[FinanseMikky]

Giants finally kick the Packers out of the playoffs ... and will face the undefeated Pats in the Super Bowl





Giants 23, Packers 20, O.T.
Giants Stun Packers and Head to the Super Bowl

By JOHN BRANCH


David J. Phillip/Associated Press
New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime.
Lawrence Tynes kicked a 47-yard field goal in overtime to belatedly and unexpectedly send the Giants to Super Bowl XLII where they will play the undefeated New England Patriots.

SOURCE.

[SpyRemo]

They're gonna be defeated pretty damn soon!

[BV6lwvXf]

Blue Cheeseheads beat Wisconsin Cheddar Cheeseheads

[Chooriwrocafn]

Got a splitting headache (free shots), but it's worth it!

What's the temperature?

[animilius]

Patriots win return trip to Super Bowl to confront Giants and history

By Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Staff | January 21, 2008

FOXBOROUGH - Their relentless quest for perfection is almost complete. The undefeated New England Patriots need just one more victory to establish themselves as the 1927 Yankees of football: Greatest team ever.

The journey started one year ago today when the Patriots were humbled by the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. The Patriots returned to the conference title game yesterday and beat the San Diego Chargers, 21-12, at frosty Gillette Stadium to advance to Super Bowl XLII.

The Patriots belong to the world now. There'll be no more games this season in the icy Foxborough football palace where the end zones are paved with gold. Already owning the best record in league history (18-0), walking where no NFL cleats have trod, the 2007-08 Patriots will play the New York Giants in the uber game in Glendale, Ariz., one week from Sunday.

Only one team in pro football history ever finished undefeated and the Patriots already have won more games than the 1972 Miami Dolphins (17-0).

"I'm happy we could win this at home, with all of you," Patriots owner Bob Kraft told the sellout crowd as he hoisted the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the final whistle sounded early last night. "We did what has never been done before."

Ever-stoic Patriots coach Bill Belichick told the fans, "All the credit goes to the players. The players played great all year and they did today. I'm really lucky to coach this team. Now we can look ahead."

Looking ahead is what the Patriots studiously avoided since early September. As they piled win upon win, they were asked about their place in history and always they stopped the music and recited the mantra: "We're just thinking about the next game."

Finally, the next game is the big game, the game that can seal their place in history.

Veteran linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who has been around since Bill Parcells took the Patriots to Super Bowl XXI against the Packers after the 1996-97 season, said, "If there was a time I felt any pressure this year it was before the final game against the Giants. We realized [a 16-0 regular season record] was possible to be achieved. There was history on the line all year."

History walks hand-in-hand with these Patriots. They have won three Super Bowls since 2001-02, but no NFL team has finished 19-0.

Since closing the regular season with a 38-35 win over the Giants at the Meadowlands, the Patriots have faced the prospect of an ignominious ending. Losing any playoff game, particularly one before the Super Bowl, would have made them targets of ridicule. The September Spygate episode and a succession of games in which they ran up the score made the Patriots the target of jealous fans around the nation.

Playing at home against the Eagles after Thanksgiving, the Patriots demonstrated new vulnerability and have been repeatedly tested in close games since beating Philadelphia, 31-28. Yesterday was no exception. The wounded Chargers intercepted Tom Brady three times and trailed by only 2 points (14-12) after three quarters. It was a pretty good showing for a team playing without the NFL's leading rusher (LaDainian Tomlinson carried the ball twice in the first quarter, then went to the sideline for the rest of the day because of a knee injury).

Last weekend the Chargers advanced to the AFC title game with a gutty upset of the defending Super Bowl champion Colts in Indianapolis. But the victory came at an enormous price. Tomlinson and quarterback Philip Rivers were wounded at the RCA Dome and all-world tight end Antonio Gates aggravated a toe injury. Gates was able to make only two catches yesterday and Rivers hobbled through the full four quarters, looking like the Knicks' Willis Reed limping at Madison Square Garden in the 1970 NBA Finals.

All of the above hindered the visitors at Gillette, but it was New England's ageless defense that kept the Chargers out of the end zone. Three times San Diego advanced inside New England's 10-yard line and failed to come away with a touchdown. It was the difference.

Brady, meanwhile, completed 22 of 33 passes, including two touchdown strikes, but was bothered by the three interceptions. New England's offense repeatedly was rescued by Laurence Maroney (122 yards on 25 carries) and Kevin Faulk (eight catches, 82 yards).

The Patriots led, 14-9, at halftime but the Chargers looked ready to take a third quarter lead when they moved the ball to the New England 4-yard line. That's when 39-year-old Junior Seau stuffed Michael Turner for a 2-yard loss on third down, forcing yet another Nate Kaeding field goal.

New England made it a two-score game with an eight-play, 67-yard drive to take a 21-12 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Chargers took over, moved the ball to the Patriot 36, then inexplicably punted on fourth and 10 with 9:21 left. A bold move, it was not. In the fine tradition of former coach Marty Schottenheimer, Norv Turner had clinched defeat for San Diego. The Chargers never got the ball again.

"Every time I've played in the Super Bowl, I've cherished that," said Brady. "It never gets old. Standing up there and accepting the Lamar Hunt Trophy for the fourth time is pretty outstanding."

The next trophy is the Lombardi Trophy. That's the one you get when you win the Super Bowl.

[RichardFG435]

You think the Patriots would like some Brat?

[dserbokim]

Got a splitting headache (free shots), but it's worth it!

Sapphire!?!?!?!











I sure hope they can pull off one more Big Blue-underdog surprize. For the mother of all upsets....oh baby just thinking about it!

[SaLifHoq]

The Jersey Boys are gonna pull it out. The Giants have led the NFL in sacks and just became the first team to beat 3 staight previous Super Bowl Champs. They also are the first Wild Card team to make it this far.

Eli Manning has shown great poise and has literally grown up before our eyes. The Giants have improved since that Patriots game at the end of the season and they almost beat them then.

The Giants are poised to pull of the upset.

[Relsenlilky]

Giants aren't planning ... to serve as the Washington Generals for New England's Globetrotters-like run at 19-0 history ...

Perfection ruined? Giants relish that thought

By Brian Heyman, The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants were still coming down from the high of living through sudden-death overtime in the NFC Championship Game in Green Bay on Sunday night. And they were still reveling Monday over the Super-sized reward — a rematch with the perfect New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

They might be early two-touchdown underdogs, but the Giants aren't planning on walking into University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 3, to serve as the Washington Generals for New England's Globetrotters-like run at 19-0 history — certainly not after a record 10 straight wins on the road.

The Giants want to finish the job.


Photo by Robert Deutsch,
USA TODAY

"The atmosphere is going to be incredible," said wide receiver Plaxico Burress, fresh off his huge 11-catch, 154-yard night against the Packers. "We can't really even imagine what it's going to be like. We're just looking forward to the opportunity to compete for a world championship. That's why you're in this business, to win world championships.

"You're not just satisfied with just getting there. You want to win the game."

The team arrived home early Monday morning from their thrilling 23-20 win over the Packers and later reconvened at Giants Stadium for strength and conditioning work and a midday meeting.

Coach Tom Coughlin will give the players a chance to rest for the next two days before returning on Thursday to begin three days of practice. The Giants had nothing at stake but ruining history the last time they played the Patriots on Dec. 29 at the Meadowlands, and held a 12-point lead in the third quarter. But New England rallied for a 38-35 win, giving it the unprecedented 16-0 regular season.

Now the Giants are getting a second chance to ruin the Patriots' perfection.

"When you lose to a team, you always want to have a chance to avenge yourself," Burress said. "Who could have ever thought that we would have an opportunity to compete with those guys who they're saying is the greatest team in football history with their dynamic offense? They're just an all-around great team. And we have a chance to compete against them for a world championship. You couldn't ask for a better position to be in."

The Giants' ride to the Arizona desert really took on fuel with that last game against the Patriots. There was the great debate: Should Coughlin rest his starters or play to win the game? He played to win the game. And though he didn't, the Giants saw that they could play with the best.

"I think we learned a lot about ourselves and about our team in that game," Shaun O’Hara said. "I think that game really kind of set the tone for believing in each other and believing in the talent on the team. When we're not playing bad football, when we're eliminating turnovers and penalties, we're a good football team."

And when their quarterback plays mistake-free football, the brand he has been playing this month, they have a chance to win every game, including the next one.

The Giants reached the Super Bowl in large part because they haven't committed an offensive turnover in their postseason road sweep through Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay. Eli Manning has seemingly taken a step forward in his development, making good decisions with the ball. It started with the New England game when he threw for four touchdowns and only one interception.

Manning knows he and his team will have to be at their best to outduel the Patriots' 50-touchdown MVP, Tom Brady, and his teammates.

"We thought we played pretty well against them, but we didn't play perfect," Manning said. "We made enough mistakes to put us in a situation where they won the game. We know now we are going to have to play great football to beat them because they are a heck of a team. ... We are going to have to go in with the mind-set that we have to play perfect."

The Giants have another mind-set right now. They're happy to embrace their huge underdog status.

"It's not a slap in the face because we've been underdogs everywhere," running back Brandon Jacobs said. "It doesn't matter if it's two points or 21 points. We just keep proving everyone wrong."

Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

USA TODAY Source

[M1zdL0hh]

Sunday's game was really the only Giants game I have watched this year (yeah, I'm not much of a football fan anymore) and I have to say Plaxico Burress was really good. Armani Toomer not so much although I have a feeling he'll redeem himself come Superbowl Sunday.

Eli was also very good as well. Of course, their defensive line is really the reason why they're winning. Strahan, Umenyiora and company are tough.

Giants looks like they are the team of destiny and will upset the Patriots.

[Diwokfkq]

^Yeah, but if you watched the Pats game, you have to wonder if that D-line will hold up against the likes of Maroney. That guy did some work against the Chargers, on a day when Brady to Moss/Welker wasn't working nearly as well as it usually does.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still be rooting for the Giants.

[Spalax]

Well, they did play them the last game of the season a few weeks ago, and if I remember correctly, the Giants' line did pretty well.

The second time around usual favors the team that lost the previous time and with the added confidence that game gave to the Giants, I think that will bring them over the top.

[rockboyzaza]

I wish Mathias Kiwanuka was back.

[gomosopions]

Tom Brady dropping in on his supermodel girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen's apartment in NY yesterday, holding flowers and wearing a cast.


bostonherald.com


tsn.ca

[Nashhlkq]

Down goes Brady, Down goes Brady!!!

Oh I wish, but make no mistake he will play on Super Bowl XXII

[wbeachcomber]

http://www.q1043.com/pages/jox/morningshow.html

[StethyEntinic]

I love all the NY papers making a big deal out of the Brady cast, and calling him all sorts of names in the process. Have they not learned a damn thing all year?

This fodder gets absorbed as motivation by them, and not one person or entity who's opened their cakehole against them this year has gotten their desired results from it. I'll come out and say I'm rooting for the Pats here, but sheesh, why play into their game??

[uncoodync]

A sampling of the exchange between two 'papers. The New York Post shoots first over the ramparts:



Front Page Headline:

Who's afraid of Tom Brady now?
Girlie man limps home with Blooms in Hand,
Brace on Foot


Article:

FLOWERY TOM A POSY PATSIE
BLOOMS IN HAND, BRACE ON FOOT IN VILLAGE CALL TO GISELE

By CHUCK BENNETT, MIKE PUMA and MELISSA JANE KRONFELD


Flower boy Tom Brady,
whose New England Patsies
will face the Super Giants,
wears a booty as he hobbles home
to Gisele Bundchen in the Village ...
January 22, 2008 -- Tom Brady hasn't been brutally beaten down by the Giants yet - but at least the petal-pushing flower boy is limping.

The cocky quarterback for the undefeated* New England Patriots was caught hobbling to the West Village home of his gal pal, Gisele Bundchen, yesterday - carrying a box of pretty little posies.

A day after the Pats' win over the San Diego Chargers propelled them to the Super Bowl against the Giants, Brady sported an orthopedic, open-foot brace on his right leg as he struggled with luggage and the box of white flowers.

Brady was later spotted wearing the boot and hobbling out of the East Village nightspot Butter, with Gisele, early this morning.

The booty - known as a cam walker - is a good sign for the Big Blue faithful, according to Hospital for Special Surgery foot and ankle expert Dr. Rock Positano.

"When they put you in a cam walker, that usually means you're hurting," Positano told The Post, after viewing stills and video of the gimpy quarterback. "He's sustained some kind of trauma that requires immobilization. This is not just a simple strain or a sprain."

Positano was betting that Brady had suffered trauma to his metatarsals - bones toward the front of the foot - or the Achilles' tendon, located near the heel.

"Achilles' injuries are very difficult to treat," he said. "You don't come back from an Achilles' injury in a week. The fact that he's in a cam walker should make Giants fans very optimistic, and should certainly make Michael Strahan, or any defenseman who sees that, salivate."

Vegas oddsmakers have the Pats defeating the scrappy Giants by 12_ points, but that could all be in flux depending on how badly Brady's foot is banged up.

He played down any pain he may have endured Sunday, even though at the game's end, he appeared to be gimpy.

"Ah, you know, there is always just kinds of bumps and bruises. I'll be ready for the Super Bowl. I'm not missing this one," he told Boston's WEEI radio.

But the Giants weren't picturing a Super Bowl without Brady just yet.

"It doesn't matter. He's got two weeks [to heal]," said running back Brandon Jacobs who was celebrating with teammates at The Plumm in Chelsea last night. "The guy's gonna play."
Officially, the Patriot front office pleaded ignorance. "You have more information than I do," said spokesman Stacey James.
Meanwhile, tickets for the Super Bowl in Phoenix soared to $10,000 on eBay, and brokers hoped to make a killing.

Back at Giants Stadium, quarterback Eli Manning humbly admitted he has come into his own as a gridiron star, just like big brother Peyton of the Indianapolis Colts, after defeating the Green Bay Packers 23-20.

"I talked to [Peyton] last night briefly, and he just said, 'I am proud of you. Congratulations. This is fun. Take it all in, and enjoy it,' " the younger Manning, 27, said of a Sunday phone call with his 31-year-old brother.

That advice may include how to beat a team that plays dirty.

The Pats' 18-0 record is marred by the "Spygate" incident last September, when the team was caught videotaping the New York Jets' hand signals. Since then, The Post has noted the Pats' record with an asterisk for cheating - and the rest of the nation's media has followed.

"It is going to be a tough game, but we have been playing our best football," Eli said. He also seemed excited his fiancée's "jinx" is broken.

Every time his college sweetheart, Abby McGrew, watched him play from a luxury box, the Giants lost. But not Sunday night.

"She sat inside, and I guess we broke the jinx," he said.

Additional reporting by Don Kaplan, Kelly Magee and Tim Perone

Copyright 2008 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

NY Post Source

[sbgctsa]

... Boston Herald responds to fire.



Front Page Headline:


Article:

Hub new king of the hill

N.Y’s. inferiority complex on display as Boston’s little town blues melt away

By Steve Buckley

Thursday, January 24, 2008 -

A lot of people are going to work very hard over the next 10 days to turn Super Bowl XLII into yet another exercise in which pint-sized, self-conscious Boston dares to step into the ring with powerful, glitzy New York.

Somebody will truck out the old story about the Red Sox selling Babe to the Yankees. It will be noted that New York gets the smashmouth, blockbuster Broadway shows, while Boston must settle for tryouts and national tours. New York’s superiority in deli, pizza and Irish bars will be trumpeted.

But while it’s true Boston sports fans used to be jumping up and down and hollering, “Pick me! Pick me!” whenever they were in the same classroom with their peers from New York, a change in centuries brought about a change in attitude.

Boston sports fans just don’t give a damn what New Yorkers think any more.

Sorry, New York, but Boston sports fans have too much going on to pay attention to whatever it is you happen to be whining about this week, last week or next week. And while this may read as though it were cleared first with the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, it’s not hometown boosterism.

It’s fact.

Having just watched the Red Sox win their second World Series in four years, the Boston sports fans now are watching to see if the Patriots can complete their perfect season with a victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. And the day after the Super Bowl ends, or, the day after the latest rolling rally through the streets of Boston ends, bleary-eyed fans will turn their attention to the rebuilt Celtics, who happen to own the best record in the NBA.

And New York? Where once the Red Sox owned the East Coast distribution rights in choking, that industry now belongs to New York. The Yankees, absent of a World Series championship this century, are the owners of the biggest postseason choke in sports history, what with their collapse against the Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series.

The Mets, not to be outdone, are coming off one of the biggest regular-season chokes in history.

Manhattan’s NBA franchise, the Knicks, has become the biggest laughingstock in professional sports. And New York can’t even prop up its hockey club, the Rangers, in an attempt to outshine the Bruins. While both teams play ugly, the Rangers are just a little uglier.

Football? I guess the Jets would be preparing for the Super Bowl this very moment had it not been for Bill Belichick’s video camera way back in Week 1. That’s why the New York Post, week after week, after week, after week, after . . . week, after zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, has been putting the (* caught cheating) next to the Patriots in the NFL standings.

Look, Belichick did something stupid, got caught doing something stupid, and now has to write a fat check to the NFL and, oh, yeah, forfeit the Pats’ first-round pick in the next draft. But Belichick’s camera boy was carted off the field some eight minutes into that season-opener against the Jets. Since then, the Pats are 18-0. The Jets went 4-12, and their coach, Eric Mangini, now spends his time Googling his name and “dime dropper.”

Now it’s the Pats vs. the plucky Giants in the Super Bowl, and the Post noticed a limp in Pats quarterback Tom Brady’s step. Was that some kind of walking cast Brady was wearing the other day as he exited the crib he shares with Gisele?

“Girlie man limps home,” harrumphed the Post.

And so it will continue, right through Super Bowl XLII. Only nobody in Boston will be listening, or reading.

It’s not Boston vs. New York. It’s the Patriots vs. the Giants.

© Copyright by the Boston Herald and Herald Media.

Boston Herald Source

[+++Poguru+++]

...
Boston sports fans just don’t give a damn what New Yorkers think any more.

Not if this article is any indication. The obsession continues, they were born with it, they will die with it.