Before I recap the games, I must applaud the fans for both Championship Games--to the 68,756 in Foxboro for the Patriots-Chargers AFC Title Game, and the 72,740 in Green Bay for the Packers-Giants NFC Title Game. I was in attendance for the Patriots-Chargers game, sitting in section 307, row 15, and it was miserably cold. Despite wearing three pairs of socks, two sweatpants, thermals, a winter hat, gloves and heavy coat, the cold and wind shook me to my core. I can’t imagine how the Packers fans (and hundreds of Giants fans) survived, considering game-time temperature was 20 degrees colder in Green Bay than in Foxboro. The fans were rewarded for their commitment, as both games were competitive and exciting.

 AFC Championship Game:

In the early game, the Patriots defeated the Chargers 21-12. The Patriots had to find a new way to win, as the usually superb QB Tom Brady had an off day (22-33, 209 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT), the cold and wind adversely affecting his usual superb play. Unable to throw deep, the Pats relied on the underneath pass patterns, as RB Kevin Faulk (8 catches, 82 yards) and WR Wes Welker (7 catches, 56 yards) came up big, while WRs Randy Moss (1 catch, 18 yards) and Donte Stallworth (2 catches, 11 yards) were virtual non-factors. Moss’ numbers last week included 1 catch for 14 yards, forcing Brady to use other targets.

Laurence Maroney had a great game again (25 carries, 122 yards), putting the game on his back in the second half and wearing down the Chargers defense just like he did versus Jacksonville last week (22 for 122 yards). The Patriots, winning 21-12, received the ball at their own 13 with 9:13 left, converted four third downs, and never gave San Diego another chance to score. Kevin Faulk’s incredible 14-yard catch on 3rdand 11 was the key to that drive, while fellow RB Maroney’s running sealed San Diego’s fate. However, the story of the day was the Patriots defense.

The Patriots defense has been viewed by many as old and incapable of stopping decent offenses with their slow 30-something linebackers. They put that talk to rest with their performance against the Chargers.

San Diego was able to move the ball at times, but the Patriots “bend, but don’t break” defense was in form on Sunday. The Chargers were kept out of the end zone on three possessions inside the Pats 10, only making four field goals. QB Philip Rivers (19-37, 211 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT) was kept in check, and with LT on the sideline for most of the game, Michael Turner (17 carries, 65 yards) was mildly effective. The Patriots made a concerted effort to prevent the big play, and it worked to perfection. They were able to keep the Chargers out of the end zone, and by doing so, kept them out of the Super Bowl.

Play of the Game: Brady’s 6-yard TD pass to Wes Welker. The Chargers had kept the game close, and the Patriots were leading 14-12, before Brady found Welker on a crossing route with 12:15 left in regulation. After the extra point, the Patriots had a two-score lead at 21-12, and the Chargers were in deep trouble. As it were, the Chargers received the ball for one final possession, punted and the rest is history.

Runner-Up: Asante Samuel’s 2nd quarter INT. With the Patriots ahead by one point, 7-6, linebacker Mike Vrabel broke through on a blitz. Rivers quickly threw the ball off his back foot, which Asante Samuel intercepted and returned deep into San Diego territory. This led to a 12-yard TD pass from Brady to Jabar Gaffney, putting the Patriots up 14-6. Gaffney, no doubt remembering Shawne Merriman’s verbal slight before the game, celebrated with a perfectly imitated ‘sprinkler dance’.

Game MVP: It is tempting to give it to Maroney for his fine performance or to Asante Samuel for his interception, but the MVP of this game was Kevin Faulk. Lining up at both wide receiver and in the backfield, Faulk made the big play when needed. He was a safety net for Brady all day, getting open underneath when the play downfield was not available. His two huge third down conversions allowed the Patriots to run down the majority of the 4th quarter, denying the Chargers any chance to come back.

Runner Up: Laurence Maroney

NFC Championship Game:

After leaving Foxboro to head back to New Jersey, we listened to the Packers-Giants game on the radio. It had been one year since I had listened to an NFL game on the radio, having listened to the Giants-Eagles Wild Card game last year, while driving back from the Patriots-Jets playoff game. Even on the radio, this game came across incredibly well.

Congratulations to the New York Giants for making the Super Bowl by defeating the Green Bay Packers 23-20 at Lambeau Field. They have fought extremely hard all year, and in back-to-back weeks, defeated the #1 and #2 NFC seeds on the road. In the Green Bay game, they overcame costly mistakes and earned a hard-fought victory in a game in which they badly outplayed the Packers, controlled the clock for twice as long as Green Bay, yet came away with a three-point margin of victory.

Mistake #1: Up 13-10, the Giants stopped the Packers on 3rd down, forcing them to attempt a field goal from 45 yards out. However, cornerback Sam Madison, who returned this week from an abdomen strain, earned himself a dumb personal foul penalty, which gave Green Bay a first down and new life. Brett Farve (19-35, 236 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) hit Donald Lee for an 18-yard TD on the ensuing play. That penalty cost the Giants four points, or, depending on rookie kicker Mason Crosby’s leg, possibly seven.

Mistake #2: The Giants defense pressured Farve, who made an ill-advised throw down the field. After intercepting the pass, R.W. McQuarters was stripped by Packers running back Ryan Grant, and teammate Mark Tauscher recovered the fumble. This new life led to a field goal by the Packers, a mistake costing the Giants three points.

Mistake #3: 6:43 left in the 4th quarter, Lawrence Tynes misses a 43-yard field goal, which would have given New York the 23-20 lead.

Mistake #4: 0:04 left in regulation, Tynes missed a potential game-winning 36-yard field goal attempt. As I saw on replays, he missed the kick badly.

After the second blown field goal, Green Bay received the ball to start overtime. I truly believed that the Giants were going to lose the game. They had their opportunities to win (two of them), and despite outplaying the favored Packers, their mistakes were going to cost them the season.

The Giants miraculously recovered. They pulled off a huge INT in overtime, and Tynes redeemed himself, by nailing a game-winning 47-yard field goal to send the Giants to the Super Bowl. The Giants are a hard-working team, well coached, with a lot of heart. They deserve to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

The Packers simply got outplayed by the Giants, and could not take full advantage of their mistakes. Favre’s overtime interception was a youthful mistake, which ultimately cost the Packers their season. Farve is an all-time great QB, a great competitor, and I hope that INT is not the final throw of his magnificent throwing career.

Eli Manning did not have mind-blowing numbers (21-40, 254 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT), but he made some big throws, and most importantly, did not commit a turnover in the air or on the ground. In his last four games, including the season finale and the three playoffs game, Manning has thrown 8 TDs and only 1 INT. Manning has shown that he is capable of being a top flight QB in the NFL.

Play of the Game: (Tie)

1. Lawrence Tynes’ game winner in overtime. ESPN made an incredible point that Tynes became the first opposing kicker to make a FG from 40+ yards in Lambeau Field’s postseason history. He went from absolute goat to hero, the third (field goal) time being the charm.

2. Corey Webster’s overtime INT. Webster jumped a corner route by Donald Driver and capitalized on Favre’s under throw. Webster returned the ball to the Packers 34-yard line, where the Giants gained four yards to set up Tynes’ fifth try of the night, which he calmly drilled.

Game MVP: The defense as a whole was tremendous, limiting Favre and Co. to 1-10 on third-down conversions and 28 yards on the ground, but the game ball and NFC Championship MVP must go to wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress caught 11 balls for 154 yards, accounting for 61% of Manning’s passing yards. It was an incredible game by a player who has evolved into a top-flight receiver.

He has come a long way to reach the Super Bowl, after failing in the 2001 Championship Game with Pittsburgh. The team that defeated the Steelers and consequently won the Super Bowl that season? New England. Quarterback at the time? That’s right--Tom Brady. Talk about a story line heading up to Super Bowl XLII.

Runner Up: He may have blown two chances to win the game in regulation, but Tynes ultimately redeemed himself and saved the Giants season with a huge 47-yarder in overtime.

Given that we have two weeks until the Super Bowl, there is plenty of time for talk, speculation, rants, raves, etc. I will be sure to check in with comments, storylines and predictions in time for the big game. I was fortunate to have taken pictures and video from the game, which should be loaded on the blog.

Thanx,

Gabi Secemski

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