Giants vs 49ers: Resurgent Running Game Gives Giants Offense Balance

The resurgence of the New York Giants running game in the NFL playoffs has been a welcome sight to an offense that relied too much on the right arm of quarterback Eli Manning this season.

The Giants rushing attack was ranked dead last in football this season, averaging 89.2 yards per game on the ground this season. However, in the playoffs, Big Blue's running game has rushed for a combined 267 yards in two wins over the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers.

Against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the NFC Championship game, the Giants will face the league's best run defense.

For the Giants running game to succeed against the strong 49ers defense, it needs to be consistent throughout the game.

Per NBC Sports:

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“We did make some plays, some chunk runs, toward the end of the game and at the half, which substantiated our numbers,” Coughlin said. “But the consistency I don’t think was there to the extent that we would want it. So that would be the number one thing.”

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While the success of Manning and the passing offense will determine the outcome for the Giants, the running game's improvement in the playoffs has given the team a much needed balance on offense.

Having success the on the ground this week would make the 49ers respect it, and therefore the star receivers for the Giants would have an easier time getting open downfield.

To be effective against the 49ers run defense, the Giants need to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. New York's offensive line needs play well in this game for the Giants to have any shot at reaching another Super Bowl.

With running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw (who didn't play in the Week 10 game at San Francisco) healthy and playing well, the Giants have a good balance on offense that will certainly help them in Sunday's NFC title game.

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