Eli Manning's Illness Won't Keep New York from a Giant Upset

The New York Giants' playoff upset train is not going to be derailed by an illness that caused Eli Manning to leave practice early on Wednesday.

Manning and the Giants are playing far too well to think that something like this will affect them.

Now, you can throw my opening statement right out the window if this illness keeps him from the game on Sunday, but that does not appear likely, and this is certainly a good sign.

It is safe to assume that Manning will be 100 percent and ready to go by game time on Sunday, and that is all the Giants will need. Here's why.

Manning Won't Be Rusty

One or two days of missed practice is not going to hinder Eli. He already has all the chemistry he needs with his receivers, he's a student of the game and understands the playbook and this is the second time he will face the 49ers this season.

The only real reason Manning would need this practice time is to familiarize himself with the game plan for this week. That game plan isn't likely going to be much different than the first two games these teams played in the postseason, and there isn't a play in the Giants' playbook that Eli is not familiar with.

He will be ready to run everything the Giants can throw at him.

Blueprint for a Giant Upset

New York is peaking right now. They have found more consistency on offense, and they have discovered how to play defense.

This is going to be more than enough to make up the seven-point deficit to the 49ers in their first meeting.

Due to improving health and better play, New York's defense no longer resembles the unit that the 49ers already faced.

This team has put the clamps down. They have solidified their pass defense, and they are allowing just 12.5 points per contest over their last four.

New York allowed only 5.4 yards per pass attempt over their last three games of the regular season. They have since shown that that was no fluke. They completely shut down Atlanta, and last week they held Aaron Rodgers to 5.7 yards per pass. That is a whopping three yards per pass lower than their season average.

San Francisco's average offense is not going to be able to beat this defense, and Eli Manning will make sure that the Giants score enough to win.