After several hours of cheers, screams, chants, and curses emanating from the Widening Apartment, the Giants knocked off the Green Bay Packers to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
In a thrilling contest, replete with all the drama any fan could hope for, the Giants won the NFC championship with an effort that can best be described as redemptive. Several New York players exchanged goat horns for hero caps throughout the game. The storylines before the game were easy to identify, and played out in compelling fashion.
The Cold- The pregame analysis likened this game to the famous “Ice Bowl” (aka the 1967 NFL Championship game), where the Packers and Dallas Cowboys played in temperatures of -13 Farenheit. At kickoff yesterday, the temperature was 1 degree below zero, making the game the third coldest in NFL history. However, the conventional wisdom that cold temperatures mean primarily running the football did not hold true in this game. Announcer Troy Aikman observed early in the contest that both teams looked comfortable throwing the ball, and were passing with frequency and efficiency.
Most players wore plenty of cold weather gear, and dove for parkas as soon as they came off of the field. The offensive linemen for both teams wore only short sleeves, continuing a macho tradition that even some NFL peers find outdated.(point #6)
For all that was made of the cold, the weather did not appear to play as big a factor as it could have, with lack of precipitation and lower winds. Tom Coughlin might disagree with me….
The Old School vs The New School- Brett Favre represents the old school of NFL quarterbacks. He owns most of the career passing records, and has a Cal Ripken-esque streak, having never missed a start in his pro career. After a disappointing 2006 season, and an off-season of speculation as to whether he would return in 2007, Favre looked revitalized this season and led the Pack to 13 wins.
Eli Manning is in his fourth season as the Giants’ quarterback, after being drafted first overall in 2003. He has struggled at times; with media criticism, teammate criticism, and the expectations placed upon him as the son of Archie Manning, and the younger brother of superstar Peyton.
Favre owns a Super Bowl ring, and has made two trips to the big game. Manning’s trip to the NFC championship represented the farthest he had ever been in the playoffs. While Manning has been quoted as saying he doesn’t enjoy playing in cold weather, Favre has called the perpetually frigid Lambeau Field his home field for his entire career.
The situations all appeared to favor Favre, especially when game deciding throws needed to be made. However, the one thing that held most true was a reversion to form in crunch time.
While Manning has taken shots for his leadership, his demeanor, and his sometimes bad interceptions, he does have a positive reputation with the game on the line. From his college playing days at Ole Miss, Manning has often settled in and looked comfortable on potential game-tying/game-winning drives. Favre has always been known as a gun-slinger, who fires rocket passes that have broken the fingers of defenders and recievers alike. He has thrown both the most touchdowns and interceptions in NFL history. This season, Favre had toned down some of his freewheeling ways, putting a premium on YAC (yards after the catch). This meant a transition from slinging the ball 15-20 yards down the field, to hitting an open receiver 3 yards off the line of scrimmage and allowing them to make the play with their athleticism.
At the end of regulation and into overtime, both quarterbacks showed that their cruchtime makeup remained true. Manning marched the Giants time and time again, and got them into field goal range. Favre had two big interceptions, one which R.W. McQuarters fumbled back into Green Bay’s hands, and one in overtime which set up the game-winning field goal.
Along with the cold factor, and the Manning-Favre storyline, the theme of this game for the Giants was redemption. The game turned on the early failures and late successes on many NY players, and on the redemption of the team as a whole.
The Team- The Giants got smoked by the Packers in Week 2 35-13, their second loss in a row to start the season. Afterward, the Giants won 6 straight.
Eli Manning- He can say hello to Tiki Barber down in Glendale, if NBC lets Barber cover Super Bowl week.
Tom Coughlin- The grouchy old-coach became player-friendly, changed his personality, and the personality of his team with it. A potential job-hunt may now turn into a long contract extension.
Corey Webster- After being badly beaten by Donald Driver on a 90-yard bomb in the first half, Webster picked off Favre in overtime when it mattered most. (on a pass intended for Driver)
Lawrence Tynes- Tynes was headed toward the end of his career in NY, and potentially the end of his career as a kicker, when he missed two big FG in the 4th quarter. His early kicks looked shaky as well. but, he was kicking in sub-zero weather, and the lasting memory will be of his last kick of the game splitting the uprights and sending the Giants to the Super Bowl.
