Stop the Gronk!

There's no doubt that the New England Patriots tight end is THE key to the game in Indianapolis on Sunday, such has been his impact this season.

Gronkowski has a high ankle sprain and has been held out of practice most of the week, and he is already the MVP of the pre-game build-up with all the talk surrounding the condition of that left ankle.

An elite tight end is a huge weapon in the NFL, they create massive match-up problems when they can get amongst the secondary - and Gronkowski has caused havoc all season long.

There's no doubt 'Gronk' will take the field Sunday, but how good will he be? His size means that he can still be effective in the red zone, even if slowed, which is why he's 2/5 to score a TD at anytime - he's 6/1 to scores first/last.

This guy loves scoring in bunches as well so if he can be fully healthy then 7/4 on him to get two scores would not be such a bad punt.

Crucial

But the crucial factor here is that Gronkowski's presence will affect the way the game plays out for both teams and on both sides of the ball, even in the performance of the Giants' famed pass rush.

The Pats have two great tight ends with Aaron Hernandez also superb, and the Giants, despite having 48 sacks during the regular season and seven in the play-offs, are not as effective when facing two tight ends.

New England love running two tight end sets, and when facing that formation the Giants only have four sacks all season long - and in their meeting this season Big Blue only sacked Brady once when the Pats had two tight ends on the field.

Bill Belichick is known for not taking any chances, but if he can go at all then Gronkowski will play, he's played the most of any skill player bar Brady for the team, and in nine games he's played all but one snap and in seven he's played on every one.

Hernandez could also be the crucial man here as the Pats must know about New York's hatred of two tight end sets, and with Gronkowski taking all the attention he could sneak in for the score - Sky Bet are 11/4 a tight end will score the first TD of the Super Bowl.

Double bluff

Again it all depends on Gronkowski, but if he plays, and plays a lot, then surely even the Giants pass rush will be slowed somewhat, and that coupled with how good Manning is at avoiding a sack means that under five during the game will bring home the bacon at 10/13.

It's always tough to second guess Belichick, he could use Growkowski but not using him and simply have him on the field, but that plan could only last for so long. I don't think his ankle will allow him to get over 77.5 yards (10/11) but over 5.5 receptions at 10/11 seems entirely plausible.

Gronkowski is the first tight end ever to lead the league in TD catches with 17, and I'm sure he will find the end zone again on Sunday, but look at Wes Welker, Deion Branch and even Chad Ochocino (remember him!) to step up their yardage totals.

7/1 for Gronkowski to grab the MVP award suggests possibly he's in with a shout, but a tight end has never won that gong and even if he caught three TD passes for 100+ yards Brady (23/20) would still probably get the nod.

When it all comes down to it though, I believe that not hitting Brady, but stopping the Gronk is the key to the Giants winning, a big game for the big tight end and revenge will be New England's.