Giants vs. Patriots: 4 Special Teams Predictions for the Super Bowl

With so much attention being paid to the New York Giants' and New England Patriots' offenses and defenses in the build up to the Super Bowl, their special teams units have fallen by the wayside.

There are predictions for every quarter, every player and each team, but little has been said about what the special teams units could potentially accomplish.

With that in mind, here are four bold special teams predictions for today's Super Bowl.

The Giants Will Return a Punt for a Touchdown

The New York Giants haven't returned either a kick or a punt for a touchdown in the entirety of the 2011 season, but all that is out the window in the Super Bowl.

It's not a common feat—at least not for the Giants—and the Patriots haven't allowed a kick or punt return for a touchdown this year. But in the Super Bowl, Giants' punt returner (and cornerback) Aaron Ross has a good chance to take a Zoltan Mesko punt all the way to a score.

Ross hasn't had a punt return longer than 18 yards in the entire season. But all it takes is one member of the Patriots' coverage unit to deviate from his lane, and Ross could break free and notch himself the elusive return for a touchdown.

There Will Be 18 Total Punts

In the NFC championship game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, there were 22 total punts with both defenses making stop after crucial stop. In the AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, there were only six punts.

While the Patriots and Giants both field strong offenses and are poised to have a high-scoring game, should both defenses show up in a big way, there could be an astounding number of punts.

The Giants are an extremely strong third-down team, but the Patriots' defense has a lot to prove in this game. At the same time, New York's defense has proven themselves to be one of the best in the playoffs and should only continue that hot streak today.

If both scenarios align, then a Super Bowl punt-fest might be in order for this evening.

One Team Is Going to Go for the Fake Punt

What should a team do if they find themselves with a 4th-and-5 in their own territory, down by seven points, with just half of the fourth quarter yet to play? They can go for it, of course, but there's also the option of going for a fake punt to gain those yards and keep their drive alive.

Considering today's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Giants is set to be a close one, there will likely be ample opportunity for either squad to call a fake punt and try to convert a fourth down.

It's a risky maneuver, one that rarely plays out as hoped. But the Super Bowl is a time for teams to be bold, and nothing says perseverance and guts than attempting to pull off the fake punt.

The Patriots Are Going to Block a Field Goal and Score a TD

There's nothing more exciting than a team going through its field goal defense maneuvers and seeing that one hand go flying up and—finally, actually—connecting with the ball and blocking the score.

But what's even better is when a member of the defense actually comes down with the ball and runs it back—all the way back—for a touchdown.

Imagine it: New York Giants' kicker Lawrence Tynes kicks the ball, a New England Patriots' hand goes up, and boink, the ball lands in the hands of Vince Wilfork, and, in the confusion and commotion that results, he finds himself scoring a fat-guy touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Blocking a field goal is difficult, more difficult than it looks. But with a game on the line and the need to stop the Giants from scoring points any way they can, there's an argument to be made for the Patriots succeeding in this ever-so-rare pursuit.