Sunday, January 22, 2012

Giants top the Niners in OT for NFC Championship, 20-17

The New York football Giants are going to Super Bowl XLVI to set up a Super Bowl XLII rematch with the New England Patriots. A game that was played in such sloppy weather conditions concluded in stunning fashion. Just as the AFC Title game earlier in the day, the team heading to the Super Bowl did not win the game, but the team that lost beat themselves. The Niners scored on an early 73 yard Vernon Davis TD, but did not do much after the quick score. New York would tie and take a three point lead at the end of the first half, giving them plenty of momentum headed into the locker room. However, the second half is where the Niners showed their true colors: stout on defense, well coached, but unable to take advantage. The Niners would take back a four point lead, but the Giants would go back on top with a TD set up by a Kyle Williams' muffed punt. The Niners' David Akers would then tie up the game with about five minutes to go, setting up an almost painful slew of drives that resulted in punts and OT. New York won the toss, giving them the ball first; however, they would fail to score. San Francisco received the ball once again, but they failed to end the game. On a New York punt, Kyle Williams would receive the ball once again in good field position, but he fumbled the ball, giving the Giants a short field to work with. As you may recall, Kyle Williams is an ASU product drafted in the 6th round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Williams, a solid punt returner, cost the Sun Devils the Territorial Cup against the rival Arizona Wildcats by fumbling a punt and setting up a short field for the Wildcats. Is it a coincidence that both San Fran and ASU wear gold and red, whereas New York and Arizona wear red, white, and blue? The similarities did not end there as the Giants ended the dreams of the Niners faithful in Candlestick on a 31 yard Lawrence Tynes Field Goal that will send the Giants once again to the Super Bowl.

Patriots top the Ravens for a trip to Super Bowl XLVI, 23-20

Tom Brady will return to the Super Bowl for the 5th time in his career. He didn't necessarily will the Patriots with a stellar passing performance, in fact he didn't even have a TD toss, but the Patriots survived a well-prepared Ravens team. The Ravens were able to hit hard and keep Brady under check. Their defense did just about everything they could possibly do to limit an explosive New England pass attack, but they didn't limit the run game. The Patriots could run on the Ravens which led to some scoring drives, but only 2 TDs. Baltimore had the exact opposite situation as they passed well, but rushed poorly. The Ravens took a 20-16 lead in the fourth quarter, but Brady would lead the Patriots down the field and cap off the drive with a QB sneak. Baltimore would get the ball back late in the game and they almost won the game, but Lee Evans dropped a game-winner and Billy Cundiff would miss a 32-yard game-tying FG. Brady will go on to play at Indy against either the team that beat him in hose last trip, the Giants, or his childhood team, the 49ers.