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Monday, January 16, 2012

Manning throws 3 TDs, Giants stun Packers 37-20

GREEN BAY, WI (AP) - With their own star quarterback and a
dominating defense, the New York Giants exposed the Green Bay
Packers for what they now are - former Super Bowl champions.
The Packers dropped passes, fumbled the ball and simply couldn't
stop Eli Manning and his receivers in the Giants' shocking 37-20
divisional playoff victory Sunday. To the Giants' delight, a Green
Bay team that had a real shot at an undefeated season less than a
month ago is heading home.
And that the win came at Lambeau Field, well, that was just as
sweet. The site has become a familiar launching pad for the New
Yorkers. After beating the Packers (15-2) at home for the second
time in four years, they only hope this trip ends the same way - in
the NFL title game.
The Giants will play the 49ers in San Francisco for the NFC
championship next Sunday.
"I think we're a dangerous team," Giants coach Tom Coughlin
said. "I like where we are and how we're playing."
The Giants (11-7) have been on a roll ever since beating the
rival Jets on Dec. 24, beating the Dallas Cowboys to get in the
playoffs and then blowing out Atlanta in the wild card round last
week.
They took down the Packers on Sunday, as Manning threw for 330
yards and three touchdowns.
The Giants are 3-4 against the 49ers in the playoffs, including
their memorable collapse in a wild card game at San Francisco on
Jan. 5, 2003. New York led 38-14 in the third quarter but fell
apart and lost 39-38.
That probably won't be much of a worry for this year's Giants,
who were oozing confidence even before they beat the Packers.
"This team knows how to win on the road," defensive end Justin
Tuck said. "It seems like right now it's our time."
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!"
"I knew we were going to beat them on Wednesday, to be honest
with you," running back Brandon Jacobs said.
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' offense.
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.
The Packers fully expected to go back to the Super Bowl, but the
reality hit Rodgers quickly.
"Oh, it's real," Rodgers said. "We got beat by a team that
played better tonight.
"We play to win championships. You win a championship and
you're kind of at the top of the mountain, and you forget kind of
how bad this feeling is. We had a championship-caliber regular
season and didn't play well today."
The Packers' past problems with dropped balls by their talented
group of wide receivers returned at the worst time imaginable.
And while the Packers' defense has been vulnerable all season,
giving up far too many yards and big plays, they've typically made
up for it by forcing turnovers.
This time, the Packers were the ones giving the ball away.
Green Bay lost three fumbles, including one on a rare giveaway
by Rodgers. The Giants also sacked Rodgers four times.
With the Packers trailing 20-10 at halftime but finally
beginning to look like themselves on offense to start the second
half, Osi Umenyiora swatted the ball away from Rodgers, and Deon
Grant recovered the fumble.
"With a 10-point lead, we're going to get after you,"
Umenyiora said. "And that's what we did."
But the mistake didn't cost the Packers points, and Green Bay
cut the lead to seven points on a 35-yard field goal by Mason
Crosby late in the third quarter.
The Packers put together another drive early in the fourth
quarter, but Michael Boley and Umenyiora combined to sack Rodgers
on fourth-down play in Giants territory.
After carving up the Packers in the first half, the Giants'
offense hit a lull in the second half. But they broke out of it to
drive for a 35-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes to take a 23-13
lead with 7:48 left to play.
Packers running back Ryan Grant then fumbled after catching a
pass and the Giants recovered, taking the ball back deep into Green
Bay territory.
Manning then threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham
and the Giants took a 30-13 lead. Rodgers rallied the Packers for a
16-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver, cutting the lead to 30-20
with 4:46 left.
The Packers then tried on onside kick, but the Giants' Victor
Cruz recovered.
Jacobs scored on a 14-yard run with 2:36 left to put the game
away.
It was an emotional day for the Packers, who welcomed offensive
coordinator Joe Philbin two days after the funeral service for his
21-year-old son, Michael.
Philbin had been away from the team all week after Michael
Philbin's body was recovered from an icy river in Oshkosh, Wis. on
Monday. A preliminary autopsy showed that he drowned.
"I think deep down, a lot of us wanted to kind of get this one
for him," Rodgers said.
Notes: Giants safety Deon Grant left the game with a head
injury. ... Packers running back John Kuhn left the game with a
knee injury, and wide receiver Greg Jennings sustained a rib
injury. ... Driver caught three passes, giving him a
franchise-record 49 postseason receptions in his career. ...
Packers LB Brad Jones blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt by Tynes
in the second quarter

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