NFC Championship Preview: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers (Prediction: Green Bay, 34-16)

There are approximately 100 reasons the Green Bay Packers will win the NFC Championship at home this Sunday. The first reason is Lambeau Field itself. Another reason is a mystery man named Ryan Grant who's been piling up rush yards and touchdowns ever since he slipped onto the Green Bay roster out of nowhere. (Nowhere, in this case, being the New York Giants.)

The other 98 reasons are Brett Favre. It's the energy and urgency he's displayed all season. It's the way we're finally seeing the sort of touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio that any veteran quarterback ought to have. It's the way he can create first downs with underhanded throws while falling over in a snowstorm. It's the way he wants to win, and, well... about 94 other things.

Of course, we couldn't have a very complete NFC Championship preview without mentioning Peyton Manning... oops. Obviously, I meant Eli Manning. My fingers instinctively typed "P-E-Y-T-O-N" against my will. Can you blame them?

Eli Manning--in most people's minds--is doing what Peyton was supposed to be doing in New England this weekend. It makes conference championship weekend interesting and unexpected, but it doesn't count for much. It's still going to be Packers vs. Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

I have to admit that I like Eli Manning's postseason stats: four touchdowns, no interceptions, and 7.7 yards per pass. He even beats Favre when it comes to yards per game (by exactly one yard, 174-173.)

But do you know who else is ahead of Brett Favre in postseaon yards per game? It's Matt Hasselbeck. Peyton Manning is way ahead of both Favre and the "other" Manning with over 400 yards "per game" in the postseason--look where it got him. Even some dude name Ben Roethlisberger had over 300 passing yards per game, and most people already forgot that he even made it to the playoffs this year.