For the Giants, keeping Eli Manning upright is paramount for a Giants victory.  Excellent pass protection by the Giants offensive line will a critical factor in this game.  This is important because the Giants running game is still struggling. 

Four years ago, when the Giants made their miracle run and won a Super Bowl Championship, they had a solid offensive line.  The 2011 Giants have a patchwork line which has held up.  But the run blocking has been poor for most of this season.  Despite offensive line coach Pat Flaherty's grueling tests, the Giants still have not figured everything out.  The result has been inconsistency.  Indeed, the Giants running game churned out a season best 172 yards on the ground versus Atlanta, but this had as much to do with the Falcons offense not controlling the ball.  The Giants had a nine minute advantage in time of possession in that game, and wore down the defense.   

Bereft of a formidable rushing attack, the Giants have been winning because of Number 10.  And if this Giants offensive line cannot give him time to throw, their chances of making it to Indianapolis will be small. 

Prior to the Giants Wildcard game against the Falcons, star defensive end John Abraham said the following: “Pretty much just try and get as much pressure on him as possible.  He does a great job with his play-action fakes, he does a great job of getting the ball out quick. In order for us to have a good day, we’re going to have to get in his face and have him move out of the pocket.”  Even though the Falcons had two sacks (one of which resulted in a safety), for a majority of the game Eli had time to throw the football.  Give seasoned Eli time to throw, it is death for the opponent.  Manning dissected the Falcons defense in their 24-2 win. 

Last week, the Packers defense did not generate enough pressure at all.  Because of this, once again, Eli Manning was able to take control of this game.  Without question, if if was not for a feckless referee named Bill Leavy, this game would have been a blowout.  Getting back to the impotent Packers pass rush, NFL Films guru Greg Cosell viewed the tape of the Giants vs Packers match up.  Cosell's take: "Packers were unable to generate consistent pressure on Manning, Focus was inside with LB blitz.  And Manning with his stellar play, sent the Packers packing." 

Can the Giants offensive line play well against the 49ers defensive line?  

This is going to be a difficult task.  Against the Saints, the 49ers defensive line manhandled them.  Cosell points out, the "49ers (have) a very disruptive 4 man pass rush.  They got bodies around Brees... (the) 49ers pass rush was a factor all game, Brees was not as comfortable as he normally is."

Prior to the start of the playoffs this NY Giants blog mentioned the significance of Antrel Rolle and his emergence in the leadership role.  He “lit a fire” under his teammates that played a part in their turnaround.

I noted in my look back at the Green Bay game that it seems like recently every time we have had a 3rd and 10 that Easy Eli has been there to keep the drive alive with a huge completion. If it seems that way to anyone else too, there is good reason. Eli has been lights out on 3rd/medium-3rd/long. Not good, not great-LIGHTS OUT. Nearly perfect.

Here's the thing, the chart below contains all twenty of the Giants 3rd/5-3rd/15 snaps (3rd and medium-3rd and long) since the Dallas game. I decided to leave out anything 3rd and 15+, which as we all know is nearly impossible to convert and teams make their calls on those plays with that in mind.

As we all have seen, Eli has played some of his best football over this stretch. Pretty impressive to say, especially in a season that was filled with plenty of that for him. A short note about each of the unbelievable completions that Eli has made on third down is also included in the table below.

If you're someone who is interested in this stuff then feel free to read the chart. It's pretty remarkable stuff. If you're someone who a) doesn't care about these things or b) doesn't understand them then head to the bottom where the stats I will give gets the message across just as well.

That message is this: EVEN ON A MICRO LEVEL (3rd down, where QBs make their money), ELI MANNING IS CLUTCH. We all have heard it in regards to his play in the 4th quarter or in the playoffs, but these stats should add another layer to that clutch reputation on an even more detailed level.

If you're still with me then here is the important stuff from all of that.

Eli Manning last three games on 3rd/5-3rd-15 (3rd/medium-3rd/long):
20 plays-15/16, 287 yards, 17.9 ypa, 14 first downs, 1 INT, 2 sacks, 1 rush

15/16!!! Are you kidding me. Just incredible stuff. This guy is playing some of his best football of the season, one that has been the best of his career. Is it possible he is getting better? Sure is. Seems like Eli is getting more and more efficent with each game.

Let's not forget, all three of these games were outdoors (that's right, I'm talking to you Drew Brees) and while it didn't feel like winter in the Dallas or Atlanta games, it is still not a dome.

By game:

GB: 5/6 92 yds

ATL: 5/5 89 yds

DAL: 5/5 111 yds 

By reciever:

Cruz: 5 catches for 111 yards

Nicks: 5 for 71

Manningham: 3 for 49

Ballard: 1 for 17

Pascoe: 1 for 12

Bradshaw: 1 for 18

Thomas: 1 for 14

Some closing thoughts....

-The consistencey with which Eli has played on these plays is pretty remarkable and if the Giants can figure out a way to start converting the short ones out in SF and possibly beyond, then this will be a close to unstoppable offense.

-Another thing to take away from this is that whille sure, Eli tends to favor his stars a bit in the clutch, he has no biases as to who he will throw to. Get open and the ball is yours. It's that simple with Eli.

In conclusion, just another angle to analyze quarterback who has proven time and time again that he plays his best when it matters most. Truly impressive. I have no doubt that he will bring that level of play to Candlestick Park on Sunday.

ALL IN!

follow Rich Conforti on Twitter: @richconforti

Factoid provided by Bob Christ:

Since 1970, teams eliminating the defending world champs in the conference playoffs are 0-13 in their next game if it's not the Super Bowl.  All 13 losses were by at least 7 points.

There are some players that you can see who are ready to letdown.  I'm not worried about guys like Manning and Tuck.  The ones who went to Super Bowl XLII know how each game gets tougher.  I'm thinking about guys like Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, Michael Boley, Linval Joseph and Jaquian Williams, to name just a few.  It doesn't have to be a full game, all it has to be is a half.  A drop or two on offense.  A missed tackle on defense.  

This is the week of the possible letdown.  This is the week where Coughlin earns his money for having the team continue to play at a super high level.  If this score is tied at the end of Q1 and Q2, that will be a huge battle won. 

Let's take an example of a team we all know and love, the Philadelphia Eagles.  They played a wild card game in the 2008 playoffs, then they played the defending champion NY Giants in the NFC Divisional Round.  They upset them and then went on the road vs the Arizona Cardinals.  And they letdown.  They were flat and by the time they reached the half, they were down 24-6.  They had to climb out of an 18 point hole, which they did, but they still lost in the end.  This is a perfect example of what it looks like to be part of an 0-13 statistic.  I believe the Giants are the better team.  But will they also be the better team this Sunday?!  It's up to the Giants to be a statistic or to be at Super Bowl XLVI.

1-13!!  Play the game!!

Reminder on Sunday to follow us on Twitter during the game.

Two Parts today.  Part 1 has a few more comments on the Giants-Packers.  Part 2 has a Preview of the Giants- Niners.

PART ONE: Giants-Packers Review

1) I can't believe I didn't put this one in the recap: the Giants only had three penalties!  Great stuff.  That stat alone is so big.  If you tell us that the Gmen will only have 3 penalties this coming weekend, you'll know this team is in great shape to win it because it means they are all concentrating and focused. 

1a) Considering one penalty was a jobber on Snee and another was on Osi's phantom, that really means only ONE penalty all game!  Thanks again Bill Leavy, with friends like you, who needs enemies?!  (The only legit penalty was an offsides on Bernard in Q1.)

2) As PaddlePedal noted, the Giants used JPP to slow down the receiving TE (Finley).  The Giants would be wise to change the timing SOME of the time by using this scheme a little bit to confuse Smith even more.  Of course, rest assured that the well-coached Niners will dissect that tape and bring it to Davis's and Smith's attention.

3) Given how the Packers had such trouble with timing and dropped balls, do ANY of you think if we had to play them again this Sunday that we'd win?  After rewatching some of the game and all the misses, I'd say no.  But you only get 1 chance to win, TFB.

4) This is a link which traces the first elements of the defensive turnaround in the Giants' season.  Fits fine with the concrete evidence of much more use of man coverage.

5)  The Giants increased their use of press coverage to 28% of the time versus the Packers.  In previous games it looked pretty low.  It was not tracked after Manningham scored (30-13), because at that point the Giants went to a softer coverage.

PART TWO: Giants-Niners Preview

I went back and rewatched the first game these teams played at Week 10.

1) First off, Bradshaw was out of the game. Second, Boley and Ross both had to leave with injuries.

2) Braylon Edwards is no longer on the SF 49ers.  This is big imo because he was able to create problems for Aaron Ross. (Webster drew Crabtree most of the time.)

3) The defense gave up the typical big 21 yarder to Crabtree in zone.  And Vernon Davis rumbled for a big TD on a blown coverage.  I'd like to think these things are going to happen with less frequency, and the Giants defense is playing with far more certainty and confidence now.

4) 75% of the time Alex Smith went to his first read.  He telegraphs.  He went off his second read the other 25%, when he had time and not because he was looking off a safety.  Smith used his checkdowns when he ran out of time.  How many times did Smith go to his 3rd read?  NONE.  Zero.

5) I noticed something on the tape and Wonder said the same thing- Gore is not 100%, so believe it or not, Hunter is more of a threat.

6) Wonder: "Ball security and non-stupidity take the place of last week's agression.  If the Giants do that, I think they'll win."

7) The 49ers pulled a successful on-sides kick in Q2.  The Giants were ready for it vs GB.  I would highly doubt that Harbaugh would call one this game.

8) Between a Cruz drop and an uncharacteristic miss by Manning on an open Nicks, the Giants will have their opportunities.   

9) PLAY SF WITH A LEAD.  Make them uncomfortable, take them out of their rhythm and comfort zone.  And don't be a putz Gilbride, attack them and respect Smith (and the SF ability to score) just as much as Rodgers.

10) I know we need to respect the Niners, because they won 13 games and got their business done this season.  But when I look at this schedule they played against, I am honestly underwhelmed. 

11) The Giants were 1 for 4 in the red zone.  Yes, this Niner defense is stingy in the red zone.  The lone TD in the red zone was a perfect pass and catch by MM in the back of the end zone.  You cannot waste plays down there, Gilbride.  When you have second and 6, you can't lollygag around, hand off the ball for no gain and think that's ok.  At the 50 yard line that is football.  In the red zone, it is near certain death.  If Ballard (hobbled) is ineffective and unable to get any separation, use Pascoe and/or Beckum down there.  Don't think I am kidding- line up Jacobs in the slot as a TE and use that 6'4" beast to help you.  1 for 4 will not cut it.

12) Give Smith different looks at the line of scrimmage.  Smith has improved, but he's still no Tom Brady.  Remember the NE game?  The Giants showed Brady blitz.  Sometimes they blitzed and sometimes they backed away.  Even Brady had some difficulty with that.  Smith will too. 

13) Eli threw 2 picks.  There were three games this season where Eli threw more than 1 INT, and the Giants lost all three games.  SF, SEA, and WAS.  Get the picture?!  Eli is playing at a very high level and I am expecting the exact opposite- his poise, focus and confidence will elevate the team.