Giants vs. 49ers: Hakeem Nicks and Big Blue's Offense Will Fly Past San Fran

In the past two weeks, I've picked against the New York Giants.

Hell, I was even ready to pick against them this week, when they travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I've learned my lesson. I think the Giants will beat the 49ers, namely behind the passing game and the brilliant play of Hakeem Nicks, who has already compiled 13 catches for 280 yards and four touchdowns this postseason.

I was ready to write that the 49ers' excellent turnover differential this season—in 17 games, they are plus-32—would ultimately sway the game in San Francisco's direction.

It was the same point I made last week in favor of the Green Bay Packers, who were plus-24 in the regular season. And then the Packers went ahead and turned the ball over four times against the Giants, a huge factor in New York's 37-20 victory.

Sure, the 49ers forced five turnovers last weekend against the Saints, which in my opinion was the difference in a game where Drew Brees threw for 462 yards and four touchdowns against them.

But would San Francisco have defeated the Saints without those turnovers?

Will they be able to stop an explosive Giants passing attack and offense that has only turned the ball over one time this postseason?

I don't think so. Here's why.

The 49ers played six of the top 10 passing offenses in the NFL this year. In those games, they went 5-1 despite giving up an average of 359.5 passing yards per game and 12 total passing touchdowns.

But in the five games they won, they forced 14 turnovers. That stat looks even more impressive when you take out their win over Detroit, who didn't turn the ball over.

That's right—they forced 14 turnovers in four wins over elite passing offenses that each threw the ball for more than 300 yards against them. Three of those wins were by seven points or fewer.

Turnovers saved them.

I know this may seem to have strayed from the premise of the title, but the point I'm making here is a simple one—if the Giants don't turn the ball over, the 49ers won't slow their excellent passing attack, and the Giants will win.

Elite passing offenses have proven they can successfully attack the 49ers secondary, and San Francisco will have their hands full with elite playmakers like Nicks and Victor Cruz. Honestly, how will the 49ers handle Nicks?

If they pay extra attention to Nicks' side, Victor Cruz—who hasn't reached the end zone yet this postseason—is perfectly capable of killing them with a long touchdown reception.

Then again, with the way the Giants defense has played of late—and a Giants offense that has protected the ball this postseason—New York probably won't need 37 points to win this week.

Expect Eli Manning to pass the Giants past the 49ers this weekend.

As long as he doesn't pass the ball to 49ers defenders, that is.

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