Playoff preview -- Giants will shock the 'Niners

It is said that the playoffs are about momentum, and the New York Giants are on a roll right now, having won four games in a row on the strength of Kerry Collins' arm. And, it will be Collins who leads them to a win over the 49ers at Candlestick Park.

Collins can lack consistency and isn't very mobile, but if you give him just enough time, he'll burn you, because he is usually accurate and has a powerful arm. So far this season, he has passed for 4,073 yards, posting more than a thousand yards in the four games winning streak the New York Giants are currently on.

Now the Giants travel to San Francisco to meet the 49ers at Candlestick Park, a team they lost to in the first week of the season. However, Collins was able to throw for 342 yards.

On the 49ers side, QB Jeff Garcia will be trying once again to get out of the shadow of Joe Montana and Steve Young. In his career, he has posted equally impressive numbers during the regular season, but hasn't been able to do it in the playoffs. What a great chance to prove himself this weekend in front of his own fans.

San Francisco must take advantage of their formidable running backs, Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow, to open up the Giants defense. They like to rush behind their center Jeremy Newberry and right guard Ron Stone. However, at this time, Barlow is questionable with an ankle injury, which will force another 'Niners running back to step up for this game.

The 49ers ground attack should work against a vulnerable New York defense, which is ranked 16th in the league at stopping the run, allowing 114 yard per game.

If San Francisco can move the ball on the ground, as it should, New York will have to crowd the line of scrimmage leaving WR Terrell Owens in dangerous man-to-man coverage.

Also of importance is the fact that the Giants have had trouble stopping mobile quarterbacks, like Garcia, and if there is room for him to run, there is a good chance he will take off.

Bottom line, New York's defense must stop the run as they did against Philadelphia last week. If they can't stop it, then they will need to at least force the 'Niners to third-and-long situations, because even though Garcia is the best passer on third down and San Francisco had the best efficiency on those attempts (52.3%), the Giants have good cornerbacks in the nickel package and it won't be easy to pass against them.

The 49ers are 1-5 against winning teams this season, because of an inexperienced secondary that allowed too many third downs to be converted.

Opponents were usually targeting rookie nickel cornerback Mike Rumph, who might have to play this week for injured Jason Webster on the right side of the defense. Rumph is a good player who didn't got beaten deep, but gave up too many passes to the inside. He surely will be a target for Collins, who has completed more than 70 percent of his attempts against good passing defenses (Indianapolis and Philadelphia) in the last two games.

That's why the 49ers defensive line must put pressure on Kerry Collins, because they haven't been able to get to the quarterback often lately, getting nine sacks in their last five games, with five of them against Arizona and three against St. Louis.

This is the key. The Giants offensive line allowed just one sack to Philadelphia's strong defense last week, and I don't think they will allow many against San Francisco.

Another reason why the Giants will win is tight end Jeremy Shockey, who will probably be covered by linebacker Julian Peterson, which will take him out of the box and open some room for the Giants to run.

A successful New York passing attack will open up the rushing game for Tiki Barber, letting New York control the tempo of the game. And even though the 'Niners rushing defense, which allowed just 103.3 yards per game, is strong, they will not be a factor if the Giants' passing attack is working.

The New York Giants will be the surprise team this weekend when they beat the San Francisco 49ers.