The Giants had some unlikely stars in yesterday’s NFC Championship Game.  To me, the star of the game was WR Devin Thomas as he recovered 2 fumbles that led directly to 10 points and the game winning field goal by Lawrence Tynes.  Eli Manning had a very solid game as he completed 32 of 58 passes for 316 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Ahmad Bradshaw led the way on the ground yesterday with 74 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.7 ypc).  He also caught 6 passes for 52 yards (8.7 avg) last night.  Brandon Jacobs pitched in with 5 carries for 13 yards (2.6 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 8 yards.  WR Victor Cruz had another huge game to lead the way for the Giants in the passing game yesterday when he caught 10 passes for 142 yards.  Hakeem Nicks (5 rec, 55 yards), Mario Manningham (1 rec, 17 yards, TD) and TE/FB Bear Pascoe (1 rec, 6 yards, TD) also helped out in the passing game yesterday.  The Giants finished up with 85 yards rushing on 26 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 32 of 58 passes (55.2%) for 267 yards as they had possession of the ball for 39:36.

The defense was good against the pass, but not so good against the running game yesterday.  LB Chase Blackburn (7 tackles) and DE Jason Pierre-Paul (6 tackles, 1/2 a sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit) led the way for the Giants in this game.  The 49ers finished up with 150 yards rushing on 28 carries (5.4 ypc) and they also completed 12 of 26 passes (46.2%) for 178 yards.  The Giants now have a rematch of the last Super Bowl they won with the New England Patriots.

This is going to be a great football game for the NFC Championship this Sunday.  The Giants shocked the world by thumping the Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday, while Alex Smith and the 49ers pulled out a miracle win in the last minute against the Saints.  These are two pretty evenly matched teams.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Giants have the ball:  The Giants are just going to run the ball enough to keep the 49ers’ D honest.  Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are going to have a tough time getting a lot of yardage running the ball as Niners’ LBs Patick Willis and NaVorro Bowman have been stuffing running games all year long.  The Giants saw how well Drew Brees threw the ball last weekend and that is the attack they are going to use this Sunday.  For that to work, the offensive line is going to have to keep DE Justin Smith and OLB Aldon Smith out of Eli Manning’s face.  That will be easier said than done. When Manning does have time to throw the ball, he’s likely going to be playing a glorified game of catch with Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.  Manning will have to be somewhat careful though as Carlos Rogers has had a great year at corner for the Niners.  Manning will also likely look to keep TE Jake Ballard involved to make the Niners’ safeties pay for paying too much attention to the Giants’ WRs in this game.

When the Niners have the ball:  The Giants’ first priority has to be trying to slow down the 49ers’ impressive running game.  That won’t be easy as Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter are two pretty good RBs with a nasty run blocking O-Line in front of them.  At the same time, the Giants can’t afford to put extra players in the box as Alex Smith threw the ball pretty well last weekend.  The Giants hope to get big time pressure on Alex Smith and force him into making some mistakes.  The safeties of the Giants are going to have their hands full in dealing with TE Vernon Davis who can fly and it pretty big too.  WRs Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams don’t scare the corners of the Giants too much.  Crabtree tends to catch with alligator arms on passes over the middle.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 27, 49ERS 17

Eli Manning has completed 44 of 65 passes (67.7%) for 607 yards with 6 TD passes and 1 INT in the first two playoff games for the Giants this year.  He has also carried the ball 6 times for 23 yards (3.8 ypc) so far in the playoffs.  Manning is now 6-3 (66.7%) as a starting QB in the playoffs.  He has completed 157 of 258 passes (60.9%) in his post-season career so far, good for 1,904 yards, 14 TD passes and 8 INTs (88.7 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 17 times for 37 yards  (2.2 ypc) so far in his playoff career.  Eli Manning only has one more win to get the Giants back to the Super Bowl.  He worked some magic the last time he was in the Super Bowl with a last minute drive that helped the Giants defeat the then 18-0 New England Patriots….17-14.  Manning completed 19 of 34 passes (55.9%) for 255 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT (87.3 QB Rating) in that Super Bowl.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 4 yards (1.3 ypc).

QB Jeff Hostetler played seven years with the New York Giants.  He spent most of his time with the Giants holding a clipboard and watching Phil Simms play.  Hostetler played in 91 games (25 starts) in his 7 years with the Giants and he completed 365 of 632 passes (57.8%) for 4,409 yards with 20 TD passes and 12 INTs (81.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 133 times for 704 yards (5.3 ypc) with 9 TD runs with the Giants.  He was 16-9 (64%) during the regular season as the Giants’ starting QB.  In 1990, Phil Simms went down to an injury and he wasn’t going to play at all in the post-season.  This was Jeff Hostetler’s time to shine and he took the bull by the horns.  The Giants were 3-0 that post-season as Hostetler completed 45 of 76 passes (59.2%) for 510 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 15 times for 64 yards (4.2 ypc) with 1 TD run in the post-season.  Hostetler led the Giants to a narrow 20-19 win in the 1990 Super Bowl over the Buffalo Bills.  He completed 20 of 32 passes (62.5%) for 222 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs (93.5 QB Rating) in that Super Bowl.  He also carried the ball 6 times for 10 yards (1.7 ypc) in that game.  Hostetler took full advantage of the opportunity he got in the 1990 playoffs and Super Bowl.

Phil Simms was a pretty darn good QB back in the day for the New York Giants.  In 15 years with the Giants, Simms played in 164 games (159 starts) in which he completed 2,576 of 4,647 passes (55.4%) for 33,462 yards with 199 TD passes and 157 INTs (78.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 349 times for 1,252 yards (3.6 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  He made it to 2 Pro Bowls in his time with the Giants and he is currently the Giants’ all-time leader in both passing yards (33,462) and passing TDs (199).  Simms will likely be #2 in Giants’ history in the very near future as Eli Manning is creeping up on him.  The Giants were 94-65 (59.7%) during the regular season in games started by Simms. Simms was also 6-4 (60%) in the post season for the Giants.  He played in 10 post-season games for the Giants in this career in which he completed 157 of 279 passes (56.3%) for 1,679 yards with 10 TD passes and 6 INTs (77.0 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 30 times for 68 yards (2.4 ypc) in the post-season.  Simms saved his best effort for the 1986 Super Bowl, when his Giants punished the Broncos 39-20!  Simms completed an amazing 22 of 25 passes (88%) for 268 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs (150.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 3 times for 25 yards (8.3 ypc) in that Super Bowl.  Eli Manning is going to push Phil Simms down in the franchise record books, but he was a great player in his own right for the Giants.

The New York Giants whacked the Packers pretty good today in Lambeau Field as they played an almost perfect game.  Eli Manning was sharp tonight as he completed 21 of 33 passes for 330 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 INT.  Ahmad Bradshaw led the way on the ground for the Giants in this game with 12 carries for 63 yards (5.3 ypc).  He also caught 3 passes for 21 yards (7.0 avg).  Brandon Jacobs pitched in with 9 carries for 22 yards (2.4 ypc) with 1 TD run tonight.  WR Hakeem Nicks led the way for the Giants in this game with 7 grabs for 165 yards (23.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  WRs Victor Cruz (5 rec, 74 yards) and Mario Manningham (3 rec, 31 yards, TD) also pitched in for the Giants in this game.  The Giants finished up with 95 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 33 passes (63.6%) for 325 yards as they had possession of the ball for 29:35.

The Giants gave up a lot of yards in this game but they kept taking the ball away from the Packers, setting up good starting field position for Eli Manning and the offense.  LB Michael Boley (9 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 2 QB hits) and safety Antrel Rolle (8 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 fumble recovery) led the way for the Giants’ D in this game.  Safety Deon Grant (6 tackles, 2 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception), LB Chase Blackburn (3 tackles and 1 fumble recovery) and DE Osi Umenyiora (2 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 QB hits) also pitched in for the Giants in this game with big plays.  The Packers finished up with 147 yards rushing on 23 carries (6.4 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 46 passes (56.5%) for 241 yards in this game.  The Giants have advanced to the NFC Championship Game which will be held in San Francisco next weekend.

The New York Giants got more help from their late round picks than the early ones.  Injuries had a lot to do with that though.  Here is a look at what the rookies on the Giants did in 2011:

22-year old CB Prince Amukamara was picked in the 1st round by the Giants.  He played in 7 games for the Giants this year and he had 14 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 interception.  The Giants are hoping for more out of Amukamara in 2012 and beyond.

23-year old DT Marvin Austin was taken in the 2nd round by the Giants.  He spent his whole rookie season on the Injured Reserve List due to a nasty pectoral injury.

22-year old WR Jerrel Jernigan was picked in the 3rd round by the Giants.  He played in 8 games this year for the Giants and he didn’t catch any passes.  Jernigan did return 8 kickoffs for 186 yards (23.3 avg) this year.

24-year old OG James Brewer was picked in the 4th round of the draft.  He didn’t get into any games as a rookie for the Giants.

23-year old LB Greg Jones was a 6th round pick for the Giants.  Jones played in all 16 games for the Giants this year and he had 31 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.  He has a nice upside.

23-year old safety Tyler Sash was picked in the 6th round by the Giants.  He played in all 16 games for the Giants this year and he had 17 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.  Sash did most of his work on special teams this year, but look for an expanded role on D in the near future.

23-year old LB Jacquian Williams was a sixth round pick of the Giants.  All he did was play in all 16 games for the Giants in which he had 78 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 3 fumble recoveries and 4 passes defensed.  Williams was by far the Giants best pick in this draft and he will likely be a starter for a long, long time.

23-year old RB Da’Rel Scott was a 7th round pick.  He played in 11 games for the Giants this year and he carried the ball 5 times for 16 yards (3.2 ypc).  He also caught 2 passes for 13 yards (6.5 avg) and he returned 14 kickoffs for 341 yards (24.4 avg).  Scott made the most of his opportunities this year.

GRADE FOR 2011:  C+

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B+

The Giants belted the Falcons 24-2 last weekend while the Packers were resting up for tomorrow afternoon’s game at Lambeau Field.  DE Jason Pierre-Paul pretty much guaranteed a win in Green Bay and he’s supposed to think that way, but it won’t be easy.  The Giants lost to the Packers 38-35 in New Jersey just six weeks ago.  But, tomorrow they are playing in Green Bay, where the Packers were 8-0 last year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Giants have the ball:  The plan the Giants should have in this game is the same one they had last weekend against the Falcons.  They should try to remain balanced on offense to try to control the clock a little bit and keep the Packers’ offense on the sidelines.  RBs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs were outstanding last weekend but they will have to deal with a better front seven this weekend.  The Giants will have to fight for every yard they get on the ground tomorrow.  If Eli Manning has time to throw the ball, he’s going to have success.  WRs Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham are all healthy as well as TE Jake Ballard…..so the Giants are going to be effective throwing the ball.  Eli Manning will have to protect the ball though as the Packers have the best ballhawking secondary in the NFL.

When the Packers have the ball:  The Giants are going to have to mount a good pass rush on Aaron Rodgers, or he’s going to abuse their secondary like he did the first time these two teams played.  He has so many weapons in the passing game that it’s almost impossible to double anyone without getting burnt when he throws the ball to someone else.  WRs Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson are Rodgers’ favorite targets, but he doesn’t hesitate to throw the ball to WR Randall Cobb, TE Jermichael Finley, WR Donald Driver and James Jones.  RBs Ryan Grant and James Starks will get some carries if the Giants have to many DBs on the field.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 41, GIANTS 34

The Giants dominated the Falcons yesterday on both sides of the football.  Eli Manning looked pretty sharp yesterday as he completed 23 of 32 passes for 277 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 2 times for 13 yards (6.5 ypc) in this game.  Brandon Jacobs was a beast in this game as he rushed for 92 yards on 14 carries (6.6 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 8 yards.  Ahmad Bradshaw also had a solid game with 14 carries for 63 yards (4.5 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 22 yards (4.4 avg).  WR Hakeem Nicks led the way for the Giants in this game with 6 grabs for 115 yards (19.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Mario Manningham (4 rec, 68 yards, TD) and Victor Cruz (2 rec, 28 yards) also pitched in for the Giants in this game.  The Giants finished up with 172 yards rushing on 31 carries (5.5 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 32 passes (71.9%) for 270 yards as they had possession of the ball for 34:34.

The defense was outstanding for the Giants last night.  Safety Antrel Rolle (9 tackles), LB Chase Blackburn (9 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and DE Jason Pierre-Paul (8 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss) led the way for the Giants in this game.  The Falcons finished up with 64 yards rushing on 21 carries (3.0 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 41 passes (58.5%) for 183 yards.  The Giants are moving on to play the Packers in Green Bay next weekend.

The Giants and Falcons have won three of their last four games.  The Falcons are 4-4 on the road this year and the Giants are 4-4 at home.  These two teams are very well matched up in what should be a good game.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Giants have the ball:  The Giants are going to come out passing the ball in this game.  Eli Manning should have plenty of time to throw the ball, so he’s going to be looking deep to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz often in this game.  The Falcons are giving up 236.6 yards passing per game, so the Giants should have very little problem moving the ball through the air.  Look for the Giants to keep Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs heavily involved in the running game this Sunday in an effort to force the Falcons to play somewhat honest defensively.

When the Falcons have the ball:  The Giants’ front seven better tighten up the chinstraps this Sunday as Michael Turner is going to be blasting away at them in this game.  The Giants gave up 121.3 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry this year, so Turner is likely going to have some success.  The Giants are going to send DE Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks) and the rest of the guys after Matt Ryan.  They need to get to Ryan, because if he has time to throw the ball…the Giants are going to be into big trouble.  Ryan will be looking short to WR Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzalez.  But the safeties will have to help out over the top against the game breaking Julio Jones.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 33, GIANTS 30