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Surprising Giants and 49ers set for NFC clash
Source: Agencies |
January 21, 2012, Saturday
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FEW predicted the San Francisco 49ers would be hosting the New York Giants in the NFC championship game tomorrow for a shot at the Super Bowl.
Most believed the road to the Super Bowl would go through Lambeau Field until the Giants toppled defending champion Green Bay 37-20 last weekend, setting up the trip to the West Coast to face the upstart 49ers.
San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh's "mighty men" as he calls them stunned Drew Brees and the favored New Orleans Saints 36-32 when quarterback Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis for the game-winning, 14-yard touchdown with 9 seconds remaining.
Smith knows the 49ers and Giants showed it's anybody's game come playoff time.
"These teams at this point, we're all capable of beating each other," Smith said.
Just as intriguing will be the AFC championship game in Foxborough. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are hosting thanks to a high-powered offense that piled up points and yards.
Linebacker Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens got there with a hard-hitting defense that made it tough for opponents to score.
"We've got our hands full this week," Lewis said. "You watched what they did last week against Denver, just the way they came out and ran their offense, how efficient (Brady) was, how many different receivers he hit with the ball. I think their offense, period, is playing at a very high level."
Brady picked apart the Denver defense in a 45-10 divisional playoff win. By halftime, Brady had thrown five of his six touchdown passes. He had plenty of time to survey the field as the Broncos put little pressure on him. The Ravens don't plan to let that happen.
"You don't want him to zone in, get in his zone, so to say," says Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs, who led the AFC with 14 sacks. "So I think pressure is going to be crucial, but it's always crucial. But, particularly when you are playing these type of quarterbacks, it's pivotal."
"It's a very clever offense," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. "It's well put together."
Most believed the road to the Super Bowl would go through Lambeau Field until the Giants toppled defending champion Green Bay 37-20 last weekend, setting up the trip to the West Coast to face the upstart 49ers.
San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh's "mighty men" as he calls them stunned Drew Brees and the favored New Orleans Saints 36-32 when quarterback Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis for the game-winning, 14-yard touchdown with 9 seconds remaining.
Smith knows the 49ers and Giants showed it's anybody's game come playoff time.
"These teams at this point, we're all capable of beating each other," Smith said.
Just as intriguing will be the AFC championship game in Foxborough. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are hosting thanks to a high-powered offense that piled up points and yards.
Linebacker Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens got there with a hard-hitting defense that made it tough for opponents to score.
"We've got our hands full this week," Lewis said. "You watched what they did last week against Denver, just the way they came out and ran their offense, how efficient (Brady) was, how many different receivers he hit with the ball. I think their offense, period, is playing at a very high level."
Brady picked apart the Denver defense in a 45-10 divisional playoff win. By halftime, Brady had thrown five of his six touchdown passes. He had plenty of time to survey the field as the Broncos put little pressure on him. The Ravens don't plan to let that happen.
"You don't want him to zone in, get in his zone, so to say," says Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs, who led the AFC with 14 sacks. "So I think pressure is going to be crucial, but it's always crucial. But, particularly when you are playing these type of quarterbacks, it's pivotal."
"It's a very clever offense," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. "It's well put together."
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