Doug Pensinger - Getty Images
4 months ago: SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 22: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants walks off of the field after the Giants won 20-17 in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park on January 22, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The AFC and NFC Championship games both turned out to be exciting contests, and at the end of the day, the result was that the New York Giants will square off against the New England Patriots in two weeks for Super Bowl XLVI. It will be an exciting, storybook re-match of the two teams that met for the Lombardi trophy four years ago as Eli Manning was able to prevent the Patriots from going 19-0 after a stunning catch by David Tyree over Rodney Harrison.
For now, let's get back to the NFL Championship games. The Ravens lost to the Patriots 23-20 on a day where Tom Brady probably had one of his worst outings of the regular season. He didn't throw a touchdown pass and was picked off twice by the Ravens' defense, including late in the fourth quarter when New England had a chance to comfortably put the game away. He also missed several open receivers throughout the game on the type of throws that are usually automatic for him.
Thankfully for the Patriots, they had Vince Wilfork, who had an impressive bull rush throughout the game, disrupting the Ravens' backfield enough to either sack Joe Flacco or break up a run play. Flacco actually stepped up in my opinion after the first quarter, doing a good job of making some plays outside the pocket. He had a critical interception in the fourth quarter, but he was able to drive his team down the field to set up a potential game-tying field goal by Billy Cundiff. Two plays earlier, wide receiver Lee Evans had dropped what likely would've been the game-winning touchdown pass. Then, Cundiff pulled a 32-yard attempt wide left, as the cameras then showed just about every Ravens player on the sideline with their jaw on the ground.
The Giants and the 49ers played a good one in the night game, as both defenses were very strong and each offense had several clutch plays. The game went to overtime, and 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams fumbled a punt half-way through the period. The Giants recovered in field goal territory, and then Lawrence Tynes kicked the game winner from 31 yards out a couple of plays later to win 20-17. That has to be a tough one to swallow for former Browns special teams coach Brad Seeley and special teams linebacker Blake Costanzo, as well as the rest of the Niners Nation crowd. The only reason Williams was back there was because Ted Ginn Jr. suffered an injury last week against the New Orleans Saints and was unable to play. Williams had two turnovers, both of which basically allowed the Giants to win the game.
It is set -- Manning vs. Brady, Part II, in this year's Super Bowl. Brady can't seem to get rid of the rivalry with the Manning brothers. Both of these quarterbacks are absolute leaders of their respective teams, and I can't wait to see how they top last time's showdown.
0 recs | 66 comments
A Harbaugh free Super Bowl is a happy Super Bowl.
Brownie's Year - January 23, 2012
Yup. Crazy as it sounds — because I hate Baltimore — but John seems like the better Harbaugh brother. I hope they fine Jim for refusing to talk to the media. If players get fined for that, coaches definitely should. Complete lack of class by Jim Harbaugh not to congratulate the other team and talk to the media. He was a jerk off as a player too. I seem to be the only guy to remember this:
TheDriveStillHurts - January 23, 2012
Even the handshake was douchy. These things are quick but it didn’t even look like he tried to shake Coughlin’s hand. He is such a sore ass loser.
SpecialBrownie - January 23, 2012
yes, I noticed as well and thought as such…..good call.
browindiavs - January 23, 2012
And a lame winner — see what happened in Detroit.
TheDriveStillHurts - January 23, 2012
Apparently he pissed off the Saints coach because he wouldn’t return his call before a pre-season game. I guess coaches talk about their strategies before pre-season games, which I didn’t know but now makes them seem even more irrelevant.
HenryDawg - January 23, 2012
Jim looks like an ass. Too high strung
champion64 - January 23, 2012
He didn’t talk after the game? What an immature baby.
Brownie's Year - January 23, 2012
Yep.
emily522 - January 23, 2012
I saw his press conference on NFL network within a half hour of the game’s finish.
Red-Right-88 - January 23, 2012
I think he declined the immediate post game interview outside the locker room.
PaduaDSP - January 23, 2012
I was responding to being a baby if he didn’t talk to the media. But apparently he did, so…
emily522 - January 23, 2012
The guy is a knob.
Bernie19Kosar - January 23, 2012
Agreed.
emily522 - January 23, 2012
Credit where credit is due. Bottom line the guy took a franchise stuck in a rut and got them to the cusp of the SB. He is quirky, as is hoodie – but I think I would prefer this douchy type of personality this year – that what we got. Tremendous coaching job overall. Who would have thought a Ted Ginn knee injury would have such a tremendous impact on that game.
realmccoy - January 23, 2012
He turned around a team stocked with players. People have been picking them to go to the playoffs or even win the SB for a few years now. It’s not like he would have done the same with the Browns this year.
HenryDawg - January 23, 2012
Maybe idiots have been calling for them to win the SB. The key was that he got Alex Smith to play some football. Some coaches focus on what players cant do – while others figure out what they can do to help the team win. Loved his use of the option with Smith, and using V. Davis as one of the best deep threats in the NFL.
realmccoy - January 23, 2012
actually, anyone who has watched the team and isn’t an idiot could see that they had a lot of great pieces but somehow sucked every year, even in years before this when Alex Smith wasn’t that bad (like 2010 and 2009).
In 2009, Singletary was able to turn around that D and make them good but they only won 8 games. Why? Because they were 2-5 in games decided by a TD or less, mostly because Singletary would make bad decisions and/or the D he built would blow it. They gave up 17 points in the 4th to a 1-6 Titans team.
Same in 2010 with Singletary except he lost the lockerroom and his D (also 1-4 in close games).
Alex Smith was never an elite QB, but was good enough that a competent HC should be able to win half of their close games. While this doesn’t seem like a ton, that is the difference between 8-8 and 10-6 in 2009 and 5-11 and 7-9 in 2010.
bross09 - January 23, 2012
Agreed that they had some pieces. But a SB contender with New Orleans, GB, and NYG in that conference?
realmccoy - January 23, 2012
easy schedule with an easy division. They could rack up a good record and get HFA through the playoffs like they did this year.
I think SB contender may have been a stretch, but I saw a lot of playoff predictions over the last few years.
bross09 - January 23, 2012
People picked SF to be the “breakout team” for like 5 years in a row, and it finally happened.
rufio - January 24, 2012
exactly
bross09 - January 24, 2012
This is the game I was hoping to see for the Super Bowl. Should be a great game. The Giants and the 49ers did turn out to be a great game, except for Fox Sports covering the game, of course. Does anyone else hate Joe Buck and Troy Aikman as much as I do? And yet – they have these two idiots for every important game. Then there is Mike Periera. . . I damn near turned off the sound when they decided 50 different times that the ball hit the guy’s knee on that punt.
duke4711 - January 23, 2012
I can’t remember where I read it, but somebody basically tore Periera a new one for being a terrible TV guy. He brought all of his old grudges from when he was a referee into the booth with him and has acted pretty unprofessional at times.
notthatnoise - January 23, 2012
I don’t understand why they ask for his answers. He never gives straight answers. And he’s annoying.
SpecialBrownie - January 23, 2012
Found it.
notthatnoise - January 23, 2012
Now that the Ravens have lost, I couldn’t care less who wins the Superbowl.
Heavysoviet - January 23, 2012
so you care more?
browindiavs - January 23, 2012
Incorrect. He used the correct form of the phrase. I don’t understand how so many people get it wrong. If someone cannot care less, they are stating that they already care so little that it is impossible for the amount of caring to go lower. The strangely prevalent (and incorrect) usage of “I could care less” means that you actually do care about the subject, which is the opposite of what you are trying to imply.
Adrock2099 - January 23, 2012
Breakin it down
HenryDawg - January 23, 2012
The Licensed Pessimist - January 23, 2012
This is now one of my favorite gifs ever.
Simmsinns - January 23, 2012
Favorite gif ever.
SpecialBrownie - January 23, 2012
Well done.
North Coast Flea - January 23, 2012
was this in reaction to Cundiff’s miss?
bross09 - January 23, 2012
No, the goal posts transformed into Megatron.
SpecialBrownie - January 23, 2012
lmfao
The Licensed Pessimist - January 23, 2012
And here I thought the Lions were eliminated weeks ago.
Simmsinns - January 23, 2012
Icwutudidthar.
SpecialBrownie - January 24, 2012
Yes.
Bernie19Kosar - January 23, 2012
Fantastic.
Dawg Nuts - January 23, 2012
rec
rufio - January 23, 2012
Nice.
emily522 - January 23, 2012
Nailed it. Thanks.
Heavysoviet - January 23, 2012
3 afcn teams in the playoff and neither in the SB
The Licensed Pessimist - January 23, 2012
Are you happy or complaining?
Brownie's Year - January 23, 2012
I wouldn’t have minded one of them not named the steelers in the SB.
The Licensed Pessimist - January 23, 2012
I catch myself rooting for any team that faces our division rivals…but I find I dislike Pitt most, then Balt., and lastly Cin.
browindiavs - January 23, 2012
It all makes sense. You are Malor, aren’t you.
rufio - January 23, 2012
Thought I would post this here to brighten up everyone’s Monday!
emily522 - January 23, 2012
I was at my friends house watching that game. He was a typical Steeler fan. First his mouth hit the floor, then he started going on about the way we won. I just grinned ear to ear.
The New Kardiac Kids - January 23, 2012
Awesome.
Bernie19Kosar - January 23, 2012
Gives me chills and I never saw it live. (1993, but I was barely a year and a half.)
emily522 - January 23, 2012
I’ve watched this six times today. So amazing. I think I’d put it ahead of Cribbs’ own famous Steeler return.
Adrock2099 - January 23, 2012
Glad everyone liked it!
emily522 - January 23, 2012
I wanted to see the Niners in the SB so we could shut up the “got six?” troglodytes, but after seeing all the Harbaugh comments and remembering the Detroit game, you guys are absolutely right… he is a world-class tool and a sore loser to boot.
Vududawg - January 23, 2012
Maybe I just wasn’t aware of it at the time, but earlier in the season it didn’t seem like anybody was calling out Harbaugh West for being a tool, either before or after the Detroit game.
Legoman0721 - January 23, 2012 via Android app
Winning solves all problems
HenryDawg - January 23, 2012
I would have done the same thing to Jim Schwartz. It wouldn’t have been the right thing to do, but I would have done it.
rufio - January 23, 2012
Right, Schwatrz acted like an ass that game. He was screaming at Harbaugh for trying to challenge a play.
They are both a-holes.
Bernie19Kosar - January 23, 2012
I would still take Harbaugh’s ahole immaturity on our team. Schwartz is a good coach, but I felt he got cocky and it permeated to his team with all the penalties.
rufio - January 24, 2012
I posted this earlier in the game thread. It’s just too funny. If you missed the Giants owner interrupting Terry Bradshaw last night, watch it.
I believe that’s her son on Terry’s right trying to tell her to leave.
Brownie's Year - January 23, 2012
That is awesome
HenryDawg - January 23, 2012
Can’t stop laughing at Terry. “How you doing? Excuse me.” As he tries to ignore her.
Brownie's Year - January 23, 2012
awesome, but where are Kate and/or Rooney when you need them?
bross09 - January 23, 2012
OT: They are showing Senior day practices on NFLN and its pretty fascinating stuff seeing the one on ones with DL vs. OL, Mayock and Davis doing a great job breaking it down.
HenryDawg - January 23, 2012
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