Eli Manning, New York Giants Beat 49ers 20-17 In Overtime To Return To Super Bowl

Eli Manning, New York Giants Beat 49ers 20-17 In Overtime To Return To Super Bowl.Eli Manning led a short, final and Tynes scored game-winning 31-yard overtime, sending the Giants to the Super Bowl with a 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game Sunday.

In another tight competition in this decades-old series, both defenses stopped in New York capitalized on a key before another costly mistake in San Francisco.

Manning and the Giants (12-7) will face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis as 3 ½ point underdogs. The last time the teams met for the title of the 2008 NFL, the Giants ended the Patriots' bid for a perfect season.

Tynes had a hand, err, walk the Giants get to it again, kick the purpose of playground-winner in overtime in Green Bay.

Devin Thomas put the Giants in position by recovering the fumble second of the game after Jacquian Williams stripped the ball from fill-in return man Kyle Williams, who also dabbled early to set up a touchdown in New York.

"This is my second NFC championship game, my second game-winner," said Tynes. "It's amazing. I had dreams about this last night. He was 42, not 31, but I was so nervous before the game just now anticipates this kind of game. I am usually pretty cool, but there was something tonight, I knew I would have to make a kick. Hats off to Eli, offensive, defensive and great win. "

Manning was 32 of 58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns in his file of the road fifth win in the playoffs, the New York fifth in a row overall and fifth among the six.

A 12-point underdog in the game 2008 the title, the Giants defeated Brady and got a pass at the end of minute TD from Manning to Plaxico Burress to win their third Super Bowl.

Five months after declaring that it is in the same class as Tom Brady, Manning will have another chance to excel Brady on the biggest stage in the NFL. He dominated the Packers Aaron Rodgers and the defending champion last week, while former No. 1 picks Alex Smith and fellow climber from San Francisco the next day.

Victor Cruz set the tone with eight of his 10 receptions in the first half and finished with 142 yards

"It's just been a huge effort from all of us, man," said Cruz. "We understand that each of us can get hot at any time. As we are all on the same page and just play together, man, we have a good group of guys. "

Vernon Davis caught touchdown passes of 73 and 28 yards and the liquidation of three catches for 112 yards in NFC West champions (14-4), who went from June to October a year ago to a competitor and ended with a playoff drought of eight years.

He scored the winning goal from 14 yards last week that the 49ers stunned Drew Brees and the Saints 36-32 favored.

Thirty years after their dynasty began under the late Bill Walsh, another former Stanford coach - Jim Harbaugh - the 49ers got off with his "Who has done better than us No-body!" Song that has taken so well with players and the city.

"It will be a difficult question. It will take some time for more, "said Harbaugh.

The only other time these two franchises clashed in the conference championship game ended in memorable fashion. On January 20, 1991, Roger Craig fumbled with the 49ers 13-12 at the end of the first plan in the fourth quarter and the Giants won 15-13 in San Francisco denied a chance at a third straight Super Bowl title. New York then beat the Bills to capture its second Super Bowl.

These teams met in the playoffs six times between 1981 and '94 seasons with the winner going on to win the Super Bowl four times.

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Patriots Headed Back To Super Bowl

Patriots Headed Back To Super Bowl.FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots of New England are directed to the seventh Super Cup in franchise history after a hard fight, edge-of-your-seat, 23-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game that n 'was sealed when the kicker Billy Cundiff Ravens shot a potentially tying field goal from 32 yards with 11 seconds left to play wide.

The Miss a jaw-dropping for players of Baltimore, who was on the sideline in disbelief and trigger a wild celebration at Gillette Stadium. Vince Wilfork Patriots defensive tackle, who had a huge role in the game, took off his helmet, his arms outstretched, and the steam from his bald head and bare arms.

After being beaten all season, New England, the defense forced the Ravens field goal on the final possession of the game. Rookie Sterling Moore, who previously missed a tackle on Torrey Smith that led to a touchdown, bounced back strongly, breaking two attempts end zone pass from Joe Flacco of the Ravens final possession.

The snap and hold looked good to start Cundiff, but he just missed a manageable distance.

"All credit has got to go to the players," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "These guys fought for 60 minutes. It was not perfect, but they went there and they played their heart and sometimes good things happen when. "

As the Patriots waited to receive the Lamar Hunt Trophy given to the AFC Champions, the signs honoring women team owner Robert Kraft Myra, who died July 20, were everywhere, patches on players' shirts , signs in the stands of fans waving giant "MHK" and "Myra win for" posters.

"I congratulate these great players and coaches. They are an incredible team. They are a great brotherhood, "Kraft said in a television interview after the match. "They are a family and like all of you in the stadium. - You are part of our family all of you people who watch television are Pats fans. - You are part of our family. Thank you for the support you have given us this year emotionally. "

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has plunged to a meter goal line on fourth and goal in the fourth quarter to put New England on top, 23-20. Brady completed only 22 of 36 passes for 239 yards and no hit, and harshly criticized his performance in a television interview later.

"Well, I sucked pretty bad today, but our defense saved us," said Brady. "And I'll try to get out and do a better job in a week the couple, but I am proud to this team, my teammates. You know, you the fans were incredible today. You have been a 12th man and we needed it. We will try to go kick some ass and in a few weeks. "

The Patriots will make their appearance in the seventh Super Bowl, and the first since his defeat against the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots' only loss was after a regular season 16-0 in 2007.

"We are hungry and very passionate about what we do and we get it," said Wilfork. "That's the good thing about this team. This team never gives up. I do not care what the score may seem; this team never gives up and is a championship team. "

Super Bowl XLVI is February 5 in Indianapolis. The Patriots face the Giants again.

"It's such a great feeling. We finally got something and I hope we do something again, "linebacker Jerod Mayo said.

Flacco had the Ravens pulled ahead, 20-16, when he hit Smith on a pass play of 29 yards that Smith ended up diving for the pylon. Flacco was 22-for-36 for 306 yards and two touchdowns.

In the first half, the game was as tight as it was expected she would, if New England could have wasted a few chances early. The Patriots went into the locker room up 13-10 - they had the ball with a little less than a minute to play and two timeouts in hand, but chose to take two knees instead of trying to get more of points.

Opportunities early came to the Pats' first three possessions: New England began their own 40, 39 and 40 own, but could not score three points despite the short fields.

In the first few minutes, the Patriots defense was the story, as he came into force. Baltimore has lost the toss, but the Patriots, as usual, chose to differ, and forced a three-and-forth, with Mark Anderson providing Flacco from behind when he returned the ball on third down and I tried to run for it.

The second possession of Baltimore, he faces a third and-3, but Vince Wilfork pressure Flacco and Anderson took him down to a bag of seven yards.

Wilfork came enormous, the next time the Ravens had the ball, bringing Ricky Williams by his jersey - while he himself was Wilfork on the ground - for a loss of five yards, and center Matt Birk abused on a third-and-long , is a five-yard sack Flacco and forcing another punt.


After a quick three-and-Out, the first time they got the ball, the Patriots offense was more effective for the second time; get a little luck along the way. The second and the 9-27 Baltimore, Brady looked to Wes Welker. The ball was high and beat until Welker, Bernard Pollard caught the ball out of the air, but the interception left the board because cornerback lardarius Webb has been flagged for illegal contact. New England kept the ball and got a first down.

Six plays later - after Brady overthrew tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was wide open in the seam for what would have been a hit - Stephen Gostkowski put a field goal 29 yards between the posts for the first points of game.
While the first potential interception was wiped out by a penalty, the Patriots were not so lucky the second time. After the sack Wilfork led to a Ravens punt, pass from Brady to Julian Edelman ended up in the hands of Webb, who made a great catch falling back, like an interception think Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty made in San Diego last season.

Baltimore tied the game off in sales, with a 42-yard pass to rookie Flacco Smith on the first play putting the offense in New England territory quickly. When a third dump off to Anquan Boldin was a little less than a first attempt, the Ravens took a short field goal.

The Patriots responded with something and someone we have not seen much of lately: the ground game and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Running back picked up 24 yards on the first two plays from scrimmage and later in the drive has been yanked off his helmet as he ran through linebacker Ellerbe Dennell.

The penalty gave the Pats first-and purpose-of-7, on the next play, Brady is back in Green-Ellis, who got some blocks from Logan Mankins beautiful and Welker on the way to landing.

The Ravens once again tied the game, getting two big plays: the first test, an old enemy Lee Evans, who is in his first season with Baltimore after the start of his career with the Bills, recorded a gain of 20 yards, two plays later; Boldin has taken the tackle Kyle Arrington and ended up winning 37 yards.

Flacco hit winger Dennis Pitta at the front of the end zone for the score.

The Patriots added a 35-yard placement before halftime, and then increased their lead to six points next to the half on another onside kick.

Two main rooms on the disc came when Brady got four yards on second-and-1, get up and barking linebacker Ray Lewis, and a third-and-six, when Aaron Hernandez caught a screen behind the line of mixed and put a nice move on Pollard for a gain of 12 yards.

But the Ravens answered right away, going 78 yards in 11 games for their first lead of the game, and then put the ball right back when Danny Woodhead was stripped on the punt return that followed. New England, the defense made a great stop with McCourty a break happens in the end zone and James Ihedigbo sacked Flacco on third down to force a field goal.

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Stingy 49ers Hold Down Drew Brees, Saints 36-32

Stingy 49ers Hold Down Drew Brees, Saints 36-32.What better way to celebrate the anniversary of 30 years of "The Catch".

Joe Montana to Dwight Clark then.

Alex Smith to Vernon Davis now.

Smith completed a touchdown pass of 14 yards to Davis with nine seconds left just after Drew Brees has the Saints high-powered future, and the resurgence of San Francisco capitalized on five turnovers New Orleans to win a thrilling 36 - 32 in the playoffs Saturday.

"It's huge for us," Davis said. "This is history, legend, whatever you can describe."

Smith ran for a TD from 28 yards with 2:11 left and threw another scoring pass to Davis in the first quarter. Coach Jim Harbaugh has NFC West champions (14-3) has shown that punch, stingy defense can still win in the modern world, the NFL wide open, taking off one of the most dynamic offenses League .

Brees completed a touchdown pass of 66 yards to Jimmy Graham with 1:37 left and the Saints appeared ready to rally from an early 17-point deficit, while Smith and Davis delivered again. It was a wild back-and-forth duel finish with passing impressive moments on the decline.

Their show highlight came in the box opposite end where Clark caught a 6-yard stretched Montana January 10, 1982. Saturday winning goal by leaping Davis - who plowed a defender as he landed - came to the end zone even as Steve Young hit Terrell Owens for winning TD with 3 seconds left in a 30-27 wild-card victory over the Packers in the playoffs in 1999. TO Grab they became known as "The Catch II."
Alex Smith
AP
San Francisco 49ers Alex Smith quart ... View the full key

How this?

"You have to call the catch," Davis said of his play. "We were down. I had to do to make my teammates, we want to go. "

San Francisco has triumphed in his first playoff game in nine years, rising to face the New York Giants and the defending champion Green Bay Packers, who play Sunday. A victory by the Giants would give the 49ers the field at home.

The 49ers snatched another victory at the last second in a season full of them - and one day the former coach George Seifert served as honorary captain for the coin toss. San Francisco came from behind for the five regular season wins, four on the road.

Davis, who cried on the bench after day after saying he was overwhelmed by the first thick playbook Harbaugh, finished with seven catches for 180 yards. It was received the most yards by a tight end in a playoff game. He averaged 25.7 yards per catch.

Brees a big up down the stretch as he did through a record season, also hit Darren SPROLS a 44-yard TD with 4:02 remaining - one of SPROLS '15 catches for 119 yards.

"It stings right now because of the level anticipated that we had coming into this tournament and the understanding that if we win here we are in the NFC championship game and anything can happen," said Brees. “It’s hard. It's hard to swallow right now. "

The 49ers have also shown that the defense can still dominate in the days of passersby as big as Brees.

Donte Whitner with making the hits and bruises Dashon Goldson, Patrick Willis and fellow defensive pressure and forcing turnovers Brees from every angle, surprising San Francisco is one victory away from returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since the capture fifth championship proud franchise after the 1994 season.
Brees, whose team was coming off consecutive 600-yard games, completed 40 of 63 passes for 462 yards and four touchdowns and was sacked three times. He also threw two interceptions, his first in the playoffs in five years, and New Orleans (14-4) below again in his quest to return to the Super Bowl after winning every two years. The Saints are always looking for road playoff victory in the history of franchise after falling to 0-5.

"Kind of unbelievable game the way it came and went," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. "It's obviously a difficult game to lose."

To what extent these 49ers have come since the 24-3 thrashing they took over in August at the Superdome in the opening exhibition of the teams. Now, Harbaugh is "Who has done better than us No body!" group comparisons in the old days of Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott and Steve Young. And of course, Dwight Clark, who returned with "The Catch" to beat Dallas in the NFC Championship Game, January 10, 1982.

All-Pro David Akers, the veteran of the Niners' playoff most experienced, including 44 field goals set a record in one season, managed three more when it mattered most - 25 meters, 41 and 37.

The 49ers made the big plays outsider on both sides of the ball and on special teams.

"The guys were so confident, as long as we had time we had a shot," said Smith.

They also had a full house of towel waving behind them 69,732 at Candlestick Park on a beautiful sunny winter day in the Bay Area. It was 62 degrees at kickoff.
Alex Smith
AP
San Francisco 49ers Alex Smith quart ... View the full key

who that? All Saints is headed home to the Big Easy empty-handed.

A year ago, New Orleans came in the West and has suffered a loss of wonder that the Seattle Seahawks 7-9 in the NFC wild-card round.

The Saints have lost five escaped all season, and gave three on Saturday against opportunistic defense in San Francisco that has pressed all day.

Harbaugh theme of "do not overcook," rang true as the 49ers relied on what has here - perhaps the best defense in the league and task forces.

Brees led the Saints near the goal line on their opening drive, but Pierre Thomas lost a fumble and was lost for the game with a head injury after being struck by Whitner. Two other turnovers came on special teams.

Smith, the No. 1 pick overall 2005 project so often booed his first six seasons, hit Davis on a touchdown pass of 49 yards in the first quarter and Michael Crabtree strike four yards as the 49ers jumped to a quick 17 - 0 lead. He finished 24-42 for 299 yards and a 103.2 passer rating.

"This shows that it becomes an elite quarterback. I'm glad that the world could see what he did today," said Willis.

Smith and his offense were determined to make their mark on these playoffs after being neglected for the entire season, and showed some style of their own. Davis tempered football on the goal post after his score to the play of the Niners' most important on the main stage of the NFL since rallying to stun the New York Giants in January 2003.

Brees threw two interceptions in the first half and had his NFL record streak of 226 passes without an interception sets off on Gold son pick in the first quarter. Brees streak "dated NFC championship game against Chicago five years ago.

But he hit a well-kept Graham for a jump of 14-yard touchdown catch at the 9:32 mark of the second quarter and was completed with 25 yards to Marques Colston to send the Saints into halftime trailing only 17-14.

Any momentum gained in New Orleans was injured when the man forced Colin Jones SPROLS back to search after the 49ers punted on their first possession of the second half. This is the goal set up Akers second field of the day.

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