NFL Playoffs 2012: What Tim Tebow and Alex Smith Must Do to Engineer Upsets

Comparing the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos' underdog status is like comparing a hill to Mount Everest. While Alex Smith and the Niners have a formidable impediment to overcome, it is nothing compared to the monumental task Tim Tebow and the Broncos face.

As difficult as both games will be for the underdogs, there is a formula for success. I'll break down both teams' keys to winning on Saturday:

3 Things Alex Smith Must Do to Win

Keep the Crowd in the Game

They have the luxury of being at home for this matchup. This serves a dual purpose.

First, it takes the Saints away from the Superdome, where the crowd noise can wreak havoc on the offensive line of the opposing teams. Alex Smith must convert on 3rd-and-medium and 3rd-and-long situations.

Secondly, the Niners running game and defense can feed off of their crowd's energy. That starts with limiting big plays and long drives from the Saints. The more the Niners' offense is on the field, the more energized the crowd will be. The Niners must dominate time of possession and Alex Smith must make plays to do that.

Use His Legs

Smith is still a good athlete. He does not have the luxury of big-play receivers. Using his legs to keep plays alive as well as running for first downs will be huge for extended drives and tiring out the Saints defense.

Take Calculated Risks

The Niners must go down the field, but Smith must stay in his wheelhouse. He doesn't have receivers to erase his mistakes, so he must be careful when he takes hit shots.

He must look deep only with mismatches, primarily with Vernon Davis on linebackers.

On to the Broncos...

3 Things Tim Tebow Must Do

Throw the Ball

Bill Belichick is too good of a defensive mind to be beaten by a team that runs the ball at an 80-to-20 ratio. The Patriots offense is too high-powered—this strategy puts too much pressure on the Broncos' defense to hold down one of the NFL's most explosive attacks

The Broncos will always be a run-first team, but there must be more balance and Tebow must take shots down the field. The running game will only thrive if the Broncos can stretch the field on occasion.

Look for Daniel Fells

The Broncos tight end is very athletic and underrated. The offense needs great run-after-the-catch guys, as they generally don't throw long. Fells has the ability to make difficult catches and chew up yardage after the catch.

Fells could be an excellent weapon for Tebow on Saturday.

Protect the Football

The Broncos have a very small margin for error here. How small? I believe they can not afford more than one miscue in this game and they must dominate the plus/minus category.

The Broncos lost three fumbles in their first meeting with Patriots and Tebow was among the culprits. That can't repeat itself if the Broncos are to have any chance at pulling the upset.

In closing...

Neither obstacle is insurmountable. I think the Niners will conquer the hill, but the mountain will be too much to climb for Tebow and the Broncos.

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