Giants and Niners Clash in Improbable NFC Championship

Giants head to Candlestick to take on the Niners in NFC Championship.

Well football fans, we've gotten exactly what we asked for.  Aaron Rodgers and the almost invincible Packers are pitted in a rematch with the record breaking high octane offense featuring Drew Brees and the Saints in a rematch of week 1's stellar 42 - 34 Packers victory.  Wait, what?  Giants - Niners?  You gotta be kidding me?

Ok, so this isn't quite the game that was expected when the playoffs began for the chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.  But, it doesn't make the matchup any less interesting.  With a last second win over the Saints and a decisive victory over the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Niners and Giants have earned there spot in this years Conference Final.  The question now becomes who wins the game between two teams no one expected to be here in the first place?

This past offseason Eli Manning was cornered and asked blatantly if he thought he was in the same class as quarterbacks like Tom Brady?  Without hesitation Manning replied "I consider myself in that class".  Good for you Eli.  Honestly, what was he supposed to say?  No, I think Tom is in a league above me and I only hope to lick the dirt off his boots?  Like it or hate it, Manning was forced to say he was in the same class and with that answer he was met with stiff criticism.  Fortunately for the Giants QB, he has backed up his response.

Manning threw for just under 5,000 yards this season with 29 touchdowns.  In a season where the Giants defense looked suspect at times and their running game ranked dead last in the NFL, Manning was the driving force behind the team that won the NFC East on the last day of the season.  With back-to-back 300 yard passing efforts, including dethroning the defending champs, Eli is making his mark in the NFL as one of the elites.  A win in SF and subsequently in Indianapolis would give Eli his second ring and certainly cement him as one of a select few in this era.

On the other side of the field, we see a much different progression from the 49ers young quarterback.  Alex Smith, in his 7th season in the NFL, wasn't exactly turning heads in San Francisco.  The former first round pick was seemingly turning into an average at best QB and a potential bust having never thrown for more than 3,000 yards in a season.  However, this season Smith had career highs in completions, attempts and touchdowns, as well as only throwing 5 interceptions all year.  The season reached new heights last week when Smith led the Niners 80  yards in just under a minute and a half for the game winning score. 

In a quarterback driven league, even two teams relying so heavily on the defensive side of the ball can't escape the reality that this game will most likely be won on the shoulders of one of these two guys.  With Eli Manning suffering from an illness and missing some practice this week, we hope it won't affect his ability come Sunday.  Regardless, one of these two guys is going to step up this weekend and lead there team into the Super Bowl, now I have to figure out which one has enough to do it.

So, here's three reasons why I see the Giants continuing their winning ways and heading to Indy on February 5th...

Manning is Giants key to victory.

1. Ok, I realize I just did the schpeel on Eli and that I made my point.  But, this just shows how excruciatingly important this guy is to the Giants.  Manning is the first and foremost reason why the Giants will move on and I can't stress that enough.  He has a Super Bowl ring, he has proved he can win on the road and under adversity, and he has shown he doesn't need help from the running game to do it this season.  With Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz emerging as legitimate NFL threats, manning boasts one of the better wide receiving cores left in the playoffs.  The 49ers defense won't make it easy for Eli, but if he wants to stay in the Brady conversation he will light up the scoreboard this Sunday and lead the Giants to Indianapolis.

2. After Eli, it's no secret that the reason the Giants have put together this late season surge is on the backs of that ferocious front four on D.  Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul do not scream 25th ranked defense, even though that's where the team finished the season.  These guys are legit NFL beasts and Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers can attest to that over the last 2 weeks.  In the playoffs so far the Giants have amounted 6 sacks, a pick and 3 fumble recoveries.  Not to mention they've only given up 20 points in 2 road playoff games.  With numbers like that it makes you wonder if Eli Manning needs to be that good to win?

3. The final key to victory for the Giants stems from a piss poor running game that plagued the Gmen through most of the season.  A team that defines themselves on running the ball and playing defense ranked dead last in rushing this season, embarrassing.  However, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have come to play in this post season.  The duo has amassed 240 yards on the ground in 2 games and have had some timely runs such as the second last play of the first half against GB.  Bradshaw's run setup Manning's Hail Mary to Hakeem Nicks and essentially iced the Packers. The duo need to give Manning some help against the best run defense in football if they are going to have a shot at the Bowl.

So not many surprises on the Giants side of the ball.  Eli throws it effectively, Jacobs and Bradshaw run it effectively, Giants D makes life miserable for Alex Smith and we see the Gmen in Indy.  But, there is a reason why we play the games.  Here are three reasons why the 49ers defend their house and make their first trip to the Super Bowl since Steve Young and Jerry Rice were in San Fran...

1. There is a theme I keep coming back to in this years post season: Defense wins championships.  It's no secret that San Fran lives and dies by it's 2nd ranked defense this season.  Sunday will be no different.  With the Gmen bringing a lot more on the defensive side of the ball than New Orleans, don't expect 36 points from Alex Smith and company.  Patrick Willis and that 49ers defense will have to step up after allowing 22 points per game over there last 3 games, more than a touchdown over there season average.  If they can pick up another 5 turnovers like last week then SF has a realistic shot at advancing.

2. Frank Gore and Vernon Davis co-captain my second reason.  The Giants love to rush four guys at opposing quarterback's and are successful with the likes of Tuck, Umenyiora and Pierre-Paul.  Gore must be able to run the ball effectively and force the Giants to load the box and then Davis, a matchup nightmare for opposing secondaries, must make them pay for it in the open field.  We saw Davis light up the Saints secondary for 180 yards and 2 TD's last week while Gore had 89 yards on only 13 carries.  I don't expect it to be that easy against the Gmen, but these 2 need to make life easier for Alex Smith or I can see the Giants front four having a field day in the backfield.

Candlestick is the Niners 12th man.

3. Finally, what can a young team lacking experience facing a veteran team with a recent Super Bowl win bring to the table: home field advantage.  The 12th man will be out in full force for the 49ers this weekend and San Francisco loves playing at home.  The Niners have gone 8 - 1 so far this year at home and disposed of teams like the Saints, Steelers and oh wait, the Giants.  San Francisco beat the Gmen in Candlestick 27 - 20 in week 10 and haven't lost at home since week 2 against Dallas in overtime.  San Fran will need the 12th man on Sunday if there going to stop this Giants train and continue their magical season.


So home field advantage will be a key on Sunday as the Giants invade Candlestick.  The Niners need that stout D to step up and Frank Gore and Vernon Davis need to be play makers Sunday for a 49ers victory.  But someone still has to lose eh.  Well, I feel the nostalgia in the air everyone and the Giants are on the verge of something special.  A rematch of Super Bowl XLII is in the works as the Patriots and Giants will meet on February 5th in Indianapolis.

Prediction: Giants 27 - Niners 17