Surging Giants Edge Packers

The Giants pull of another surprise as they down the Packers in OT 23-20 to head to their first Super Bowl since 2000. This has to be the quietest run to the Super Bowl in a long time. Nobody was paying attention to this team as far as the Super Bowl is concerned and now their on their way to Arizona. The Giants are obviously coming on strong at just the right time, having had to pull off two upsets to get here (Cowboys and Packers), having to beat Tampa Bay, having to play three playoff games in the first place, and giving the Patriots a run for their money to close out their “exhibition” season. And now they get another shot at them.

Keep in mind, the Giants were the only team to get a lead bigger than 7 on the Pats (10) and as usual, the Patriots came back. We’ll see how it plays out in two weeks. Oh don’t worry, the Patriots will win, they may blow them out. This is an easier game for the Patriots now that they don’t have to play the Packers. But it does put an interesting twist on a game that’s in DIRE need of one.

ELI:

Yeah, last year his brother made it for the first time. So this has got to be special. Especially if you consider the preseason expectations. Who would have thought that little Eli Manning, the soft quarterback that he is, would take his second half collapsers to the Super Bowl, not me. I’d probably have to give the Giants, based on their effort down the stretch, an A; solely based on effort. I hardly believe a 10-6 record deserves an A. For that, you need to be 12-4 or above. But the Giants have shown something lately and I’m sure Eli had something to do with it. Good for you, Eli.

Brett:

This has got to be really dishartening for Brett. This team was a big surprise this year and it was good to see Brett look, for the first time in a while, like the old Brett Favre from the 90’s. Hate to see him fall short. This can only mean one thing. He’s comin’ back. Brett has already said he’s leanly toward it, and with this loss, he will only be more driven inside to win that Super Bowl. It’s probably a good thing he didn’t make it this year when the Patriots have the NFL on lockdown. Brett will be back and he will make it. And just for Brett’s edition of “Top the Saints” if he doesn’t make it, he already has one.

Patriots are 18-0, Beat Chargers 21-12

The Patriots, once again took care of their opponents on Sunday this time making the San Diego Chargers their victims.

Tom Brady and the Patriots will be heading to their fourth Super Bowl in seven years to probably claim another ring, no they will claim another ring. This team doesn’t lose, they don’t come close to losing. Even when they come close, it really isn’t because it’s only a matter of time before they score.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Perfection comes down to one game now.Despite a shaky Tom Brady, the New England Patriots were still too much for the banged-up San Diego Chargers in the AFC championship game Sunday, pulling out a 21-12 victory that sent them back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in seven seasons.

Official site links … The Chargers defense made the plays, but the LT-less offense could not break into the end zone as San Diego lost to New England in the AFC Championship Game. More …The Patriots advanced to their fourth Super Bowl in seven seasons by beating the Chargers, who couldn’t stop Laurence Maroney in the second half. More …

Brady made several stunningly poor throws that fluttered in the wind, Randy Moss was a non-factor for the second straight game, and the highest-scoring team in NFL history sputtered all afternoon. Instead, the Patriots (18-0) relied on Laurence Maroney’s spins, cuts and helmet-rattling runs.

With injured Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson reduced to mostly watching in a parka, the Patriots moved on to a Feb. 3 matchup in Glendale, Ariz., against the winner of the NFC title game between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants.

Yet for all the Patriots have accomplished — they’re the only team in NFL history to start out with 18 straight victories — they’re well aware they must win that final game to avoid being relegated to a footnote.

No matter, New England took care of the nuts and Bolts. The sellout crowd at Gillette Stadium chanted “Super Bowl! Super Bowl!” in the closing minutes, anticipating the Pats’ first appearance in the big game since the 2004 season.

Coach Bill Belichick’s team eclipsed the 17-0 mark of the champion 1972 Miami Dolphins, and will soon try for his fourth NFL title. The Patriots beat the Giants in a 38-35 thriller to close their regular season; New England did not play the Packers.

Tomlinson carried on the first two San Diego plays, and had one reception before leaving the game with what the team announced as a sore knee. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers hung in despite a bum knee and star tight end Antonio Gates did his best with a dislocated toe.

The Chargers (13-6) gave a better performance than early this season, when they were routed 38-14 at New England. They trailed just 14-12 midway in the third quarter this time, but Brady’s 6-yard TD pass to Wes Welker was enough for New England.

Maroney ran for 122 yards to help hold the lead.

The Patriots seemed poised to pull away late in the third quarter, but a terrible throw by Brady cost them. On third-and-goal at the 2, Brady tried a touch pass over the middle that NFL interceptions leader Antonio Cromartie easily picked off standing on the New England logo in the end zone.

Nate Kaeding’s fourth field goal, a 24-yarder midway through the third period, pulled San Diego to 14-12. Too bad for the Chargers, that was the story of their afternoon — they’d drive close, only to wind up settling for a kick.

Copyright 2007 by the Associated Press