Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue

Well, it's not surprising that the red, white and blue team from Foxboro, Massachusetts has made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Despite 3, count 'em, 3, interceptions from Tom Brady, the Chargers fell short, falling to the Patriots 21-12. Despite the three picks, and three trips inside the Patriots 10-yard line (3 FGs), the Chargers could not capitalize on an off-day from the Pats-O. If any there were a day for this team to be beaten, it was on this day. Tom Brady played as poorly as you'll ever see, as perhaps the frigid temperatures got to him. However, despite the poor play by the MVP, the Chargers hobbled offense could not take advantage. Philip Rivers turned in a gutsy performance on a bum knee, but could not get the ball into the end zone. The Bolts outplayed the undefeated Pats for 3 quarters, but because they could not push the ball across the goal line, still trailed 14-12. An early 4th quarter TD allowed the Pats running game to take over, while Laurence Maroney solidified his status as an elite-back with a big-time performance down the stretch. The Pats did not turn in an 'A' effort, but it was good enough to advance to the more important A, Arizona.

The other red, white and blue team from straight down I-95 served as a bit more of a surprise. To all those who said 'No way is Eli winning 3 straight road games'. To all those who said "No way can the Giants win in Lambeau'. To all those who said it couldn't be done, I present to you the 2007-08 NFC Champion New York Football Giants. In one of the most entertaining and exciting championship games in recent history, Big Blue shocked the Pack in Green Bay, with a 23-20 overtime win. And it all starts and ends with Eli, who threw of over 250 yards, and for the 3rd straight time this playoff season, did not turn the football over. The G-Men came out and outplayed the Packers from the get go, jumping out to an early 6-0 lead before a 90-yd TD pass to Donald Driver. The Giants went into the locker room down 10-6 at the half, but a strong drive in on the opening series in the second half gave the Giants the lead, capped by a Brandon Jacobs TD run. The two teams traded 7s to make the score 20-17 Giants before the game got interesting. With the Packers driving, R.W. McQuarters, one of the heroes of last weeks upset in Dallas, picked off Brett Favre deep in Green Bay territory, only to fumble the ball right
back to the Pack. Mason Crosby tied the game with a 37-yard field goal, setting the stage for a classic ending. The Giants took the ensuing kickoff down the field, giving Lawrence Tynes a chance to give the Giants a lead with 7 minutes to play. Tynes pushed the kick left, giving the Packers life. After both teams were stopped, the Giants were set to get the ball back with 2:30 to play. After returning the ball inside the Packers 40, R.W. McQuarters coughed the ball up yet again, but instead of falling on the ball, the Packers attempt to pick it up, and the ball winds up in Domenik Hixon's hand as the Giants retain possession at midfield. Following 2 big catches by Steve Smith and tough runs by Ahmad Bradshaw (including a 48 yard touchdown which was called back), Lawrence Tynes was set up with a chance for redemption, a 36 yard game winning FG attempt. However, once again Tynes booted the kick left, badly, sending this instant classic to overtime. After winning the coin toss, Favre made things happen quickly, throwing the ball right into the hands of the Giants' Corey Webster on 2nd down. The Giants did nothing with the field position, and coach Tom Coughlin decided to leave it up to his shaky kicked for a 47-yard attempt ( keeping in mind no one in the history of the NFL has every made a 40+ yard FG in Lambeau Field during the playoffs). Sure enough, Tyned drilled this FG, sending the Giants to the big show and half of New York into a frenzy.