GIANTS – PATRIOTS (REEEEEMIX)

It’s looking like Superbowl XVII all over again. Once again, on the road, a Lawrence Tynes‘ field goal sends the New York Giants to the Superbowl for the second time in overtime in four years to meet the New England Patriots. It was 47 yards in 2008 in Green Bay against the Packers (Brett Farve’s last game as a Packer), this year, it was a 31 yard kick through the uprights, against a much improved Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49’ers for the NFC Championship.

Eli Manning, hit 20 times, sacked 6 times, knocked down at least 11 times and no turnovers, despite a near pick, leads Big Blue to Superbowl XLVI (their fifth Superbowl appearance) in some crazy weather conditions (32-58 completions, 316 yards, 2 TD). Eli Manning to Victor Cruz (10 receptions for 142 yards) was the story for much of the game consistently moving the chains. Eli takes advantage of a 49ers turnover as the ball hits the knee of SF Punt Returner Kyle Williams and is recovered by Devin Thomas, with an amazing touchdown pass to Mario Manningham.

You cannot talk about this win against San Fran without mentioning Jacquian Williams who strips Kyle Williams (his second costly mistake of the day) and practically saves the game setting up teammate Devin Thomas who recovers the ball once again, this time on San Francisco’s 24-yards line in field goal range. The GMen did their thing on defense as well holding the 49’ers to 1 third-down conversion, which came at the last play of the day. Minus two big plays to Vernon Davis, the Giants’ defense once again came up big on the road, giving up on 39 points in 3 playoff games.

A field goal made and a field goal missed are the margin of victories in the two Championship Games on Sunday on the road to Superbowl XVLI, which will be played on my birthday.

On the other end on the rematch of Superbowl XLII the New England Patriots and The Baltimore Ravens played for the AFC Championship earlier. Tom Brady leads his teams with his 16 career playoff win, but it came down to a last play, in a less than Brady performance. “I sucked pretty bad today, but our defense saved us,” states Brady to the press, in his assessment of his worst performance of the year and his only game without a touchdown pass. A stripped ball in the in zone by Sterling Moore out the hands of Lee Evans which would have put the Ravens up by four and a last second missed 32 yard field goal by Billy Cundiff a few plays later that would have tied the game and sent it to overtime. Flacco (22 for 36, 306 yards, 2 TDs) played a great game and a great enough game to win, but defense was the word for the day in both games.

In Superbowl VLII, The New York Giants defeated the then undefeated New England Patriots, ruining the Pats becoming the first undefeated team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Patriots want revenge, but Eli is having an incredible year, accomplishing something big brother Peyton, Joe Montana, John Elway, Brett Farve, Big Ben, Drew Brees and even Brady have never done, 15 fourth quarter touchdown passes in a season and win 5 road playoff games. This Superbowl is just the latest installment in the infamous New York – Boston rivalry dating back to the Curse of The Bambino! Brady wants to win his fourth Superbowl, Eli wants another ring (one more than his big brother) and a chance to for history to repeat itself. This is an incredible quarterback match up and the defense ain’t playing no games either!

In closing, I like to say Rest In Peace to Joe Paterno and send my condolences to his wife Sue, his friends, family and all the lives he touched. I pray the former Penn State head coach’s legacy isn’t forever marred by his controversial firing, two and half months ago. It’s truly a shame how it ended for the longtime face of Penn State Football! I’m out, til next time, this has been SportsTalk With AJ ROK!!!