NFC Championship: 3 Keys to SF 49ers Beating the NY Giants

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh knows the keys to a Super Bowl berth. San Francisco needs to be who they are.
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It’s difficult to imagine back in September when the 2011 season began that the San Francisco 49ers would be in this position.

One win away from the Super Bowl.

After a nine-year absence from the postseason, marked by a combination of having a wealth of talent and a lack of leadership to guide and steer it to its maximum potential, it has all come together.

Beating the red-hot New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional playoff should be validation for a team that has had its doubters all season long. The contributions from the offense, defense and special teams all came together to take down a Super Bowl favorite.

Such a performance has the Niners at the top of the remaining short list of complete teams with the best opportunity to reach the NFL’s grandest stage.

But it won’t be easy. Not against a familiar foe. And not against one almost just as hungry.

The New York Giants are a team with offensive firepower comparable to the Saints or Green Bay Packers. Their defense has begun to gel at this late part of the season, bringing a tenacity that translates to disruption for opposing teams.

They’ve got young, rising stars and veteran stability. And a coach whose been down this block before.

Here are three keys to the San Francisco 49ers beating the New York Giants in the 2011 NFC Championship and making their sixth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

1. Stop the Run

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The New York Giants didn’t have Ahmad Bradshaw in their Week 10 meeting in San Francisco. But the G-Men still managed 89 yards on 27 carries between Brandon Jacobs and DJ Ware.

New York dropped 172 yards rushing against the Atlanta Falcons in their 2011 Wild Card matchup. But that can be somewhat attributed to being dictating their game plan at home. The Giants ran for 95 against the Green Bay Packers in their Divisional win.

The 49ers run defense is better than the Falcons and Packers, especially in the deafening confines of Candlestick Park.

And while Bradshaw has notched 63 yards on the ground in both playoff games this season, San Francisco sports a faster, ball-hawking defense that makes Bradshaw a player that feeds into what they do best.

Jacobs plodded for a 3-yard rushing average back in mid-November, but Ware did damage in the passing attack.

Keeping New York one-dimensional makes them a tad more predictable, a strategy that worked well against the Saints in the Red and Gold’s Divisional playoff victory.  

Easier said than done against a Giants rushing attack ranked dead-last in the NFL during the regular season.

2. Keep on Running

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A similar offensive game plan from head coach Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Greg Roman and the 49ers coaching staff to what was called for the New Orleans Saints could be formed for the New York Giants.

It played to the Niners' strengths, didn’t ask too much unless needed and such ball control forced New Orleans into risky playcalling that led to turnovers and mistakes.

Eli Manning is a gunslinger like Drew Brees at times, trusting his receivers more than maybe he should and squeezing passes into windows that close quickly, especially against a lethal 49ers linebacker and secondary corps.

All the more reason for San Francisco to balance the playcalling with creative, but not tricky, run plays.

Tailback Frank Gore had six carries for zero rushing yards back in Week 10, before leaving the contest with a knee contusion. And he only carried the rock 13 times against the Saints for 89 yards; 42 of which came on that amazing fourth quarter scamper that put San Francisco in range for a field goal and a six-point edge early in the final frame.

The Giants are middle-of-the-pack in terms of NFL ranking this past season. Finding a way to average three-to-five yards per carry sets up more manageable down and distance situations for quarterback Alex Smith, who confidence is at an all-time high against a New York pass defense ranked 29th in 2011.

3. Win the Turnover Battle

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The Giants were sixth in the NFC during the regular season in the giveaway/takeaway differential at plus-7. Good, but not as stellar as San Francisco’s league leading plus-28.

New York and the Atlanta Falcons had no turnovers on either side of the ball during their Wild Card showdown. And the Giants won the battle 4-to-1 against the Green Bay Packers last week.

Meanwhile, the 49ers easily won the turnover war in their matchup, forcing three fumbles and two interceptions. Alex Smith only spotted the Giants a mere fumble that did translate to points for New Orleans.

In the playoffs, it's tough enough to win against elite teams, where strength is combated against near equal strength. Giving the other team an edge through more drives and scoring opportunities lowers the chances of winning significantly.

Turning the tables on the Giants is the 49ers main focus in the NFC title game. Losing that contest will likely lose them the war.