NFC Championship Game 2012: Ted Ginn Jr. and Why Special Teams Will Be the Keys

Before we get into the details of this NFC Championship Game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers, we must refer back to the previous two postseason meetings between the teams, both played at Candlestick Park.

To say the least, special teams has played a big role in this rivalry. Here's a historical recap that puts this Giants-49ers game into perspective.

1990-91 NFC Championship: Giants at 49ers

In a game that was hard, tough and a defensive slug-fest, the Giants defeated the 49ers, 15-13, on five field goals from kicker Matt Bahr.

The final kick was the game-winner, and it ended the 49ers's dynastic hopes to become the first franchise to ever three-peat in the Super Bowl.

For the game, Bahr was five-of-six on field goals and 49ers kicker Mike Cofer was two-of-two. As you can see, the kicking game ruled the day, however, it was ironically a Giants fake punt that helped set up a field goal early in the fourth quarter to keep New York in the game.

In such a tight, defensive struggle, special teams play becomes vitally important.

Click the link to watch the first part of the 1990 NFC Championship.

2002-03 NFC Wild Card: Giants at 49ers

This game was almost the literal definition of wild, and the 39-38 victory for San Francisco ended with a special teams blunder.

Lining up for the game-winning field goal, the snap and hold were botched by the Giants. Holder Matt Allen attempted a pass, however, but it fell incomplete, as the Giants hollered for a pass interference flag that was never thrown.

Needless to say, it was a weird ending to a game in which the momentum swung riotously back and forth.

In addition to the final botched field goal, special teams played another major role in the game when New York kicker Matt Bryant missed a 42-yard field goal with just over three minutes left to play.

Had he made the kick, New York would have led 41-33 instead of 38-33. When the 49ers scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, they missed the two-point conversion, for a 39-38 lead.

If Bryant had made that missed field goal, or if he had converted the last second botched attempt, the Giants would have won the game, 41-39.

Watch highlights from this game.

2011-12 NFC Championship Game

This is where Ted Ginn, Jr. comes into play.

He finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in yards per kickoff return with 27.6 and No. 4 in yards per punt return with 12.3. On the year, Ginn accounted for 1266 total return yards, which outdoes New York's best return man by 600-plus yards (although no one on the Giants returns both kickoffs and punts).

New York as a team ranked just No. 22 in yards per kickoff return and No. 29 in yards per punt return.

As for the field goal kicking game, Lawrence Tynes connected on just 79.2 percent of his kicks (ranked No. 22).

By comparison, San Francisco's David Akers was ranked No. 14 with an 84.6 field goal percentage.

And punting only increases the 49ers's odds of victory.

Punter Andy Lee leads the league with a 50.9 yards per punt average and a 44.6 net average. New York's Steve Weatherford averaged just 45.7 yards per punt (ranked No. 14) and had a net average of only 39.2 (ranked No. 15).

With a close game expected—in line with their previous two postseason meetings—and playing in the Bay Area once again, special teams will be the difference for the Giants and 49ers.

John Rozum on Twitter.