XLVI Winner

Super Bowl XLVI features two of the NFL's best quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Eli Manning. Without them, their teams would be far, far away from Indianapolis today.

Brady and Eli are the odds-on favorite to win the MVP should their respective team win the Super Bowl.

Yet the one determining factor in today's game will not directly be tied to Brady or Eli and that is the running game—for both teams.

Brady and the Pats don't use the run game for anything more than balance. Eli and Giants, once synonymous with the top rushing attacks in the league, have been anything but this season.

But in tonight's game the Pats and Giants are going to run the football more than most would expect and here's why.

Patriots Run Game

New England isn't going to run over, through or around anybody. Their best work in the ground, in fact, comes in the form of draw plays out of the shotgun.

The Patriots' biggest advantage in this game will be the use of their no-huddle offense. It will tire out the Giants' vaunted pass rush and won't let them sub in reserves. Because of this, the Giants are more than likely to feature a base defense that includes three safeties in a nickel package. Deon Grant plays that role extremely well.

If the Pats have an opportunity to exploit the Giants' front seven, it will be when catching the Giants either out of position or in a blitz with an inside draw. New York will have only Michael Boley in the middle with Grant basically playing a linebacker position.

Should New England find a way to get a hat on both men, and still maintain their initial blocks, it could spring the run game for a big play or too.

The Giants' pass rushers will also have to be disciplined. Should anyone bounce outside, they cannot be caught all up-field expecting pass only.

A solid run game up the middle, even in draw form, can help neutralize the Giants pass rush and possibly spring a big run or two.

If the the Giants have to pay attention to the run game, Brady will have all day to tear them apart elsewhere.

Giants Run Game

No team has run the football more than the Giants this postseason. They have, however, only averaged the seventh-most rushing yards in the postseason.

Big Blue doesn't need to have big success on the ground, but they do need to be able to convert third-and-shorts on the ground to keep drives alive.

Keeping Brady off the field is imperative to their success today. The best defense in this game is a good offense.

If the Giants, much like the Pats when they have the ball, force the Patriots to at least honor the run game it will give Eli a much better opportunity to make plays down field.

Ahmad Bradshaw is too valuable a weapon for the Giants to waste and should he start to get a little momentum this game could turn very quickly. If Brandon Jacobs starts moving the chains, the Giants will have New England exactly where they want them.