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49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh Expects 'Much Different' Giants Team On Sunday

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said during his Monday news conference that he expects the New York Giants to be a "much different than the team we played earlier" when the 49ers and Giants meet Sunday at Candlestick Park in the NFC Championship Game (6:30 p.m. ET/FOX).

"Healthier is the biggest thing, especially on the defensive side of the ball," Harbaugh said.


Related: Tom Coughlin Monday News Conference


The 49ers defeated the Giants, 27-20, earlier in the season when defensive end Justin Smith batted down an Eli Manning pass on fourth-and-two from the San Francisco 10-yard line in the waning seconds to seal a victory.

"Probably surprises a lot of people that the Giants and the 49ers are in the NFC Championship Game," Harbaugh said.

The Giants upset the Packers Sunday, while the 49ers outlasted the high-powered offense of the New Orleans Saints, 36-32.

-- See Big Blue View for more Giants coverage, and Niners Nation for 49ers discussion.