NFC Championship Game 2012: 3 Keys to 49ers Staving off Giants' Upset Bid

It certainly wasn't the NFC Championship matchup most were expecting, but the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants will engage in a fierce battle on Sunday to earn the right to play in the Super Bowl. The Niners outlasted the Giants 27-20 during the regular season, but it won't be easy to beat the red-hot G-Men again.

Due to home-field advantage, the 49ers are slight favorites in the game, but it isn't a stretch to suggest that the Giants are the better and more complete team right now. Due to that, the Niners are going to have to execute in every aspect to come out on top.

Here are the three biggest keys to the 49ers knocking off the Giants. 

Win the Special Teams Battle

It is often an understated part of the game, but special teams can often mean the difference between winning and losing a tightly-contested battle. When you take the Giants and 49ers' offenses and defenses into account, the teams are pretty much even. One aspect that may give the Niners a slight advantage, however, is their excellence on special teams and in the kicking game in particular.

Niners kicker David Akers and punter Andy Lee were both selected to the Pro Bowl and for good reason. Akers set an NFL record this season with 44 field goals made and he connected at an 85 percent rate to boot, while Lee averaged nearly 51 yards per punt. Field position is likely to be at a premium with two top defenses involved, so Lee's punting and Akers' ability to hit crucial field goals will be of the utmost importance. 

Get Frank Gore Going

Throughout the regular season, the key to the 49ers' offense was running back Frank Gore. Although he was banged up over the course of the year, he still managed over 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. Gore hasn't eclipsed 100 yards in his past eight games, though, and that is a steak the San Francisco offense should be aiming to end.

When the Niners faced the Giants during the regular season, Gore gained no yards on six carries. While some of that had to do with an injury, the Giants also were excellent at the point of attack. I'm not sure the 49ers can get away with leaning heavily on quarterback Alex Smith to win the game for the second consecutive week, but if Gore can have some success on the ground, then it will open up the entire offense.

Protect the Ball by Any Means Necessary

The 49ers' hallmark and main reason for success during the regular season was their ability to protect the football on offense and take it away on defense. They threw just five interceptions as a team and lost a mere two fumbles, so they were about as flawless as a team can be in that department. With the way that the Giants defense is currently playing in terms of rushing the passer and being physical with receivers, San Fran will have to continue to hold onto the ball for dear life.

Some might say that relying on that type of perfection is a dangerous game, but the 49ers made it work over the course of an entire season. Protecting the football is what has set them apart from the field and there is no way they can stray from it now. The Giants were able to beat the Green Bay Packers last week because they capitalized on their mistakes. The 49ers can't afford to make any.