NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Why the NFC Championship Game Is Must-Watch Football

There will be an old-school, defense-first feel to the 2012 NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants, but for the new-age, offensive-enthusiasts, there are plenty of reasons to get pumped about this showdown.

Let's breakdown why this battle is professional football at its finest.

Quarterback play

The quarterback is the most important player in any football game, and this game certainly provides an interesting pairing.

Eli Manning has proven all his doubters wrong again, and has cemented himself into that "elite" group of NFL signal-callers.

He threw for 4,933 yards during the regular season, and as he demonstrated last week against the Atlanta Falcons and in Lambeau Field on Sunday, the guy is a postseason stalwart capable of winning in any atmosphere. 

Manning has accumulated 607 yards through the air with six touchdowns and one interception in the 2012 playoffs.

For San Francisco, this season Alex Smith has completed what once seemed to be an unconquerable task of removing the "bust" label from his profile as a former No. 1 pick. 

After his epic, 299-yard, three-touchdown, no-interception performance that included the game-winning TD toss to Vernon Davis in the final seconds to upend the mighty Drew Brees, he'll forever have his own little niche in 49ers' lure.

These two have done a remarkable job ignoring previous poor play and doubts from critics to lead their teams to the game for unquestioned NFC supremacy. 

In the playoffs, it's all about momentum and confidence, and they have loads of both as they clash in San Fran this weekend.

Defense

So, you're a traditional football fan that loves a tenacious pass-rush, admires hard-hitting, sideline-to-sideline linebacking leaders and appreciates the occasional form tackle?

This is the game for you.

It's time we're all brought back to a time when defense was a legitimate game-changer.

The 49ers have been overwhelming on defense all season. Although they missed a few open-field tackles and allowed 32 points against the Saints, they flustered Brees for the majority of the afternoon and made the league's most explosive and efficient offense work for every yard. 

We'll get to see the two best defensive lines in the NFL in this game. 

Justin Smith and Aldon Smith anchor a tenacious front that gets to the passer with ease and allows stud linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman to make plays at the second-level. 

New York has a premier group of pass-rushing specialists in Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. 

Linebacker Michael Boley had two sacks on Aaron Rodgers in the upset victory over the Packers, and Mathias Kiwanuka is a force on the outside. 

Both secondaries are oozing with coverage talent that's not afraid to make their presence known in the running game. 

For San Francisco, safeties Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson are disruptive, run-stuffers, and corner Carlos Rogers reeled in six picks in 2011. 

The Giants corner tandem of Corey Webster and Aaron Ross has plenty of postseason experience, and Antrel Rolle is one of the better young safeties in the league. 

New York's secondary didn't allow a Green Bay pass-catcher to total more than 45 yards on Sunday. 

Offense, too

This shouldn't be a boring, 6-3 battle. Manning and Smith have a great deal of weapons at their disposal. 

One could make the case for Hakeem Nicks as the MVP of the playoffs thus far, and we're all are of what Victor Cruz is capable of. 

Jake Ballard's return is huge for the Giants down the middle of the field and in the red zone. 

Don't forget about Mario Manningham—who has two touchdowns this postseason—plus the revitalized Giants' running game. 

The 49ers do not seem to be as electric on offense, but they get it done with tremendous balance. It's never easy corralling Frank Gore, who averaged 6.8 yards against New Orleans, and Michael Crabtree is a formidable threat on the outside. 

However, tight end Vernon Davis has become a focal point. He's too fast to be covered by linebackers, and cornerbacks are physically dominated by his 6'3'', 250-pound frame. 

This game has everything every type of NFL fan could ask for, right?

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