GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AP) ― For Eli Manning and the New York Giants, Lambeau Field has become a familiar launching pad. After beating the Green Bay Packers at home for the second time in four years, they only hope this trip ends the same way ― at the Super Bowl.
Manning threw three touchdown passes and the Giants shocked the Packers 37-20 in an NFC divisional playoff game Sunday. Manning threw for 330 yards, sending the Giants to San Francisco for the NFC championship game next Sunday night.
The Packers might have been the reigning Super Bowl champs, but the Giants might be the hottest team in the NFL.
“I think we’re a dangerous team,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “I like where we are and how we’re playing.”
The Giants stunned the Packers with a touchdown off a long heave from Manning to Hakeem Nicks just before halftime, then knocked them out with a late touchdown off a turnover. Lambeau Field fell silent as the Giants swarmed the field in celebration, with a handful of New York fans chanting, “Let’s go, Giants!”
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The New York Giants’ Kenny Phillips celebrates his team’s win with fans. (AP-Yonhap News) |
The win came four years after the Giants beat a Brett Favre-led Packers team in the NFC title game. It wasn’t nearly as frigid this time around, and the Packers’ vulnerable defense seemed to be waiting to get sliced up.
Manning found six different receivers against a porous Packers defense. But Manning did the most damage with his throws to Nicks, who caught seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.
Nicks’ biggest play was a 66-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. His score at the end of the half came on a 37-yard pass into the end zone with defenders all around.
“It was a big momentum play for them, but we were not deflated as a football team,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.
The Giants’ defense also was able to defuse the big-play abilities of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ defense.
Rodgers was 26 of 46 for 264 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He also was the Packers’ leading rusher with 66 yards on seven carries.
Ravens oust Texans
BALTIMORE (AP) ― If style points and offensive fireworks meant anything, the Baltimore Ravens wouldn’t stand a chance of making it to the AFC championship.
Playing defense and protecting the football are what they do best, and that formula led to a 20-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday, putting Baltimore in the AFC title game against the New England Patriots.
“I always say there is a right way to do things, there is a wrong way to do things and there is just the Ravens’ way of doing things,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “It wasn’t pretty but we’re not really a pretty team. We got the W and now it’s on to the AFC Championship.”
The Ravens (13-4) had almost as many punts (nine) as first downs (11) and scored only three points over the final 46 minutes. But Baltimore wasn’t penalized once, didn’t commit a turnover, intercepted rookie quarterback T.J. Yates three times and totaled four takeaways ― two in the first quarter and two over the final eight minutes.
“If we didn’t get any of those turnovers it would probably be a different game,” Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said.
Baltimore visits New England next Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis on Feb. 5.
The Patriots lead the series 6-1, but Baltimore’s lone win came in the postseason.
“We don’t play the game until next week,” Suggs said. “I’m going to enjoy tonight.”
