NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: 4 Things to Know for Conference Championship Weekend

This weekend, the two very best teams in both the AFC and NFC battle it out for the right to play in the Super Bowl. In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants, and in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens take on the New England Patriots.

With so many compelling storylines, so many different factors to consider and every team having a very real chance to win, there's a lot of information to digest.

Here are four things you should know about this weekend's games.

San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith Is for Real

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith has struggled in his seven years in the NFL, and the fact that he's had seven different offensive coordinators during that time hasn't done him any favors, either.

However, with head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm of the Niners in 2011, Smith has developed into the efficient and effective passer he's only shown hints of being in the past.

2011 has been the best year of Smith's career, marking the first time he's thrown for over 3,000 yards.

His five interceptions are the fewest he's ever thrown in a season, and though his 17 touchdowns aren't a high total and the Niners have struggled in the red zone this year, his improvement has been a major reason why the team went 13-3 this year after a 6-10 2010 season.

Smith proved that he deserves to be a playoff quarterback with his role in his team's divisional round victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Smith threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns in that game and ran in for another score. He hung in there when the game turned into a shootout in the fourth quarter and didn't cost his team the win.

It wasn't a fluke for Smith to play so well against the Saints, and that will only be further proven this week when he performs similarly as well against the New York Giants.

He's not the flashiest quarterback in the league, but his talents are more than enough to propel San Francisco into this year's Super Bowl.

The Baltimore Ravens Success Hinges on QB Joe Flacco

The bulk of the Baltimore Ravens offensive production is generally the responsibility of running back Ray Rice, the NFL's leader in yards from scrimmage this year.

His 1,364 rushing yards, 704 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns not only helped propel his team into the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year, but also served to keep the pressure off of quarterback Joe Flacco, who is most effective when passing 25 or fewer times per game.

However, in this week's AFC championship game against the New England Patriots, it's Flacco and not Rice that will have to step up and play well if the Ravens are to win.

Though the Patriots' weak defense stiffened in last week's win over the Denver Broncos, it's likely still exploitable.

The Patriots are going to be prepared for a heavy dose of Rice, so Flacco will have to take advantage of that weak secondary and attempt—and complete—a number of deep passes if the team is to score enough points to defeat New England.

Flacco completed just over 50 percent of his passes in his team's win over the Houston Texans last week, and though he threw two first-quarter touchdowns, he struggled mightily through the rest of the game and was sacked five times.

The Ravens' hopes hinge on Flacco and his effectiveness this week. As he goes, the team will go. A good performance, and they'll find themselves in the Super Bowl. But if he looks like he did last week—even with those two touchdowns—then it will be the Patriots who move on.

The New York Giants Won't Run the Ball Much, and That's Okay

The New York Giants have one of the better two-headed running attacks in the NFL, but the team still ranked dead-last in average rushing yards per game in the 2011 season.

This week, the Giants take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game.

The Niners have the best run defense in the league, giving up an average of 77.3 rushing yards per game in the regular season, and they held the usually-effective New Orleans Saints ground game to just 37 yards in last week's divisional round matchup.

Though the Giants ran for 172 yards in their wild card round win over the Atlanta Falcons, they notched just 95 yards on the ground against the Green Bay Packers.

Expect Giants running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw to combine for even fewer yards against the Niners this week. However, it won't harm the team much—the Giants' strength is in their passing game, and it's likely that they'll rely on it heavily in their quest to defeat the 49ers on Sunday.

The New England Patriots TEs Are a Nighmare Matchup for Any Defense

While the Baltimore Ravens have the top offense in the AFC, they'll likely be little match for the New England Patriots' tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez on Sunday.

Though the Ravens defense ranked seventh against the tight end during the regular season, the ways in which the Patriots utilize Gronkowski and Hernandez are able to confound even the strongest of defensive opponents.

When one or both of them are on the field, it's hard to tell whether the Patriots are going to pass the ball or run it, and if they choose to pass it, Gronkowski or Hernandez will be quarterback Tom Brady's ultimate target.

Gronkowski was the Patriots' leading receiver in the team's 45-10 trouncing of the Denver Broncos last week, hauling in 10 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Hernandez also contributed to the effort, with four receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots' approach to the tight end position has revolutionized their offense and has changed the very nature of what a tight end can be in the modern NFL.

The Ravens won't likely have much success stopping Gronkowski and Hernandez from catching passes on a consistent basis. They will have to focus on pressuring Brady and keep him from throwing as well as preventing Hernandez and Gronkowski from gaining meaningful yards after the catch.