By Cameron van de Graaf
The San
Francisco 49ers will play the New York Giants this Sunday in the NFC
Championship game, with the winner earning a ticket to the Super Bowl. Both
teams won exciting games last week, as the Giants took down the Green Bay
Packers 37-20 while the 49ers went blow for blow against the high-flying New
Orleans Saints, resulting in a final score of 36-32. The upcoming game, which
will be broadcast on FOX at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, promises to be equally as
exciting. Both offense and defense will be essential in the contest, as the two
teams are perhaps the most balanced left in the playoffs. From an offensive
perspective, I would give a slight edge to the Giants, as they possess both an excellent
receiving corps and an elite quarterback in Eli Manning. Wide receivers Victor
Cruz and Hakeem Nicks have been particularly effective this season, especially
in big play situations. The 49ers have a better running game, which could work
in their favor if it rains come Sunday. On the other side of the ball, the
49ers have an undeniable advantage against the Giants. DT Justin Smith and
linebacker Patrick Willis have contributed to a defense that has only allowed
14.3 points per game all season, second in the NFL. On the other hand, the
Giants have improved drastically during the playoffs, with Jason Pierre-Paul and
Antrel Rolle leading the charge. No matter what the
outcome, the game should be a close one, as befits the hard-hitting mentality
of both teams.
Game prediction:
Though it’s a toss-up, I’m giving the edge to the Giants for
their more dynamic offense and high level of momentum going into the game.
Giants Quarterback Eli Manning
Photo courtesy of NY Post
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