San Francisco and San francisco sent the high-powered offenses of New Orleans plus Green Bay home to the offseason after divisional-round is victorious last weekend. The 49ers won 36-32 in the home over the Saints as well as the Giants stunned the top-seeded Packers 37-20.
"I think it probably surprised many that the Giants as well as the 49ers are in the particular NFC championship game, " 49ers first-year train Jim Harbaugh said.
Surprising will be correct word to illustrate both teams' surges.
Harbaugh inherited a 6-10 team and guided it to 13 wins as well as franchise's first playoff berth inside nine seasons before past Saturday's dramatic victory at Alex Smith's 14-yard touchdown go to Vernon Davis together with nine seconds left.
"I think it was a physical, emotional expenditure by everybody that's in that game, " Harbaugh stated. "The thing that you're so happy with is the character of the football team. "
The Giants looks like anything but a contender with splitting their first FOURTEEN games before clinching your NFC East by closing the normal season with double-digit wins on the Jets and Cowboys. San francisco has become the first team to start the postseason in this wild-card round and succeed its first two games by at least 17 points.
Ten with the 12 previous teams to help win their first 2 playoff contests by a real margin went on to help win the Super Bowl. The Giants are 4-0 all-time throughout NFC championships.
"We are certainly not going to be dissmissed off, " safety Antrel Rolle stated. "We are not going to be denied after all this. We understand what you'll find as a team. It's not all talent, it's about chemistry plus we are jelling after all this. Coaches and players being for the same page together. We have one head, to win a shining. "
The Giants' pass rush has come alive during this four-game earn streak with 17 sacks, including four of Aaron Rodgers very last Sunday. The emergence connected with second-year Pro Bowler Jason Pierre-Paul, return of Osi Umenyiora for that Dallas game and the improved health of Justin Tuck have boosted one of several league's most fearsome items.
The 49ers, meanwhile, got the league's top rushing defense in allowing 77. 3 yards per game as well as a pass rush encouraged by rookie Aldon Smith's 14. 0 sacks. San Francisco earned a new reputation for delivering bone-crushing hits while tying for that league lead in generating 38 takeaways.
"We're not really trying to hurt people, " safety Donte Whitner stated. "But when we enjoy physical, people get injure. "
Trying to attack those defenses will probably be quarterbacks who have loved vastly different careers seeing that being top overall draft picks one full year apart.
The Giants' Eli Manning, obtained first overall in 2008, fell 67 yards self conscious of 5, 000 2010. His play this postseason (607 missing out on yards, six TDs, one interception) has delivered back memories of Brand new York's 2007 playoff run by which he excelled en option to earning Super Bowl MVP raises the bar in.
San Francisco took Alex Smith using the top pick in the actual 2005 draft, but he or she never found his footing till playing for his next coach in Harbaugh. Smith guided an wrongdoing that had the fewest turnovers inside the NFL with 10, and he proved his or her mettle by leading the Niners to two touchdown drives inside the final 2: 11 last weekend.
"He has wonderful mental toughness, " Harbaugh stated. "He has a method to be focused and loose within the most pressure situations. He's got that makeup about him that enables him to play along with execute. "
Davis accomplished with seven catches for 180 yards in his postseason debut. He was ecstatic that the Giants' upset allowed the particular 49ers to host this contest as opposed to have to travel to be able to Green Bay.
"We any longer ! go nowhere. We can just move out back, go out back and throw the football around, " Davis stated. "The opponents, they visit us. And that's usually good, having home-field gain, and having the team visit you. "
San Francisco is 4-3 inside the postseason against New York, which won the lone championship meeting in 1990 at Candlestick to finish the 49ers' chances of the third straight Super Run title.
More recently, San francisco won 27-20 at house Nov. 13 in a game in which Giants jogging back Ahmad Bradshaw missed because of injury. The Niners' top receiver in this game, tight end Delanie Master, has a broken mouth and his status regarding Sunday is uncertain.
Manning threw for a couple touchdowns and 311 yards as well as two interceptions to Pro Bowl cornerback Carlos Rogers. His bid to cause a game-tying TD drive ended inside the final minute when Justin Smith batted down a fourth-down excrete.
"We know what to anticipate with them, " stated Manning, who missed a part of Wednesday's workout with a new stomach bug. "They're a very sound team. They're top notch. They have good gamers. They play with great energy. "
The Giants held a new hampered Frank Gore that will no yards on six carries in this contest, and none connected with his five 100-yard projects have come since. Cruz completed 19 of 25 passes for 242 back yards, one score and a single interception.
Hakeem Nicks' last touchdown reception while travelling came in that game before he scored twice a week ago. Nicks has 280 yards receiving and four TDs in the postseason factored in a dangerous group of receivers that includes Victor Cruz, third inside the league with 1, 536 meters.
"That is a worthy opponent, " Harbaugh stated. "That is a scary opponent. We will have to come with every ounces of our 'A' game in the process. ".
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