SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants boasted a physical, intimidating defence with athletic linebackers and stout linemen capable of stifling the NFLs most productive offences. nfl jerseys china . San Francisco featured a high-powered passing attack led by an eventual Hall of Fame quarterback in his prime with receivers capable of turning short passes into big gains. When the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC championship game Sunday for a shot at the Super Bowl, the matchup conjures memories from a previous era of this great rivalry -- even if the roles are somewhat reversed. The elite quarterback now is New Yorks Eli Manning, who connects on big plays to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz in a similar fashion to how Joe Montana and Jerry Rice did for the dominant Niners in the 1980s. San Franciscos current front seven led by relentless defensive lineman Justin Smith, rookie pass-rushing specialist Aldon Smith and fierce linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman resembles that old Giants group featuring Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson. And who could have predicted this surprising pairing? The Giants (11-7) toppled defending champion Green Bay 37-20 last Sunday when everybody figured the road to the Super Bowl would go through Lambeau Field. Instead, New York is travelling West to San Francisco to face the upstart 49ers (14-3) in a meeting of franchises with so many fresh faces on the big stage. Jim Harbaughs "mighty men" as he calls them stunned Drew Brees and the favoured Saints 36-32 when Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis for the game-winning 14-yard touchdown with 9 seconds remaining. Smith knows both the 49ers and Giants showed its anybodys game come playoff time. "Look at last week, I think everybody thought the road was going to go through Lambeau. I think everybody assumed the NFC championship game was going to get played there and look what happens," Smith said. "These teams at this point, everybodys as good as each other and its all going to come down to how you execute on that day. Were all capable of beating each other, thats for sure." Smith and Manning each orchestrated five fourth-quarter comebacks during the regular season, yet Manning missed in a 27-20 loss at San Francisco on Nov. 13 when Justin Smith batted away his last-ditch pass attempt on fourth down in the waning moments. "This is about the NFC championship. Its an opportunity to get this win and go on to the Super Bowl," Manning said. "We played them once before. We know theyre a good team. Theres no denying that. Theyre playing great football. Theyre playing with great confidence. Its going to be exciting going out there and having another shot and seeing what we can do." Niners long snapper Brian Jennings is the only one left on either side from San Franciscos last trip to the playoffs in January 2003, when the 49ers rallied for a stunning 39-38 comeback victory against the Giants at Candlestick Park. San Francisco also had beaten New York during the regular season that year. Its sold out for Sundays game with rain in the forecast as the 49ers look for their first trip to the NFC title game since the 1997 season. Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. will serve as honorary captain after team president and nephew, Jed York, called him immediately after beating the Saints with the thoughtful invite. Fittingly, DeBartolo owned the team from 1977-98, when the 49ers won five Super Bowls. He was affectionately known as "Mr. D" to his players and coaches. The only other time these two franchises faced off in the conference championship the game finished in memorable fashion. On Jan. 20, 1991, Roger Craig fumbled with the 49ers leading 13-12 late in the fourth quarter and the Giants went on to win 15-13 to deny San Francisco a chance at a third straight Super Bowl title. New York then beat the Bills to capture its second Super Bowl. These teams met six times in the playoffs between the 1981 and 94 seasons with the winner going on to win the Super Bowl four times. There shouldnt be too many elements of surprise Sunday considering how recently they last played, though Harbaugh is always good for a few tricks. "That first game has nothing to do with what happens Sunday night," Giants safety Antrel Rolle said. Davis had a career day against New Orleans with seven catches for 180 yards -- the most yards receiving by a tight end in a playoff game -- so the Giants certainly will try to neutralize him and put constant pressure on a never-more-confident Smith. Harbaugh has used the phrase "dont overcook it" with is players as a reference to sticking with what got them this far in a remarkable turnaround season. "Burnt meat, stale bread doesnt taste real good," Harbaugh said. "Like to get it just right. Not undercooked, not overcooked." In that November game, the 49ers won their seventh straight and did so without relying on star running back Frank Gore, whose franchise-record streak of five straight games with 100 yards rushing ended with a knee injury and his first career game with zero yards. Forget about it. Hes ready to roll this weekend. "He makes a big difference and there is not a question about that," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "If you look at the way he is utilized and how much they put on the runners when they come in, how much emphasis they put on the run game, he is certainly someone you must pay attention to." New York is riding its own impressive roll. Manning threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns against the Packers as the surging Giants won their fourth straight game. Hed love to win another Super Bowl ring to go with the one he has for the 2007 season. "The Giants, we saw them earlier in the season and theyre playing at a much higher level, especially these last four or five games theyve played, done an outstanding job, and we are too, you know?" San Francisco left tackle Joe Staley said. "I think were a different team than we were earlier in the season, playing a lot better, with a lot more confidence." In fact, the 49ers have already more than exceeded expectations for Harbaughs first season. They won the NFC West to end an eight-year playoff drought and the same stretch without a winning record. On top of that, they earned the NFCs No. 2 seed and home-field advantage. That proved huge in eliminating New Orleans. "Nobody really gave us an opportunity to be in this position, nobody gave us an opportunity to beat the Saints. Nobody thought we would," said safety Donte Whitner. "Now were sitting here with a home game, home-field advantage, you have the Giants travelling here and if you win you go to the Super Bowl. Its hard not to think about that. I would be lying if I said we werent thinking that one win gets us in." cheap jerseys . After a running play in the first quarter, Little found himself on his back at the bottom of a stack of players. He said Ihedigbo, who was on top of him, put his hands around his neck and choked him. . Blackhawks coach Joe Quenneville announced Tuesday that goaltender Corey Crawford will miss three weeks with a groin injury. [url=http://www.cheapjerseysfromchinashop.us.com/Soccer-club_Lazio-jersey/]http:... . Two wins on the other hand, and first place in the division was within their reach. Back-to-back wins and the Caps are five points back of the Jets. The effort by the Jets was far better than what it was Thursday, but the result was the same. [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseyscanada.us.com/]cheap nfl jerseys . Neither does general manager David Poile, who says he has a "comfortable" working relationship with his coach. . Cousin appeared in two preseason games, averaging 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds. Kabongo finished with six points in five minutes at Denver on Oct.MILAN -- The highlight of this weekends Serie A matches is undoubtedly Inter Milans visit to Juventus in what is sure to be a heated derby dItalia match. There is also the Genoa derby on Sunday, while second-place Roma hosts Parma looking to take advantage of any more slip-ups from Juventus. Here are five things to know about the Italian league ahead of this weekends matches: LLORENTE ON SONGThe last time Juventus hosted Inter Milan the visitors ended the Bianconeris impressive streak of 49 games unbeaten with a 3-1 victory. Inter cannot stop Juventus pursuit of a record this time after the two-time defending Serie A champion was held to a 1-1 draw at Lazio last weekend, ending its run of consecutive wins at 12 — five short of Inters record. Fernando Llorente scored his fifth goal in six matches last week as he continues to impress following a difficult start to the season after his transfer from Athletic Bilbao. "At first it was a new way of working for me and I needed a bit of time," Llorente said. "But slowly, slowly you get used to it, improve and get on the same wavelength as your teammates. "It was an important change for me, leaving my home country and coming to a new city and new environment. ... Now, however, Im enjoying one of the best moments of my career." DERBY DITALIA SPICEMatches between Juventus and Inter Milan are known as the derby dItalia — Italys derby — and are normally a heated affair. However, there will be extra spice to this weekends match after the collapse of a swap deal involving Inters Fredy Guarin and Juventus Mirko Vucinic. Everything had been agreed between the two clubs and Vucinic had cleared his locker and bid his teammates farewell before Inter president Erick Thohir pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute. Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta launched an angry tirade at Inters "lack of respect" following the decision and it has left the Milan club looking shambolic in its transfer dealings. FREE-SCORING ROMASecond-place Roma will be hoping to close the gap on Juventus still further thiss weekend when it hosts Parma on Sunday. [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseychinaonline.com/nhl-jerseys_nashville-predators-je... Nashville Predators Jerseys. Roma beat Hellas Verona 3-1 last weekend to move six points behind Antonio Contes side. The capital side has been in impressive form of late, scoring 10 goals and conceded just one in winning its past three league matches, and also knocked Juventus out of the Italian Cup. "Is the title race re-opened? I hope so," Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. "Juve isnt unbeatable but its a very strong team as it already has 56 points from 21 games. Their points tally so far is incredible. "It doesnt just depend on us: well do what we have to do, and if they start to slip up we have to be ready to start cutting back the deficit." TWO-HORSE RACE?Napoli lost more ground in the title race as it looks increasingly like being a two-horse battle for the scudetto. Rafa Benitezs team was held to a 1-1 draw at home by relegation-threatened Chievo Verona. It was Napolis second successive draw and left it 12 points behind Juventus and six behind Roma. However, it knocked out holder Lazio in the Italian Cup on Wednesday to progress to the semifinals and it is also in the Europa League, after being eliminated from the Champions League. "We have been involved in Europe and will be again, but we have a talented roster and we will try to do our best on all three fronts," Benitez said. Napoli visits Atalanta on Sunday. NEW-LOOK MILANAC Milan has been busy this January as it attempts to turn its season around. Clarence Seedorf has won his first two league matches in charge after replacing Massimiliano Allegri, while the club has also been active in the transfer market, with Adel Taarabt set to join fellow new signings Keisuke Honda, Adil Rami and Michael Essien. "I am honoured to be able to play at the best club in the world," Taarabt said. "I spoke with Seedorf and we are both happy. I am an attacker and I like to play behind the strikers. "I do not know (Mario) Balotelli personally, but I know very well who he is and I am pleased to be able to play with him." Milan hosts Torino on Saturday. ' ' '