Giants vs. 49ers Predictions: Predicting Score, Top Stat Stuffers of NFC Champ

While the paths both teams took to get to the NFC Championship Game may have been different, in the end, both the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants are hoping for the same results.

After watching the 49ers win in the final seconds of the divisional game against the New Orleans Saints and see the New York Giants manhandle the 15-1 Green Bay Packers, there is no doubt that defense will have some sort of effect on this game.

While the 49ers have relied on a stellar defense throughout the season (ranked fourth overall in total defense over the regular season), the unit almost broke, allowing the Saints' high-powered offense back into the contest.

The Giants, a team built by Tom Coughlin and his staff for the playoffs, is playing some of the best football of the season, led by Eli Manning, who has averaged just under 300 yards per contest in both the regular season and playoffs.

The Giants will rely on their two receivers, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, who both caught balls for over 1,000 yards during the regular season.

The 49ers counter with Michael Crabtree, who has improved the past two seasons and was the hero of last week's 36-32 win, and tight end Vernon Davis, who is steadily becoming a favorite target of Alex Smith.

The one thing the New York Giants can do is run the ball. Coughlin has built this team to be effective with a strong ground game that opens up the passing game for Manning and Co.

Both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs seem equally up to the task. While they were not as successful against the Packers, the two combined for over 150 yards on the ground against the Atlanta Falcons.

San Francisco counters with Frank Gore, who may be one of the most underrated runners in the game. The 49ers offense runs (no pun intended) through him to open up the passing game and keep defenses honest. Gore had 89 yards in last week's win and 1,211 yards in the regular season.

On the defensive side of the ball, the 49ers defense finished fourth overall in the regular season in total defense. The unit also finished first in overall rushing defense, giving up only 77.2 yards per contest. It may be a long day for both Bradshaw and Jacobs.

The Giants may have been ranked 27th overall in defense in the regular season, but they pitched a shutout in the 24-2 win over the Falcons and constantly put pressure on Aaron Rodgers in the 37-20 win last week in Green Bay.

In the end, two things will separate the two teams; the home-field advantage and the defense that allowed the New Orleans Saints to creep back in the game, but did not break.

The playoffs are about survival, not about statistics. Smith played the best season of his career with Jim Harbaugh playing the role of Bill Walsh as the savior as this team.

Smith was no Joe Montana this year, but he did manage football games and played well enough to win them, not lose them.

Manning may throw the ball all over the field, but the surface at The 'Stick is a little different with moisture and humidity and could be a difference-maker. Look for the Giants to try to establish the run first, then allow Manning to use Cruz and Nicks in the red zone against the San Francisco secondary.

Does Manning still have some of that playoff magic left? Can Smith provide another heroic effort? Does Davis become a hero again?

And can the improbable ride continue for the upstart 49ers?

I think so, and a trip to Indianapolis will be this youthful team's reward.

Final Score: San Francisco 27, New York Giants 23