NFC Championship Game 2012: 5 Players to Watch from the San Francisco 49ers

The following five San Francisco 49ers are the ones to watch during the 2012 NFC Championship matchup against the New York Giants.

1. Michael Crabtree

If there was one offensive player for the 49ers that looked overwhelmed in their 36-32 win over the Saints, it might have been Crabtree. He had a few balls hit off his hands that he normally catches. 

On Sunday, the 49ers may need him to pick up the slack if Vernon Davis is better contained than the 180 yards he latched onto against the Saints. Crabtree, the 49ers' best receiver, will be expected to fill that role.

2. Ted Ginn

Ginn will be the most explosive special teams player on the field Sunday, and sometimes having a weapon like that can change the course of a game between two evenly matched teams.

The Giants did well in limiting him in the first meeting, but one or two poorly placed punts could mean one or two drives where either the 49ers offense doesn't need to come on the field or are given tremendous field position.

3. Vernon Davis

We already mentioned him above, but it's worth noting how important Davis was to the 49ers' win over the Saints.

Three plays stick out: His first quarter touchdown that put the 49ers on the board; a fourth quarter catch down the far sidelines that set up Alex Smith's quarterback sweep for a score; and, finally, the final touchdown catch, where Davis out-muscled Roman Harper at the goal line. Does he have three impact plays in him against the Giants?

4. Aldon Smith

The 49ers' pass rushing sensation was a force against the New Orleans Saints Sunday and has been tough to block for most of the season. Against the Giants, Smith needs to be a factor coming off Eli Manning's blind side.

Far too often during the Giants' current streak, Manning has been afforded all day to throw the football. Smith and his pass-rushing troops can help keep Manning uncomfortable which, as history shows, can result in big turnovers from the Giants' quarterback.

5. Carlos Rogers

No receiver in these playoffs has had a bigger impact than New York's Hakeem Nicks, who has almost 300 yards receiving and four touchdowns in two games. Rogers will draw his name Sunday, and it'll be his job to ensure that Nicks' run at beating cornerbacks for big plays ends in San Francisco.