NFC Championship Game, New York Giants Vs. San Francisco 49ers: First Look

All week long leading up to their NFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers the New York Giants made no effort to hide the fact that they were looking forward to a rematch against once-beaten Green Bay after a 38-35 last-minute loss in the regular season.

After dispatching the Packers Sunday by the stunning score of 37-20 the Giants get a chance to play in the NFC Championship Game, and settle another score in the process. The Giants will travel to Candlestick Park next Sunday to face the San Francisco 49ers, a team that defeated the Giants in a hard-fought regular-season game back in November, 27-20.

Giants 37, Packers 20: Complete Coverage

The Giants reached the San Francisco 10-yard line late in the fourth quarter of that game with a chance to tie, but Eli Manning had a fourth-down pass batted down at the line of scrimmage to end the Giants hopes. The Giants had entered that game 6-2, and the loss began a stretch during which they lost five of six and nearly fell out of playoff contention.

San Francisco (14-3) won the NFC West championship. They advanced to the championship game with a thrilling 36-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Saturday. San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith hit tight end Vernon Davis with a 14-yard pass for the winning touchdown with just nine seconds remaining.

In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens will meet the New England Patriots for the right to go to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.

-- See SB Nation's NFL Hub Page for complete NFL playoff coverage