New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers:
It will be the eighth time these two teams have met in the postseason with the Niners holding a 4-3 advantage.
The Giants are coming off an improbable win last Sunday in Lambeau Field, where they upended the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, 37-20. It was the fourth time Eli Manning has led his team to victory on the road in the postseason and could set a new NFL mark with career postseason road wins (5), if New York gets passed San Francisco's hard-nosed defense.
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| Manning has experienced every type of situation in the postseason, Sunday by the bay won't be any different. |
That success translated into the postseason once again.
Manning, for the second in his career, beat Green Bay on the road in a playoff game. The first time came in final of New York's three road victories that eventually lead them to an unthinkable win in Super Bowl XLII over the undefeated Patriots.
En route to that Super Bowl appearance, the Giants' front four played a vital role in their climb to the top and that will need to be the case once again if they are to win their second Super Bowl in five years. New York is one of the rare teams in the NFL that is able to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks while just rushing four defenders.
New York visited Candlestick Park earlier this year, where they were handed one of their seven losses this season. Down 27-20 in final minute of the game, Manning was driving his team down the field for the game-tying touchdown. San Francisco defensive tackle Justin Smith, who hit Drew Brees five times last Saturday, including a sack, knocked down the potential game-tying pass, giving the 49ers the win.
In the Giants' first two playoff wins this postseason, they have won each by least 17 points, becoming the one of the rare teams to accomplish that feat while starting in the wild-card round. There have been twelve total teams to do so prior to New York doing that this season. Ten of those teams that have won by that margin have gone on to win the Super Bowl.
Sounds like a recipe for success. Not to mention New York is 4-0 all-time when playing in NFC Championship.
In San Francisco, first-year new head coach Jim Harbaugh has taken a 6-10 Niners team from a year ago and made them a 13-3 division winner, while capturing the No. 2 seed in the NFC and creating arguably the NFL's best defense.
It's San Francisco's first playoff appearance and win since 2002. Their last postseason win game against none other than the Giants in the divisional round. In that game then-quarterback Jeff Garica orchestrated the second-greatest comeback in NFL postseason history, erasing a 24-point deficit and finishing the controversial game with a 39-38 lead.
Former first overall pick, Alex Smith and Co. is coming off an emotional last second victory over the New Orleans Saints. With nine seconds left and the Niners trailing by three, Smith threw a 14-yard strike to tight end Vernon Davis, creating "The Catch III", giving them the right to play in the Conference Championship.
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| Gore only carried the ball six times for no gain on Nov. 13 against the Giants before leaving with an injury. |
While their offense has been much improved this season, especially the play of Smith, it will be San Francisco's defense that needs to take them to the Super Bowl. With their stout front seven, the 49ers were tied with the Packers for a league-best 38 takeaways this season and added five more turnovers to the bunch in their win against the Saints.
Both New York's Ahmad Bradshaw and San Francisco's Frank Gore did not play or were limited in the two team's first meeting this season, but are ready to go in game that is being called by many a potential blood bath.
NYG X-Factor: Eli Manning
SF X-Factor: Frank Gore
New York, 24-23
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