The New York Giants are Going to the Super Bowl!

Jan 232012
 

You heard that right! Last night the Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game in overtime by the score of 20-17. They now look towards Indianapolis, site of Super Bowl XLVI, and a Super Bowl XLII rematch with the New England Patriots. But let’s discuss last night’s game, shall we?

Eli Manning, despite playing on a wet and rainy field and being knocked down all game, somehow managed to throw for 316 yards, 2 touchdowns, and zero turnovers. The Giants defense played well, despite giving up 2 big touchdown plays to TE Vernon Davis on blown coverage in the secondary.  The real star of the game was the Giants special teams play. Punter Steve Weatherford was solid all night long, and was able to set up a nice ball off a bad snap for Kicker Lawrence Tynes on the game-winning field goal in overtime. The winning score came thanks to a fumble on a punt return by Kyle Williams of the 49ers. The Giants’ Devin Thomas picked up the fumble, the second time in the game that he had recovered the ball on a muffed Williams punt return.

Now it’s on to Super Bowl XLVI. We all remember the epic game that was Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants shocked the world by defeating the then undefeated New England Patriots in thrilling last-minute fashion. Things are different this time around, and it would be hard to say that either team is the favorite or underdog going in. The Giants did defeat the Patriots earlier this year, in one of the season’s most exciting games. The Patriots have not lost since then, winning ten straight. Somehow they had not beaten a team with a winning record all season, until they defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game yesterday. It should be another exciting game in two weeks at the Super Bowl! How awesome is this?!

Packer-Smackered! Giants Win 37-20!

Jan 152012
 

giants

As I had hoped, the New York Giants came through again today, destroying the Green Bay Packers by the score of 37-20. Were it not for some terrible officiating calls (ruling a clear fumble as not a fumble after replay review, and a non-existent blow to the head call), the Packers would not have even scored one touchdown.

The Giants defense was stifling, making Green Bay work hard for every first down. The Giants were +3 in the turnover battle, and the 17 point victory margin doesn’t really show how much the Giants dominated this matchup. The Packers receivers did their part, dropping countless passes all night.

Eli Manning once again was the best player out there on the field, with the second best player being WR Hakeem Nicks. Manning threw for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns, 165 of those yards and 2 of those touchdowns going to Nicks. How amazing was that Hail Mary pass at the end of the half?

Next up for the Giants is a trip to San Francisco to face the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The only downside coming out of this game is that we won’t see Tom Coughlin’s Red Face in the warmer San Francisco weather next week. Other than that, I can’t wait!