NFL Playoff Schedule 2012: Defense Will Dominate NFC Championship Game

The 49ers' and Giants' offenses were dominant in the divisional playoffs because they were playing soft defenses. They won't get that luxury on Sunday. The Saints and Packers both had historically strong offenses, but their defenses were at best inconsistent, and at worst downright bad. 

That can't be said about either the Giants or 49ers. As a result, we're going to see a game dominated by defense. The majority of the points scored will come from the field-position battle and turnovers. 

The 49ers were second in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing only 14.3 points per game. The Giants were 25th, which looks like a mismatch. But if you look a little deeper, New York's defense is right on par with the 49ers'.

Since beating the Cowboys 37-34 in Week 14, the Giants have allowed 14.6 points a game, losing only once. In the playoffs, they pitched a defensive shutout against the Falcons (Atlanta recorded a safety for their only score), and allowed only 20 points to Green Bay's high-powered attack. 

All of a sudden, the defensive statistics look a lot more even, suggesting that the defenses will play big. 

That is what we're going to see on Sunday, especially since Weather.com is currently calling for showers in San Francisco on Sunday, and precipitation on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Candlestick Park historically does not take rain well. So, when the area gets even a little bit of rain, it turns into a pile of slush. So, many of the big plays that we saw from Vernon Davis and Hakeem Nicks in the divisional games are not going to happen.

The passes won't be as smooth, and the cuts won't be as sharp. When they find a way to get the ball and make the cuts, they will pay for catching the ball. Ask Pierre Thomas.

This game is going to come down to turnovers, and that is an advantage to the 49ers. The 49ers had a plus-28 turnover ratio on the season, while the Giants were only plus-seven. San Francisco has the players in the secondary to take advantage of early passes caused by their pass rush. The Giants have the pass rush, but lack the secondary. 

So, they will get to Alex Smith and get sacks in the game. But Smith threw only five interceptions on the season, and zero against the Saints on Saturday. He knows the difference between taking a sack and forcing a bad pass. 

Eli Manning is a better passer, but that's going to get him into more trouble. He'll convert a few big plays, but will also force a pass or two that shouldn't be thrown. That will be the difference in the game. 

One way or the other, the NFC Championship Game will see a lot of defense. It will be hard hitting and whatever team comes out victorious will be happy to get the bye week before the Super Bowl.

It won't be a shootout like the 49ers had against the Saints, or a blowout like the Giants enjoyed in Green Bay. It will be a grinding, ugly game, which suits both teams fine.

Prediction: 49ers 24, Giants 20

NFL Playoff Schedule

	Date	Teams	Time (EST)	TV
AFC Championship Game	Sunday, Jan. 22	Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots	3 p.m	CBS
NFC Championship Game	Sunday, Jan. 22	New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers	6:30 p.m.	FOX

	Date	Teams	Time (EST)	TV
Super Bowl XLVI (Lucas Oil Dome. Indianapolis, Indiana)	Sunday, Feb. 5	NFC Champion vs. AFC Champion	6:25 p.m.	NBC

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