NFL Playoffs 2012: 3 Things to Expect This Weekend

This weekend's conference championship games are shaping up to be very interesting. There are great individual matchups, like Tom Brady against Ray Lewis and Eli Manning against Patrick Willis, but each of the teams also stack up very well against one another.

While nothing is certain, here are three things you can definitely expect to happen this weekend.

Alex Smith Will Make or Break San Francisco's Chances

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith stepped up big time in the team's Divisional Round win over the New Orleans Saints.

The 27-year-old signal-caller completed 24 of 42 passes for 299 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also took a designed quarterback sweep around the left end for a gorgeous 28-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to give San Francisco the lead. 

Smith was poised and incredibly accurate when he needed to be, especially late in the game. He repeatedly hooked up with tight end Vernon Davis in key situations, including a game-winning, 14-yard touchdown strike with just nine seconds left in regulation.

This Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, Smith will have to be just as good if San Francisco wants to reach the Super Bowl. The New York Giants possess one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, and they racked up 48 sacks during the regular season. Through two games this postseason the G-Men have added six more sacks, and they harassed Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers constantly during their 37-20 win over the Packers in the Divisional Round.

Smith must remain confident and calm under pressure this Sunday. San Francisco's chances at a Super Bowl berth will almost certainly hinge on how he handles the pressure the Giants bring. 

Eli Manning Will Have to Be Almost Perfect

Smith will have to be great in the face of the Giants' pressure, but Eli Manning will have to be just as good against San Francisco's stellar defense. Manning has been on a roll of late and has been especially good late in games this season, but Jim Harbaugh's team has an outstanding defense that will stop the run and force Manning to win the game with his arm.

The Giants have had success running the ball this postseason after ranking dead last in rushing yards during the regular season, with an average of just 89.2 yards per game. In the Wild Card Round against the Atlanta Falcons, New York piled up 172 yards on the ground, and against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday they rushed for 95 more.

But in the NFC title game, the G-Men will face a San Francisco team that has the league's best rushing defense. During the regular season the 49ers allowed just 77.3 yards per game on the ground, and against the Saints in the Divisional Round they surrendered just 37 rushing yards.

For the Giants to win, Manning must throw the ball well and not make mistakes. If he does that they will have a chance. If not, the 49ers will be headed to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots Will Move the Football

The Baltimore Ravens boast a defense that finished third in the NFL in total yards allowed (288.9 yards per game), and was fourth in passing defense (196.3 yards per game) and second in rushing defense (92.6 yards per game). But this weekend, John Harbaugh's team faces a New England Patriots squad that is just tearing things up on offense.

Against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passed for 363 yards and a ridiculous six touchdowns. 

On the season, Brady completed 65.6 percent of his passes for a career-high 5,235 yards, with 39 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His passer rating of 105.6 ranked third in the league, and if anything he is playing his best football of the season right now. The 34-year-old quarterback has his team on a nine-game winning streak.

Brady is as locked-in as I've ever seen him, and he has tons of weapons at his disposal. Receivers Wes Welker and Deion Branch have both played extremely well this season, while Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez have developed into the league's best tight end tandem.

I know the Ravens possess an outstanding defense, but I just can't see the Patriots being slowed in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. Baltimore may be able to get some stops, but expecting a complete shutdown of that offensive juggernaut is unrealistic.

New England will be able to move the ball, which means Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Baltimore's offense will have to step up and answer the bell. If they don't, the Patriots will cruise to yet another AFC title.