Lawrence Tynes almost killed me tonight.
I told my friends at the beginning of the night that I would be happy if the game was on the line and Tynes was given a chance to win the game for the Giants. I was confident as Tynes hadn't missed a FG in awhile. This was the same Tynes that during the beginning of the season was literally skewered by New York fans and the media for missing extra points and easy chip shot field goals....And you just knew....knew with a passion that he was going to have to kick a big kick in the postseason.
Well, it did come down to that one perfect moment. Tynes had a chance to send my team to the Superbowl if he could just make a 36 yard FG. I stood up, said all the typical Catholic prayers under my breath and I thought that God was on my side.....But then Tynes missed it. And I literally thought that the game and Giants season was over.
And it started to look exactly that way as the Packers and the vaunted Brett Favre took the field to drive his team toward a Superbowl appearance against the New England Patriots...But on the second play of the Packer drive, Giants CB Corey Webster -- another guy who had been beaten up all season long -- picked off the Hall of Famer and the Giants were on their way.
The team then only gained 5 yards or so...and then...again... it came down to Lawrence Tynes... This time around, I didn't bother to hope or pray...because I had no confidence that he would make a 47 yard field goal - from the same right hash mark; only 10 yards further back then the last one he missed. ... Well, somehow, inexplicably...Tynes knocked it threw from 47 (that kick would have been good from 57 yards), sending the Giants to Superbowl XLII against the New England Patriots....And I could not believe it for a second ...
Eli Manning, as he has this entire postseason played fabulous. He threw for 245 yards on the day and made a number of clutch 1st downs to keep multiple Giants drives alive. Plaxico played lights out against Faux Pro Bowler and Real Cheapshot Artist Al Harris. And Ahmad Bradshaw continued to impress me.
The defense also came up huge, once again, and if not for a 90 yard TD throw to Donald Driver, gave up less than 200 yards of total offense to the Packers explosive offense. I thought that on both sides of the ball the Giants thoroughly outplayed the Packers, even if the final score didn't indicate it.
This Giants playoff run has been such a satisfying and wonderful ride this year. Probably one of the most satisfying playoff runs that I've ever witness before. ...and it continues....in Two Weeks against the Undefeated New England Patriots in Superbowl XLII. Can the Giants keep defying the odds and the critics? Let's hope so...
1 comment:
Superbowl twice in the last 8 years..pretty good. Coughlin is getting way too much credit for 'changing' when the players really made an adjustment too. Eli has played really well in the playoffs, its like a light clicked and he was like 'fuck it' I'm just going to rely on my natural instincts and talent. Made so many big plays and earned a lot of respect. However, make no mistake, your defense is championship-caliber, I can't believe this is the same team that gave up 80 pts in 2 games. Anyway, I will be rooting for the underdog in the SB or else Chiller will never stop gloating. EVER!
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