NFC Championship Game 2012: Questions for Giants-49ers

In the 2012 NFC Championship Game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, the following two questions for each team are among the most important:

NEW YORK GIANTS

1. Do the Giants have to run the ball to win?

It'd be hard to see the Giants winning by being one-dimensional either way. More than likely, an imbalance would come from the 49ers stopping the run and forcing Eli Manning to throw it more than offensive coordinator Kevin Gllbride would like.

Last Saturday, the 49ers knocked Pierre Thomas out of the game and forced Drew Brees to throw it 63 times. The Giants can't survive that way. 

2. Which 49ers' defender needs to be kept quiet? 

Perennial Pro Bowler Patrick Willis and rookie Aldon Smith are both important pieces of the 49ers defense, but the player that needs to be stopped Sunday is defensive end Justin Smith.

Plenty have argued that he's the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, and he put on a show against the Saints against the run and pass. The Giants absolutely have to keep him out of their backfield. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

1. Can Alex Smith continue this run?

Why not? Smith is no longer the guy that everyone was quick to label a game manager or bust. With Jim Harbaugh on his sidelines, that look of continuous doubt is gone. Hes now a confident player who is coming off one of the best four-minute stretches in NFL playoff history.   

2. Who are the X-factors?

I'll give you two names: Michael Crabtree and Chris Culliver. 

I highly doubt the Giants are going to allow tight end Vernon Davis to go off for 180 yards again, and Crabtree is clearly the best receiver the 49ers have. He needs to play better than he did in his first career playoff game.

Culliver is the 49ers' nickel back. He will likely be matched up against both Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham in the slot Sunday. Those two receivers can obviously play, but Culliver has had a breakout season for the 49ers in his rookie season.