Giants vs. 49ers: 5 Players Who Will Suffer in the Rainy Weather

When the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers square off Sunday afternoon in the NFC Championship game they will do so without the cooperation of Mother Nature, as significant rain in the Bay Area is going to make for a soggy field at Candlestick.

The inclement weather may well be one of the big story lines of the game, and here's a look at a handful of players who could have some issues Sunday because of it.

Alex Smith: QB, San Francisco 49ers

It's not like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith was under any pressure today, playing in his first conference championship game against one of the most fearsome pass rushes in the National Football League.

Now the seventh year pro will also have to contend with a wet football, and the last thing Smith needs is for a poorly gripped pass to sail on him and wind up in the hands of a Giants defender.

Victor Cruz: WR, New York Giants

A large part of New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz's breakout second season in the NFL has been his ability to use his speed to get behind defenses, as evidenced by his robust 18.7 yards per catch this year.

However, Candlestick Park isn't exactly a "fast" track when it's dry, and with the field soaking wet Cruz may be robbed of some of that breakaway speed he's relied on so much.

Carlos Rogers: CB, San Francisco 49ers

Carlos Rogers has enjoyed a solid sixth season the National Football League, intercepting six passes for a San Francisco 49ers defense that tied for first in the league in takeaways this year.

However, a wet track can sometimes be even more detrimental to defensive backs than wide receivers, as the wideouts know the route they're supposed to run while cornerbacks have to react to them, making a costly slip more likely.

Lawrence Tynes: K, New York Giants

A wet field is a kicker's worst nightmare, as not only does keeping the ball dry become an issue but a slip by a kicker's plant leg will almost certainly send the ball sputtering off to nogoodville.

Most of what I just said could apply to San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers as much as it does to Lawrence Tynes of the Giants, but Akers is about as money as they come at the position, so if a kicker's apt to doink one because of the weather my money's on Tynes.

Scott Tolzien: QB, San Francisco 49ers

Unless something absolutely cataclysmic happens Sunday odds are San Francisco 49ers third-string quarterback Scott Tolzien will spend the game glued firmly to the bench.

However, sitting in the rain for four hours just isn't good for you, and the rookie from Wisconsin is apt to end up with a wicked case of the sniffles.