GIANTS STUN PACKERS AND HEAD TO THE SUPER BOWL- GREEN BAY, Wis. — Under a full moon, a black sky and a
crisp and cruel blanket of cold, the Giants stood on the frozen
sideline of Lambeau Field, waiting for a rush of warmth.The Giants will next head to Super Bowl XLII in
Glendale, Ariz., where they will be two-
touchdown underdogs to the
undefeated New England Patriots on Feb. 3.“You almost feel you’re watching a TV show or a movie
or you’re in a dream, and you’re waiting for someone to wake you up.”
The Giants had a chance to win earlier, on the final play of
regulation, but the snap from Jay Alford was high, the hold from Jeff
Feagles was down, and Tynes’s 36-
yard field-goal attempt was wide
left.
The Giants and the Patriots
played a memorable
game at Giants Stadium
in the final week of the regular season, the Patriots emerging with a
38-35
victory, the Giants emerging with confidence that helped spur
their improbable postseason run. It was the coldest game in the recorded history of the Giants, and the second-coldest recorded game in Packers history.The Giants squandered the best opportunity of all, receiving a punt near midfield with 2:15 left in the game.Many of the Packers played in short sleeves, but most of the Giants, except the offensive linemen, wore long sleeves. Many players wore thermal masks under their helmets.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning played with a red glove on his left,
nonthrowing hand to help get a grip on the frozen football, and played
his third consecutive playoff game without a turnover.The Giants trailed at halftime, 10-6, but opened the
third quarter with a 69-yard touchdown drive, aided by four penalties
on the Packers.But Giants cornerback Sam Madison, who had blitzed
from Favre’s blind side and was blocked hard by fullback Vernand
Morency, was called for a 15-yard personal foul for shoving Morency
after the
play. Bradshaw plowed into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown and a 20-17 Giants lead with 2:12 to go in the third quarter. They viewed Sunday’s home game as a gift, courtesy of the Giants, who had wiped out top-seeded Dallas.I wasn’t sure I believed it.”
When the Giants and the Patriots played on Dec. 29, it was an unusual victory, of sorts, for both teams.
The Patriots completed their unblemished season, and the Giants —
deciding to play full-tilt rather than resting players for the
postseason — found solace and meaning in their strong showing.In mid-December, they were viewed as a sloppy and
inconsistent team with impractical championship expectations, but the
Giants beat three division winners in the playoffs.
With one kick, the Giants felt a surge of warmth, enough to lift them south, and out of the winter’s chill.
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