NFC Championship Game Prediction(s): San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants
Who doesn't want what Mike Singletary wants: Winners?!?!
The guy that Singletary called out in his infamous press conference (and sent to the showers) had the game of his life last week.
Not only did 49ers tight end Vernon Davis catch two touchdown passes, but he caught the game-winning score in the final minute to send the Niners to the NFC Championship Game since they hosted the Packers back in January 1998.
Based on odds from SportsBook.com, the 49ers are favored by less than a field goal. And with most attributing three points to the home-field advantage, that is saying that the Giants would be slight favorites on a neutral field.
For the entire playoffs, all of the EDSFootball.com contributors including myself will make a prediction (including the final score) for each playoff game.
Here are the predictions from the EDSFootball.com crew for the the 49ers-Giants game:
John (follow on Twitter): New York Giants 23, San Francisco 49ers 19
The early game on Saturday between the Saints and 49ers was the best playoff game in recent memory. I had picked San Francisco going into the game, but I have to admit, when the Saints took a late lead, I didn't think that the Niners had the mental toughness to pull it out. They had dominated the game with big hit after big hit, had forced five turnovers, and after jumping out to a 17-0 lead, they lost it not once, but twice in the final four minutes of the game. Alex Smith and Vernon Davis were men among boys down the stretch of that game, and the 14-yard touchdown strike with 0:09 to play was incredible. The emotional display in the wake of that comeback is why we all watch. It was a great moment in sports for 49er fans and sports fans alike.
The late game between the Giants and Packers was a completely different story. This one was one-sided from the start and not the way that most people thought it would be. The Giants went into Lambeau Field against a 15-1 Packer team and took control early. Hakeem Nicks had his second big game of the playoffs, catching seven passes for 165 yards and scoring another two touchdowns, including a 35-yard Hail Mary pass to end the first half. Eli Manning did throw one interception, but threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns to help the Giants move on. The Giant defense forced four turnovers and disrupted a potent Packer offense, forcing fumbles (some were clear fumbles that were not called as such) and sacked Rodgers four times. Once again, the Giants dominate all three phases of the game. It was an impressive victory to say the least from a team that is drawing more and more comparisons to the '07 team that won perhaps the greatest Super Bowl ever played against a previously undefeated Patriots team.
Both the 49ers and the Giants are playing excellent football. The 49ers bruising defense stepped up against a record-breaking Saints offense. In addition, Alex Smith showed us that he has what it takes to perform on the biggest stage, leading two impressive drives in the closing minutes to win it. The Giants have not been in any close games of late, which could work against them if the 49ers are able to hang with Eli and the Giant offense. It really wouldn't be shocking to see either one of these teams emerge, but I feel fairly confident taking the Giants here. Like the Packers last year, who almost missed the playoffs, the Giants are proving that you don't have to be the best team in the regular season to win it all; you just need to get hot at the right time. The Giants are the hottest team in football and are doing it on both sides of the ball. I'm ready for Giants/Patriots Part II.
[Editor's Note: Remember last week when John, a Giants' fan, said we can call him a homer? HOMER! Well, that's it ... on with the predictions.]
Sean (follow on Twitter): New York Giants 31, San Francisco 49ers 17
The NFC games this past weekend were probably the best set of games imaginable as a fan of the NFL. I think this game will disappoint some. First off, I am rooting for an All-Harbaugh Super Bowl. Unfortunately, I think I am going to be an unhappy camper Sunday night when we have a rematch of Super Bowl XLII.
The 49ers won this matchup in Week 10, 27-20, but this is a completely different Giants team now. The Giants are at full strength basically now. The Giants don't have the same dominant O-Line and D-Line that they had back in 2007. Their D-Line is very good especially since they have so many guys they can plug in and play. When they were battling injuries earlier this year, they weren't getting nearly as much pass rush as they are now, as the bodies were just not fresh enough. This has been the key to the Giants defense, because as much as the secondary has been playing better as of late, they are still just a very average bunch skill wise.
Eli Manning hands down is the Giants MVP. He turned a no-named receiver by most (Victor Cruz) into an elite talent over night. The most talented WR Hakeem Nicks has been on fire these playoffs hauling in 13 receptions for 280 yards and four TDs. Let's also not forget about former No. 2 WR Mario Manningham, who has scored in each playoff game as well. Eli has plenty of weapons, and if we saw one thing this past week, it is the 49ers are beatable through the air. The 49ers are like the Ravens where they will beat the shit out of you every play until you breakdown physically and mentally. They match up well versus smashmouth teams, but unfortunately for San Francisco, the Giants are no longer the ground-and-pound teams that we are used to seeing.
I think the party is over for Alex Smith and the 49ers. Last week was like their Super Bowl with that emotional come-from-behind win in the final seconds. I think Smith and the 49ers will come out flat in this one. Call it a Super Bowl hangover. I think the Giants score early and often which will force San Fransisco to abandon their run game which will lead to some Alex Smith mistakes. Smith may be the QB for the future for the 49ers, but the Giants are red hot, and they are the team to beat not only in the NFC, but the NFL. The Giants win in a game that is not as close as the score tells 31-17.
Dan (follow on Twitter): San Francisco 49ers 22, New York Giants 17
In what seems like a late 80's matchup, the Giants will travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers who won a late shootout with the Saints. The Giants have played the 49ers this year, as they lost on the road, 27-20, which was the second road game of the Giants trip from hell. The Giants were able to move the ball on the vaunted 49ers defense, as they had a combined 395 yards on the day, but fell short in the end. The 49ers forced two turnovers against the Giants, and last week forced an impressive five turnovers against the Saints. New York has the fourth-best passing offense, and they will need it as they have the worst rushing attack going against the league's best rushing defense. This game will be tight, and San Francisco has one of the best closing defenses I've seen in a long time. I think it will be tough for the Giants playing their third playoff game, coming off an emotional game in Green Bay, and then having to travel across the country to play the league's most physical team. 49ers in a tight game.
Steve: New York Giants 35, San Francisco 49ers 24
My playoff predictions were spoiled with Giants upsetting the Packers last week in Lambeau. With that I’m bewildered as to how to pick this game because I felt confident the Packers would run through the NFC. We do have the game earlier this season to look back upon when the 49ers won 27-20, however that was during a five-game stretch in which the Giants played four of five division winners and the Eagles. This is a rejuvenated, healthier Giants team and I’d expect a different game from them.
For this week, in advance of a potential Super Harbaugh Bowl, what we have is Jim trying to one-up his brother John by leading his team past the championship round in his rookie coaching season. The parallels between John Harbaugh's first season as head coach of the Ravens and Jim Harbaugh's first season with 49ers are obvious, specifically style of play and the turnaround of both teams. In 2008, John Harbaugh inherited an under-achieving 5-11 Ravens team that, loaded with talent, went onto to lose in the AFC Championship Game to Pittsburgh. Flash forward to the 2011-12 season, Jim Harbaugh inherited an under-achieving 6-10 49ers team and has lead them to the NFC Championship Game in his first season.
Probably the only drawback to the quick turnaround on this 49ers team, is the lack of big game experience. This didn’t seem to be a problem last week as Alex Smith lead the 49ers on a late touchdown drive to win the game, but one game does not make the incarnation of Joe Montana. Some of the success Smith had last week against the Saints, will be muted this week by a Giants defense that beyond my expectation held the highest-scoring offense in the NFL to a mere 20 points, 15 below their season average. Unlike last week where they had to slow down the passing attack of the Packers, this week for the Giants to be successful they’ll have to stop the run game of the 49ers, which unfortunately has been a problem for them all season. Given the Niners proclivity for running the ball and the Giants inability to stop the run, I expect the 49ers to move the ball down the field, but scoring touchdowns against the Giants might be tougher than it was against the Saints. Furthermore, it took four Saints turnovers for the 49ers to be position to win that game, so I’ll pick the Giants in a game as back and forth as my writing.
Kevin (follow on Twitter): San Francisco 49ers 24, New York Giants 23
Without question, the Giants are playing as well as any of the four remaining teams. Last week, they easily handled the defending champions. To go along with a great pass rush, they have a well-balanced offense. Granted, they ranked last in the NFL in rushing offense (yardage) in the regular season, but they scored the sixth-most rushing touchdowns (17) and have been running the ball better lately.
That said, they face the league's best rush defense. San Francisco allowed only 77.3 rushing yards per game and did not allow a rushing touchdown until Seattle's Marshawn Lynch scored in Week 16. Plus they tied for second in interceptions (23) and second in forced fumbles (18). While Eli Manning has been playing nearly mistake-free over the past three weeks (only one interception), it wouldn't surprise me to see the 49ers force him to throw a few picks. As we witnessed last week, if this game turns out to be a shootout, how can we go against the gun-slinging Alex Smith? (Ok, that last part was a joke, but Smith showed us something last week.)
Related: Our AFC Championship Prediction | Fantasy Rankings: QBs - RBs - WRs - TEs
Past Results: AFC Championship Game - NFC Championship Game - Super Bowl
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