Giants vs. Niners: How they match up

A Giants win would mean . . .

A fifth Super Bowl appearance and a chance for a fourth Lombardi Trophy. They would face either the Ravens or the Patriots, both of which would carry a storyline of redemption. The Ravens beat the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, while the Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

A Giants loss would mean . . .

The end of the season and the first time the Giants lost in an NFC Championship Game. They have won and advanced to the Super Bowl in each of the four previous times they've gotten this far. It would also mean the 49ers would go to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1994 season.

ONE ON ONE

Victor Cruz vs. Carlos Rogers

The Giants' receiver is miffed that Rogers swiped his signature salsa moves after intercepting a pass against him and Eli Manning when the teams faced each other on Nov. 13. It was one of Rogers' two picks in that game (he had six on the season). While Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham have combined for six playoff touchdowns, Cruz has yet to reach the end zone since the end of the regular season. He'd like for nothing more than to do that on Sunday and take back his dance moves.

When the Giants run . . .

They'll be going up against a team that allowed only 77.3 rushing yards per game during the regular season and only three rushing touchdowns, the fewest by any team since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Their two linebackers, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, are physical tacklers. Ahmad Bradshaw did not play when the teams met in November but will be available to the Giants this time.

When the Giants pass . . .

They should have opportunities to make plays as long as they keep the ball away from the 49ers. San Francisco led the NFL with 38 takeaways, 23 of them coming on interceptions. The soggy field may slow them down, but Eli Manning has been able to find Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and a resurgent Mario Manningham for big plays in the last few weeks.

When the Niners run . . .

The Giants didn't get a full blast of Frank Gore when they played during the regular season because he was injured. The 49ers' all-time leading rusher appears healthy now after running for 89 yards and adding 39 receiving yards against the Saints last Saturday. But he had five straight 100-yard rushing games at one point before his injury and hasn't had one since. Take away the quarterback scrambles (including 66 rushing yards by Aaron Rodgers last week) and the Giants have allowed 142 yards in two playoff games.

When the Niners pass . . .

Look out for tight end Vernon Davis who had a monster game against the Saints in the divisional round (7 catches, 180 yards, 2 TDs). Davis also scored a TD against the Giants in the regular season. The Giants' secondary has been cohesive for over a month now and they did a good job of limiting Jermichael Finley of the Packers and the only tight end to score on them in the last six games was Josh Baker of the Jets. Alex Smith had the fewest interceptions among starting quarterbacks this season with 5 and he didn't throw any in his first playoff win last week.

Special teams . . .

Kicker David Akers of the 49ers set NFL records for most field goals (44) and field goals attempted (52) in 2011 and was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams. Akers got the Giants with onsides kicks in the regular season and also last year when he was with the Eagles, so the Giants need to stay alert for that. Ted Ginn Jr. is the 49ers' dangerous return player, but he may not be available due to injury. Steve Weatherford has been terrific for the Giants in the postseason allowing just one of his six punts to even be fielded. Lawrence Tynes has missed a field goal attempt in each of his two playoff games this year.

Intangibles . . .

The 49ers, with their reliance on running the ball and their ability to stop the run, will have a big advantage if the rain-soaked turf at Candlestick Park turns into a quagmire. Having already beaten the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Giants feel they can beat any team. Both teams, if honest, are glad to be facing the other rather than the potential other opponent from the divisional round.

Giants key stat

144.6

Eli Manning's fourth-quarter passer rating in the playoffs this year where he has completed 13 of 15 passes for 138 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Niners key stat

+32

The 49ers' turnover ratio in the regular season and postseason combined. They have forced 43 turnovers and given the ball away only 11 times, leading the league on both ends.

Lineup twist

Michael Boley had to leave the Nov. 13 game with a hamstring injury right before halftime and the 49ers scored their only two touchdowns in areas where Boley conceivably would have been in position to stop them. Boley has been playing at close to 100 percent recently and will have a big role in slowing down the 49ers.