Giants vs. Patriots: Ranking Top Playmakers in Super Bowl XLVI

Super Bowl XLVI has a number of playmakers who can turn a game in a single play.

Tom Brady and Eli Manning, two former Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks, lead the way. With two defenses on the field tonight that are susceptible to big plays, we are almost guaranteed to see these two shine.

The question is where the rest of the players in this game rank.

1. Victor Cruz

Big Blue's No. 80 earns this controversial top spot nod because of his overall playmaking ability. He's become Eli's go-to receiver on third downs, but he can also turn any given play into a touchdown.

Cruz makes life miserable for defenses and allows his fellow wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham to see some one-on-one time as well.

2. Wes Welker

Brady's top weapon also makes life miserable for defenses. Welker is small, but he's always open and he's damn near impossible to chase down.

Like Cruz, he can turn any play into a touchdown and will be the Giants secondary's primary focus.

3. Hakeem Nicks

The third-year pass-catcher is the Giants' No. 1 receiver and can make big plays just like Cruz and Welker. His physicality is the one thing that sets him apart, and even when he looks covered he'll make catches.

4. Rob Gronkowski

The Giants simply have no way to cover Gronkowski one-on-one, and he's easily the most feared red-zone weapon in the entire league.

He can make plays short and long and is extremely dependable.

5. Jason Pierre-Paul

The most disruptive defensive player in this game can be completely unblockable at times. JPP will force the Pats to send a double-team his way, and he'll still make plays. Even if he doesn't get to Tom Brady, he consistently has his hands in the air and bats balls down. 

On top of that, he can make plays in the running game too.

6. Ahmad Bradshaw

Lost in the shuffle of this game is the the Giants' and Patriots' running games. Bradshaw is the best running back on both teams, and he is one of the wild cards in Super Bowl XLVI.

If the Giants can get any semblance of a running game going, it will force the Pats to respect them and not simply sit back in coverage.

Bradshaw can make plays out of the backfield and can break a short screen into a touchdown every time.

7. Aaron Hernandez

The Patriots' other tight end, Hernandez is actually more of a matchup nightmare than Gronk. New England lines him up all over the field, and he's too big and strong for cornerbacks, yet too fast for safeties and linebackers.

8. Osi Umenyiora

The pass-rusher may not always show up, but when he gets in the backfield he's bringing down the quarterback and getting after that ball too.

9. Mario Manningham

We've consistently talked about Cruz, Welker and Nicks, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Mario Manningham have a huge game for the Giants.

He's fast, gets open and has a knack for making the big plays at the biggest times.

10. Deion Branch

Branch is a former Super Bowl MVP, and people don't even remember it. He's not flashy, but he knows how to get open and catches the ball when its thrown his way. He's a great candidate to get open behind the secondary should the Giants fall asleep for a minute.