NFL Playoff News: 49ers vs. Giants NFC Championship Preview
As the NFL 2011 season edges closer to Super Bowl XLVI from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, the National Football Conference finalist is still to be determined. On Sunday January 22, 2012, the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game from Candlestick Park. It’s not the Saints vs. Packers but we’ll take it!
New York Giants NFC Championship History
If history really does repeat itself, back up the Brinks truck and dump the load on the Giants. New York is following a near mirror image of the path the Packers went down during their Super Bowl XLV romp – not to mention their own similar run back in 2007.
Like the Packers, the G-Men needed to win their last two regular season games, just to make it to the postseason party, and will need four playoff wins to take down the title. They have two under their belt as they head into San Francisco to face the 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers NFC Playoff History
San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh was a spot starter at quarterback for the 8-8 Indianapolis Colts back in 1994. That was the last time the 49ers played in the NFL Championship as they pummeled the San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX.
The Niners are looking to avoid the path taken by the Bears last season as the Yogis won at home against the Seahawks in Divisional play, before falling to the Packers, again at home, in the title game. The 49ers were in good form as they took down the Saints last weekend.
After analyzing this contest, our handicapping points to the better quarterback Eli Manning, and his surging offense, out lasting the very tough 49ers defense lead by Pro Bowler Patrick Willis. A Giants field goal, by place kicker Lawrence Tynes late in the game, could decide this hotly contested 2011 National Football League NFC Championship match-up.
