NFL Playoff Picks: Predicting Scores, Stats from Conference Championship Games

The 2012 NFL Playoffs are halfway home and the field of 12 has been whittled to four. The Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers are set to do battle next week in the conference championship games with two trips to Indianapolis and Super Bowl XLVI on the line.

Here's a look ahead at how those games could shake out, including predicted stats for each team's stars and my take on who will be advancing to Super Sunday.

Baltimore Ravens Stats for AFC Championship Game

On offense, the Baltimore Ravens are going to work to establish star running back Ray Rice early in the hopes of setting up a few deep play-action passes over the top of a suspect New England Patriots secondary. So a big game from quarterback Joe Flacco will be an absolute necessity.

On defense, the Ravens will have the unenviable task of both trying to pressure Tom Brady while not allowing the Patriots' tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaoron Hernandez to completely eviscerate single coverage over the middle.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

Passing: Joe Flacco: 20-of-37, 247 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions

Rushing: Ray Rice: 21 carries, 94 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 receptions, 31 yards

Receiving: Torrey Smith: 5 catches, 114 yards, 1 touchdown

DEFENSIVE MVP: Ray Lewis, inside linebacker: 10 tackles, 1 forced fumble

New England Patriots Stats for AFC Championship Game

For the New England Patriots on offense it's going to be business as usual.

Throw early and throw often, especially against a Baltimore Ravens defense that the Patriots have little to no shot at getting the run game going against.

Bill Belichick's defensive game plan for the Ravens will likely be twofold.

First, stack the box early in an effort to keep Ray Rice in check.

Second, pressure Joe Flacco in passing situations with a variety of blitz packages in an attempt to force an errant throw.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS:

Passing: Tom Brady: 33-of-46, 381 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception

Rushing: Aaron Hernandez: 10 carries, 41 yards, 7 receptions, 66 yards

Receiving: Rob Gronkowski: 9 receptions, 138 yards, 2 touchdowns

DEFENSIVE MVP: Devin McCourty, safety: 6 tackles, 1 interception

The Pick: Patriots by 10

The Baltimore Ravens will draw first blood as Ray Rice gets it going with a first quarter touchdown.

However, as the game progresses, the Ravens' inability to keep the New England offense off the field will force Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco to play catch up in the second half, and a late interception will seal the deal and send the Patriots on to Super Bowl XLVI.

New England Patriots 27, Baltimore Ravens 17

New York Giants Stats for NFC Championship Game

The New York Giants will have their hands full Sunday with the stout San Francisco 49ers defense, but New York head coach Tom Coughlin will likely try to hit them with a good old fashioned run game to set up the pass, trusting that quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants' talented wideouts can take the game vertical if necessary.

On defense the Giants will probably feature quite a few eight-man fronts in the early going in an effort to contain San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, while New York's formidable front four should be able to generate pressure on 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

Passing: Eli Manning: 23-of-31, 296 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception

Rushing: Ahmad Bradshaw: 16 carries, 62 yards, 4 receptions, 24 yards

Receiving: Hakeem Nicks: 9 receptions, 134 yards, 1 touchdown

DEFENSIVE MVP: Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end: 6 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble

San Francisco 49ers Stats for the NFC Championship Game

Offensively the San Francisco 49ers will probably go into this game with the exact same mindset that they do every game.

Establish the ground game with running back Frank Gore, draw the defense in, and then try to beat them over the top with a pass over the middle to wide receiver Michael Crabtree or white-hot tight end Vernon Davis.

The key for the 49ers will be keeping the New York Giants' defensive front off quarterback Alex Smith long enough for that to happen.

The San Francisco defense, led by stud linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVarro Bowman, will likely be successful in keeping the Giants rushing attack in check, leaving it up to the secondary to come up big against a talented receiving corps for the second game in a row.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

Passing: Alex Smith: 16-of-29, 232 yards, 2 interceptions

Rushing: Frank Gore: 21 carries, 101 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 receptions, 8 yards

Receiving: Vernon Davis: 5 receptions, 61 yards

DEFENSIVE MVP: Patrick Willis, inside linebacker: 12 tackles

The Pick: Giants by 2 Touchdowns

The NFC Championship Game is a Week 10 rematch between these two very evenly matched teams, a contest the 49ers emerged from victorious 27-20.

The second time around will be different, however, as the Giants will win the turnover battle, the New York pass rush will harass San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith all day long, and the G-Men will win the game and set up a much ballyhooed rematch of Super Bowl XLII.

New York Giants 27, San Francisco 49ers 13