NFC Championship Game 2012: Brandon Jacobs Will Have 49ers' Run-D Seeing Stars

The San Francisco 49ers are the hardest-hitting team in the NFL this season. Don’t believe me?

Ask the seven running backs that started the football games against the NFC West champs through the 2011 season, but were forced to sit out the remainder of the game after being hurt by the swarming 49ers.

While many of those backs were smaller or what we would call finesse backs, San Fran will have to be on their toes to stop a back like New York Giants veteran Brandon Jacobs.

The 6’4”, 264-pound Giants running back is one of the biggest in the league, and he can run like it at times. There are many games where Jacobs can get stifled behind the line of scrimmage because of his lack of acceleration, but when the big back gets a head of steam behind him, look out!

As bad as his numbers look this season—152 carries for just 571 and an average of 3.8 yards per carry—it was his seven touchdowns that had people talking. If Jacobs can hit the offensive line like New York is on the goal line every time he gets the rock, the star will be able to get into the secondary of the 49ers, where he is not scared of contact.

Jacobs told NFL.com about his team’s upcoming matchup with the 49ers:

"

I really don’t care how physical they are. It’s going to be a football game. They’re a physical bunch; we’re a physical bunch. We’re going to be out there playing ball. I’m not afraid of them, I’m not afraid of anybody on their team, I’m not afraid of anybody in their organization. I’m ready to play football.

"

As much as Jacobs is not showing fear to the media, he better be showing the 49ers the proper respect their No. 1-ranked run defense deserves. Jacobs needs to be on his A-game if he wants to back up all this talk against players like Patrick Willis and Donte Whitner, who are aiming for him now.

It was Whitner that delivered the devastating shot on New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas last week that had the ball carrier out cold. I don’t care how big Jacobs is; if he underestimates the 49ers attack, he will end up KO’d as well.

With Giants coach Tom Coughlin not allowing Jacobs' attention to stray, the powerful back will help New York chew the clock, keep the first-down chains moving and eventually win the game.

The 49ers don't get hit back very often, but Jacobs is swinging for the fences.

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