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| 20th January, 2008 - 6:53 pm |  Andrew Perna/RealGM - New England 21, San Diego 12
It was a lot closer than most people predicted, but the New England Patriots still downed the visiting San Diego Chargers on Sunday in Massachusetts. Tom Brady went 22-for-33 with 209 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Despite his three miscues, the Patriots still won rather comfortably as they held the Chargers to just three points in the second half – and none in the fourth quarter.
Philip Rivers, playing on a bum knee, finished the game 19-for-37 with 211 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. LaDainian Tomlinson, last season’s MVP, was held to just two carries in the AFC Championship Game because of a sore knee. Michael Turner got a majority of the carries for San Diego, running seventeen times for 65 yards.
Laurence Maroney paced New England, running for 122 yards and a touchdown on twenty-five carries. Randy Moss was limited to just one catch and eighteen yards, but once again other Patriots stepped up when needed. Kevin Faulk caught eight passes for 82 yards, leading the team in receiving against the Chargers. After falling behind 3-0, Maroney punched in a one-yard score to give New England the lead. They never looked back.
Playoff Stud: Laurence Maroney, NE: 122 rushing yards and one touchdown.
New York 23, Green Bay 20 (OT)
For the second straight year one of the ‘super’ Manning brothers will be competing in the Super Bowl. Eli Manning helped lead the New York Giants to an overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night at Lambeau Field. The game, played in negative temperatures, was an eventful one to say the least.
There were interceptions and fumbles aplenty in blustery Wisconsin, but Manning, who was 21-for-40 with 254 passing, kept his cool. He hooked up with Plaxico Burress eleven times for 154 yards, and even rumbled forward for a key first down in the second half. Brett Favre, who was 19-for-35 with 236 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, was unable to make the timely plays Green Bay needed on several occasions.
The Packers didn’t get much of anything from their ground game, which didn’t help Favre’s cause, as Ryan Grant carried the ball just thirteen times for 29 yards. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined to run 37 times for the Giants, accumulating 130 yards and two touchdowns along the way.
After missing a 36-yard field goal that would have won the game at the end of regulation, New York kicker Lawrence Tynes drilled a 47-yarder to send the Giants to Arizona. The Packers won the toss and received the ball first in overtime, but Corey Webster intercepted Favre to set up Tynes game-winning kick.
The Giants will be the underdog once again when they face the undefeated Patriots on Feb. 3 in Super Bowl XLII.
Playoff Stud: Plaxico Burress, NYG: 154 receiving yards. [READ] |
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