Sports News
Giants Dominate Packers to Advance to NFC Title Game
Last season, the Green Bay Packers barely snuck into the playoffs and used a few wins at the end of the year to propel themselves to a Super Bowl championship.
This year, the New York Giants made the playoffs in the final game of the regular season, and have now put together back-to-back dominant performances to reach the NFC Championship game.
This was a Green Bay team that won a Super Bowl last season. This was a Green Bay team that lost just one game this season. This was a Green Bay team that beat the Giants at MetLife Stadium earlier this season.
But you wouldn't have known any of that to be true on Sunday. Instead, it was the Giants that looked like the juggernaut.
There were the Giants, putting pressure on Aaron Rodgers all game long. And there was Eli Manning carving up the Packers' secondary. And there was Hakeem Nicks making unbelievable catches to break the backs of the Packers. And there were the Giants' defenders causing turnover after turnover.
When it was all said and done, it was Giants 37, Packers 20, and it was the Giants moving on to the next round.
The biggest play of the game came with six seconds left in the first half. After Ahmad Bradshaw broke off a long run and crossed the field to get out of bounds (the Giants had no time outs left), Manning launched a pass to the end zone and Nicks came down with it. The 37-yard touchdown pass gave the Giants a 10-point lead that the Packers would never really be able to cut down.
Though the Packers made a number of errors that were practically non-existent all season long, give plenty of credit to the Giants for taking the Packers out of their rhythm. The Giants forced four Packers turnovers, including an interception of Rodgers.
Meanwhile, the Giants were outstanding offensively. Manning continued his unbelievable season, completing 21 of 33 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Nicks was his favorite target, hauling in seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
Victor Cruz added five catches for 74 yards, and Mario Manningham caught three passes and a touchdown.
Though the Packers made it a one score game in the fourth quarter, turnovers did them in. The Giants used the Packers' sloppy play to their advantage, scoring 17 points in the final stanza.
The Giants now have the opportunity to avenge another regular season loss, this time to the San Francisco 49ers. Big Blue will head west next Sunday for a chance to reach another Super Bowl in one of the most improbable seasons.
Photo Credits: Darron Cummings/ Associated Press
FACEBOOK COMMENTS