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Super Bowl XLVI New York Giants vs New England Patriots - Live NFL GameTrax 2012
All Exclusive American Football [ Playoffs - Super Bowl XLVI ] Match Here On Your PC, iPhone, iPod Or Mobile TV. New York Giants vs New England Patriots Live Streaming NFL Football Match, At - Lucas Oil Stadium, Kickoff /Time - 06:29 PM (ET) / 12:29 AM (CET),Sunday, 5Th, Feb,2012. All NFL Lover Supporter's Don't Miss To Watch This Live Extreme NFL Games Here. Every Second You Can Watch Here 3D-Blue Ray Quality Video By Signing Up With Us The Live Sports Network From PC TV, You Can Get Here All Time 100% HD/LED Quality Video. So, Don't Wast Your Time, Just Click This Live Streaming Link & Grab This Opportunity To Watch This Live Extreme Games On Your Pc, Laptop Or iPhone, iPod From Live Streaming NFL Mobile.TV!
[++]PLAYOFFS - FOOTBALL SCHEDULE[++]
UPCOMING INFO : New York Giants vs New England Patriots
COMPETITION NAME : Playoffs - Super Bowl XLVI 2012
COMPETITOR : NY Giants vs New England
DATE : Sunday, 5Th, Feb,2012
TIME/WHEN START : 06:29 PM (ET) / 12:29 AM (CET)
VENUE : Lucas Oil Stadium,
STATUS : LIVE ON
Preamble: For two teams that are not supposed to be playing in the NFC Championship, the Giants and 49ers could not be more worthy. Each peaked at the right time this season and both came up huge last weekend when it mattered most.
In just one year, Jim Harbaugh has turned San Francisco from a 6-10 team into a 13-3, No. 2 seed in the NFC. Despite all of that success, no one really expected them to get by the Saints last Sunday. But Alex Smith and the Niners produced a thriller in the final four minutes of the divisional championship worthy of Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. And Vernon Davis' tears after catching that game-winning touchdown provided a poignant bookend to Mike Singletary's famous rant in 2008.
As for the Giants, they were a Dead Team Limping after Week 13, but like Wayne Rooney's hairline, they miraculously came back to life. Never mind that Big Blue lost to the 49ers, 27-20, in Week 10—that's ancient history, given how they have raised their level of play in the past four weeks. Especially the pass rush, which has rung up 17 sacks.
Still, this game will likely come down to the quarterback matchup, and it features two former No. 1 overall draft picks. Particularly after the last month, Manning has shown why you can't spell "elite" without Eli. Meanwhile, Smith wants to show San Francisco fans once and for all that he was worthy of being No. 1 in 2005. Given the sloppy conditions at Candlestick Park today, whichever QB can avoid turnovers will probably be hoisting the Halas Trophy at the end of the evening.
And for experience alone—the Giants are 4-0 in the NFC Championship and the Niners haven't been in this game since 1997—I'm going with New York.
Prediction: Giants 20 – 49ers 13
AFC Championship: Nothing to see here, folks. Yet. You should be following my colleague Paolo Bandini's live coverage of the Baltimore-New England. With :58 left to play, it's Patriots 23 - Ravens 20. Ravens are driving...
AFC Championship update: With 11 seconds left, the Ravens attempt a game-tying 32-yard field goal...and it's NO GOOD! Wide left.
Tom Brady and Gisele are heading to Indianapolis in two weeks...
Final score: Patriots 23 - Ravens 20
Pre-game weather: It's looking wet and windy at Candlestick Park tonight. How will it affect the game?
Wanna Bet: Oh sure, there's a trip to the Super Bowl riding on tonight's game, but everyone knows that what really matters is the bet that each mayor makes on the outcome. So here's what's at stake today: If the Niners wins, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will send San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee a dozen bagels and rename 49th Street, "49ers Street." And if the Giants win, Lee will drape a cable car in Giant blue and send Bloomberg some sourdough bread.
Oh, it's on.
What rhymes with Harbaugh: Here's one for you poetry lovers…Jumping (back) on the San Francisco bandwagon is 92-year-old Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who is a 49ers fan again. But back in the day, he loved the Giants. You know, when Willie Mays played for them.
Ol' Blood and Guts Coughlin: Earlier this week, Giants tackle Chris Canty predicted that today's game would be a "bloodbath."
But Giants coach Tom Coughlin went even further, using General George S. Patton's words to fire up his troops. In his PowerPoint presentation to the team, Coughlin included this quotation: "I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight."
National Anthem: After a hideous performance before the AFC Championship by some crazy old lady Steven Tyler, it was a mortal lock that Kristin Chenoweth would have the better version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" tonight. That said, there was controversy about her appearance at Candlestick Park. Given all the great acts associated with the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle asked: Why is a New York Giants fan singing the National Anthem?
Kickoff: The Giants kickoff and it's a modest return. Alex Smith will get the ball at his own 23.
Giants 0 - 49ers 0, 14:17, 1st Quarter: Handoff to Frank Gore to start the game and he picks up 4. On second down, Smith dumps it off to Gore who is trapped behind the line of scrimmage and somehow scrambles for the first down at the 33.
Giants 0 - 49ers 0, 12:12, 1st Quarter: After a 1-yard loss on first down, Niners' guard Mike Lupati is injured. On 2nd and 11, Gore picks up 7. But it's an incomplete on 3rd and the 49ers will punt.
A solid 52-yard punt for San Francisco to the New York 9. It's a 7-yard return by Blackmon and the Giants will take over on their own 16.
Giants 0 - 49ers 0, 11:31, 1st Quarter: Manning goes to work from the 16 and throws an incomplete to Hakeem Nicks. On 2nd down, Manning goes deeeeeeeeeeeep down the middle to Beckham....incomplete. Lots of contact but no call.
And on 3rd and 10, the Giants pick up the first down with a 12-yard pass to the reliable Victor Cruuuuuuuuuuz.
Giants 0 - 49ers 0, 9:47, 1st Quarter: Ahmad Bradshaw goes nowhere on first down and runs for 2 yard on 2nd down. It's 3rd and 8 from the Giants' 31 and Manning has all day....and finds Nicks for a first down at the 41.
Giants 0 - 49ers 0, 7:24, 1st Quarter: After an incomplete on first down, Manning goes back to the run and the Niners pick it up. On 3rd and 9, Manning is blitzed....and hit...
FUMBLE!
The ball bounces around the field...but the Giants recover.
They punt the ball away and the 49ers will take over on their own 27.
Lucky break for the Giants there. It's clearly very sloppy out there.
TOUCHDOWN? 49ers 6 - Giants 0, 7:11, 1st Quarter: On 2nd and 10, Alex Smith goes deeeeeeeeeeeep down the sideline to Vernon Davis who beats the Giants' secondary and takes it in for the touchdown.
Or did he?
It's under review.
TOUCHDOWN 49ers 7 - Giants 0, 7:11, 1st Quarter After further review...there is no conclusive evidence that Davis stepped out of bounds near the 30. The plays stands.
Vernon Davis burns the Giants for the first TD of the game. Photograph: Robert Galbraith/Reuters
But...there's an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that will be assessed on the kickoff.
49ers 7 - Giants 0, 5:37, 1st Quarter: Manning gets the ball on his own 31 and on 3rd and 3, he finds Nicks for a first down on the 45. But Nicks is slow to get up. Might be a shoulder...
@beaudotgiles tweets: "they better be flagging every Lambeau Leap as excessive celebration now after that call."
I agree with you—that's a tickytack celebration penalty. But...as they just pointed out on Fox, the Lambeau Leap is grandfathered in as far as celebrations go.
49ers 7 - Giants 0, 2:24, 1st Quarter:: On 1st down, Manning hands off to Ahmad Bradshaw who picks up a yard. It's an 8-yard pass on second down and Manning throws an incomplete on 3rd. Big decision here...
Tom Coughlin goes for it on 4th and 1 on the San Francisco 34...and they're short!
49ers 7 - Giants 0, :37, 1st Quarter:: After taking over on downs, the Niners try a reverse and it's a FUMBLE!
But they recover. It's a loss of 10. Now it's 3rd and 14 on the San Francisco 29...incomplete pass.
Niners punt and the Giants take over on their 30.
Injury update: Nicks is back from the locker room. He's going to try to come back out.
49ers 7 - Giants 0, END 1st Quarter:: Hakeem Nicks is back in the game and Manning goes right to him on first down...but it's incomplete. Brandon Jacobs gets the handoff and he rumbles for 4 yards.
And that's the end of the first quarter. The Giants will start the 2nd Quarter on their own 35.
It looks really wet out there. Holding on to the ball is going to be crucial for the next three quarters.
49ers 7 - Giants 0, 14:37, 2nd Quarter: Cruuuuuuuuuuuuz! Manning goes deeeep down the sideline to Victor Cruz at the San Francisco 29. That's a 36-yard reception.
49ers 7 - Giants 0, 13:09, 2nd Quarter:: Bradshaw runs for 5 yards on 1st down and makes a great play by on 2nd down. He takes a lateral and makes something out of nothing. Saves a loss for the Giants. It's 3rd and 4 on the San Francisco 24...and Manning goes over the middle to Cruuuuuuz for a first down.
49ers 7 - Giants 0, 11:25, 2nd Quarter: On 1st and 10 from the San Francisco 17, Manning tosses it to Cruuuuz, who picks up 8. And then Jacobs barrels forward for the first down.
A prediction from each coast: Adam Hunt emails: "Here's my thoughts, and this is coming from a long time S.F. Bay Area resident, the Niners will choke in the final quarter and will loose to the Giants by a narrow margin.
Why? 'Cause that's the real legacy of the Niners.
They start off their seasons weak then will have a strong enough finish to make it to the playoffs.
If they don't blow it then, they will when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday."
And Michael J Dilger counters: "As a New Yorker, I predict the Giants by 10 points, with a final score 21 to 10."
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 7- 49ers 7, 11:15, 2nd Quarter: On 2nd and goal, Manning finds Pascoe for the TD! This game is tied.
A solid drive by Eli Manning. Considering the slick conditions, that was very controlled, very smooth—10 plays, 69 yards.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, 10:03, 2nd Quarter: On 1st and 10 from his own 22, Alex Smith goes deeeeeeeep downfield and overthrows Williams. Smith scrambles for 8 yards on second and throws for a first down on 3rd.
From the owner's box at the BusfielDome, Steve Busfield emails: "I'm impressed that no matter where they play there are always enough Giants fans in the stadium to make their Cruuuuuz roar heard."
That's not about Giants fans. That happens with every team, everywhere. People just like to make the "ooo" sound in stadiums.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, 9:05, 2nd Quarter: First and 10 from the San Francisco 35 and Frank Gore runs for 4. On 2nd down, Gore rumbles for a few yards but there was a loss of helmet on the play. And a flag. Unnecessary roughness. Foolish penalty. The ball is on the 32, 1st and 10.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, 6:02, 2nd Quarter: Gore gets the ball again on 1st down and runs for 7, and on 2nd, Davis picks up the first down.
Incomplete to Davis on the next play...and then Smith scrambles for a few. It's 3rd and 5 on the Giants' 47 and Smith is smothered by the Giants defense. Their D really seems to be coming alive now.
Harbaugh wants to go for it on 4th and 2...and they try to draw the Giants offside. Delay of game.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, 5:28, 2nd Quarter: The 49ers punt and Blackmon calls for a fair catch...and then runs anyway!
Uh...what was he thinking on that play? Surely he must have noticed that no one was trying to tackle him?
That's a penalty...and the Giants will take over on their own 19.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, 3:11, 2nd Quarter: On 1st down, Bradshaw runs for 6. Manning looks to Cruuuuuz down the right side on 2nd down and he picks up 15 yards to the Giant 40.
A short pass to Bradshaw and the Giants tack on another 6. Again, Manning looks very smooth here. On 2nd down, Bradshaw picks up 2 and it will be 3rd and 2 from the Giants' 47. And Manning, from the shotgun, is SACKED.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, 2:51, 2nd Quarter:: A nice punt from the Giants and the 49ers will take over on their own 16-yard line.
Two-minute warning: After losing a yard on first down with a Frank Gore run, the 49ers let the clock run down to the two-minute warning.
The Giants will get the ball back...solid defense by the men in blue.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, :57, 2nd Quarter::A decent punt by the 49ers, and Blackmon makes a good return. The Giants will get the ball on their own 36.
On first down, Manning passes to Ballard...and he drops the ball. On 2nd down, Manning is blitzed, but gets great protection and finds Cruuuuuuz down the middle. Big gain. The Giants are on the San Francisco 49.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, :23, 2nd Quarter:: Another nice grab by Cruuuuuz and the Giants are in business on the San Francisco 38. Manning goes no huddle, incomplete. But then finds Cruuuuuuuz (again). Ball's on the San Francisco 21.
Giants 7- 49ers 7, :06, 2nd Quarter:: Delay of game as Manning calls a timeout he doesn't have. That backs them up a bit, but then Manning finds (who else!?) Cruuuuuuuuz down the middle on the 13. Manning spikes the ball. And out comes the field goal unit....
FIELD GOAL Giants 10- 49ers 7, :02, 2nd Quarter:: Lawrence Tynes kicks a 31-yard field goal and with two seconds left, the Giants take the lead.
Eli Manning stayed so cool on that drive...
Giants 10- 49ers 7 HALFTIME: The Giants punt the ball...and that's the end of the first half.
Eli Manning looked so confident in the first two quarters. He was moving the ball efficiently—16 for 17, 181 yards—especially when you consider the nasty conditions. But the real story of the first half is Victor Cruuuuuuuuuuz. He was seemingly everywhere Manning needed him to be, with 8 receptions for 125 yards. The 49ers need to find a way to stop him in the second half.
@AliWalker24 concurs in his tweet: "Victor Cruz' first half performance reminiscent of Plax victimising Al Harris in the Giants' last NFC title game. #dynamite"
Halftime prediction: The always chatty Paddy O Doors (aka @muswellhillspur) tweets: "i think like the ravens this may end up with someone making a key error."
Given the wet field and, yes, slippery balls...it's amazing there haven't been any turnovers yet.
Giants 10- 49ers 7, 13:25, 3rd Quarter: The Giants start the half on their own 20 and hand the ball the Ahmad Bradshaw, who picks up 9, but then goes nowhere on 2nd down. On 3rd and 1, Manning tries to dish it to Bradshaw, who can't hold on to the ball.
Three and out and the Giants will punt. San Francisco will get the ball on their own 32.
Giants 10- 49ers 7, 11:35, 3rd Quarter: On first down from their own 32, the Giants pass rush SMOTHERS Alex Smith and hits him hard. Loss of 7. Frank Gore picks up 3 on 2nd down. On 3rd, the Giants come after Smith again...and hunt him down like he's a prisoner who's just gone over the wall. He runs for a few, but the Giants are called for illegal contact and it's an automatic first down.
Costly penalty.
Giants 10- 49ers 7, 9:32, 3rd Quarter: Hunter runs for 14 yards on first down. And on the next play, Frank Gore picks up 4 more and the Niners are in Giants territory. Smith tries to find Vernon Davis on 2nd down, but it's incomplete. On 3rd down, the Giants come after Smith again and he scrambles, throws, but the Giants' D has excellent coverage. Incomplete. 4th and 6.
The 49ers punt...it's almost blocked...but Lee gets it off and it's a beauty. And now there'a flag on the play. Running into the kicker.
But luckily for the Giants, it's only the 5-yard variety. So there's no first down. New York will get the ball on their own 7.
Giants 10- 49ers 7, 6:48, 3rd Quarter: On 1st down, it's a short pass to (guess whooooo?) Cruuuuuz for 6 yards. And Cruuuuuuz picks up the first down on the next play. 11 more yards. What a game he's having.
But Manning can't get anything going on the next two downs and wisely throws it away on 3rd.
The Giants punt and Williams has an excellent return—until he slips. San
Francisco will take over on their 47.
@Busfield tweets: "That running TD last week has gone to Alex Smith's head. He's running around like he's Tebow out there."
@anotherdkj seconds that emotion: "The difference being that last week it was deliberate"
And @LengelDavid temporarily comes out of his fetal position to tweet about his beloved Giants: "Smith can't do it."
Giants 10- 49ers 7, 5:32, 3rd Quarter: Frank Gore picks up 2 yards on first down and then Smith finds him on second for a big gain. The Niners pick up 24 yards and they're in business on the Giants' 28...
Smith look confident...
TOUCHDOWN! 49ers 14- Giants 10, 5:18, 3rd Quarter: And on the next play, Smith goes to the end zone...and finds his favorite target today, Vernon Davis!
That's Davis' second TD of the day. And he's now over 100 yards receiving.
Can Eli and the Giants answer?
49ers 14- Giants 10, 5:18, 3rd Quarter: The Niners kick it deep and it's a touchback. Eli will go to work from his own 20.
That will teach Team Schadenfreude, who just tweeted that Smith doesn't have what it takes. But there's plenty of time left...
49ers 14- Giants 10, 3:15, 3rd Quarter: Manning finds Nicks for 15 yards to start the series, but the next play is incomplete to Ware.
With the ball on the 35, Manning hands off to Bradshaw, who gains 3. It's 3rd and 7 and now the San Francisco defense comes up big....Manning is SACKED.
The Giants have to punt. And the Niners don't get much of a return. They will get the ball on their own 22.
49ers 14- Giants 10, 2:20, 3rd Quarter: Alex Smith hands off to Gore, who picks up 5. On second down, he throws an incomplete to Gore. And it's back to Gore on third—a little dish pass, but he can't pick up the first down.
San Francisco punts and the Giants have a minimal return. Manning will go to work on his own 25.
49ers 14- Giants 10, 1:05, 3rd Quarter:: Brandon Jacobs runs up the middle for 5 yards and Manning throws it away on 2nd down. A lot more pressure on Eli in this half. On 3rd down, the pass rush comes again...and Manning goes down the middle....but it's incomplete. And that was a BRUTAL hit to break it up.
Tarell Brown is shaken up on the play. Timeout on the field.
49ers 14- Giants 10, 1:05, 3rd Quarter: Tarell Brown seems to be moving, but they are being very cautious about taking him off. His arms and legs are moving now, and it appears he's sitting up.
He's going to walk off the field...
49ers 14- Giants 10, 1:00, 3rd Quarter:: The Giants have to punt and the 49ers will get the ball on their own 12.
49ers 14- Giants 10, END 3rd Quarter: Smith hands off (again) to Frank Gore and he picks up 11. And then on first down he throws to Walker, who brings the ball up to the 30.
Flag on the play—unnecessary roughness on the Giants. Its against Canty, who predicted tonight would be a "bloodbath." Foolish penalty.
The 49ers will start the 4th quarter on their own 45.
@aleksbismarck tweets: "At about 40% completions Smith is throwing it like he thinks he's Tebow too."
It's true—Smith is barely throwing the ball tonight. He's 7 for 15 through 3 quarters and has only 145 yards. And yet...the Niners are up. Can they hang on for 15 more minutes?
49ers 14- Giants 10, 12:37, 4th Quarter: From his own 45, Smith hands off to Gore, who picks up 6. Another handoff on 2nd down and the Niners get another 3. But they can't pick up the final yard on 3rd down. Good stop by the Giants. Smith just won't pass the ball.
4th and 1 and the Niners take a delay of game penalty.
Andy Lee punts it away and the Giants will start on their own 20.
@rudicanfall tweets: "Pats will murder either of these teams in the SB, sadly."
I'm not sure we can judge either team fairly tonight because of the bad weather. But surely the Pats will be favorites in two weeks.
49ers 14- Giants 10, 11:08, 4th Quarter No gain on first down for the Giants and on 2nd down, Manning is caught in the pocket and the Niner D takes him down. Another sack.
And Eli throws an incomplete on 3rd down. The offensive line is just not giving Manning enough protection.
The Giants punt the ball and it looks like it grazes Kyle Williams so the Giants' Devin Thomas picks it up on the 30 and runs it to the end zone.
But the officials ruled that it didn't touch Williams.
Challenge by Coughlin. This play will be reviewed. This could be huge for the Giants.
TURNOVER! 49ers 14- Giants 10, 11:08, 4th Quarter: After further review, there's no doubt it touched Williams. The Giants will get the ball back on the 49ers' 29. They are not allowed to advance on the recovery.
HUGE play for the Giants. They need to make the most of this turnover.
49ers 14- Giants 10, 10:17, 4th Quarter: That's the first turnover in the game and the Giants go to work. Handoff to Bradshaw, who runs for 3. On 2nd down, Manning has time, but the Niners have excellent coverage. He has to throw it away.
Big play here. 3rd and 7 and Manning finds Nicks. First down inside the 15.
TOUCHDOWN! Giants 17- 49ers 14, 8:34, 4th Quarter Inside the red zone, on the 12, Manning hands off to Bradshaw, but it's a holding penalty on the Giants. On 1st and 20, Manning throws an incomplete. He completes to Bradshaw on 2nd down and it will be 3rd and 15 from the 17-yard line.
And Manning finds Manningham....in the end zone! TOUCHDOWN.
Giants 17- 49ers 14, 8:27, 4th Quarter That turnover was SO costly. And now Williams is back to return again after the muffed punt.
And he makes up for his mistake! Big return! A 40-yard return to the San Francisco 45.
That's the kind of lift the Niners needed...
Giants 17- 49ers 14, 7:34, 4th Quarter On first down, Alex Smith comes out throwing — shocking — and it's incomplete. But there's a flag on the play. Illegal hands to the face, against the Giants. First down at the 50.
And Smith has nowhere to throw...so he takes off! And it's a 17-yard run for Alex Smith.
The Niners are moving...
Giants 17- 49ers 14, 5:45, 4th Quarter And on the next play, Kendall Hunter runs it 18 more yards. The 49ers are at the Giants' 15.
Alex Smith dumps it off to Gore, who picks up 5 but on 2nd down, Smith fakes a handoff, keeps the ball and has nowhere to throw. Third and 5 from the 10, and Smith throws it to Crabtree, who does not pick up the first down. The Niners have not converted on third down all day.
Great stop by the Giants.
FIELD GOAL! 49ers 17- Giants 17, 5:39, 4th Quarter David Akers comes in for the field goal...and the game is tied.
Automatic for him
49ers 17- Giants 17, 4:07, 4th Quarter: On the ensuing kickoff, Akers puts it in the end zone...touchback.
Manning sets up on his own 20 and it's a screen pass to Beckham, who gains 2 yards. Incomplete pass on 2nd down and then Manning completes it to Beckham, who comes up short of the first down.
Good hold by the Niners. Three and out.
The Giants punt and San Francisco will take over on their own 35.
49ers 17- Giants 17, 3:04, 4th Quarter Alex Smith can't get anything going on the first two downs, and it's 3rd and 7. He has yet to convert on 3rd down...and he is SACKED by the Giants. A 10-yard loss for the Niners.
The Giants defense really stepped up there.
The Niners punt and Manning goes back to work from his own 26.
49ers 17- Giants 17, 2:00, 4th Quarter: And the Niner D answers immediately! Manning is SACKED. It's a loss of 11. On 2nd down, he finds Bradshaw, who gains 6...and loses the ball!
But the refs say it's down by contact. Lucky call there for the Giants.
It's third and long for the Giants at the two-minute warning...
@rudicanfail tweets: "So, Mr S: is this going to OT...?"
I'd love to think so...but given the way these two teams have played lately, they always seem to pull off a late miracle.
49ers 17- Giants 17, 1:47, 4th Quarter: On 3rd and 15, Manning goes deeeeep to Cruuuuuuz...but it's incomplete.
The Giants have to punt...and it's a 51-yarder. The Niners will get the ball on their own 29 with three timeouts.
49ers 17- Giants 17, 1:33, 4th Quarter: On first down, Smith can't find a receiver and he throws it away. On 2nd, he scrambles...and throws it low—another incomplete.
49ers 17- Giants 17, 1:18, 4th Quarter: On 3rd and 10, Smith fires it across the middle...to no one! Incomplete.
That's a quick three and out.
Niners punt...and Manning will get the ball back on the Giants 18.
49ers 17- Giants 17, :55, 4th Quarter: On first down, there's chaos in the Niners' secondary...but Cruuuuz slips.
Then on 2nd down, Manning is under pressure...no one open....and he finds Ahmad Bradshaw down the sideline! 30-yard gain to the 48.
49ers 17- Giants 17, :27, 4th Quarter: On 2nd and 8, Manning finds Bradshaw again. Giants call a timeout. 3rd and 4...and Manning looks to Cruuuuz down the middle....but he can't come up with it!
49ers 17- Giants 17, :19, 4th Quarter: The Giants take the delay of game penalty and will punt the ball. Weatherford sends it 29 yards and it's a 14-yard return.
The ball is on the San Francisco 36.
49ers 17- Giants 17, :12, 4th Quarter: Smith dishes the ball on 1st down, but it's only a 3-yard gain. The Niners use a timeout.
49ers 17- Giants 17, :04, 4th Quarter: And DOWN goes Smith! The Giants sack him again.
The Niners call a timeout again.
49ers 17- Giants 17, END 4th Quarter: Alex Smith is under pressure...he scrambles...puts the ball up...and it's complete! But the Giants' secondary is right there to bring him down.
That's the end of regulation. We're going to overtime!
Overtime Rules: Remember, a touchdown on the opening possession wins the game. But a field goal does not.
Here's the coin toss. New York calls tails...and it's tails! The Giants will receive.
Please return to your seats and fasten your defibrillators...
49ers 17- Giants 17, 13:39, OT: Manning starts on his own 20 and immediately picks up the first down with a 10-yard pass. Then he goes deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.....down the middle...incomplete. He hands off to Bradshaw on 2nd and he picks up 4. And on 3rd down, Manning fires to Jernigan...incomplete! Big stop by the Niners.
Good punt by the Giants...and good coverage. San Francisco will get the ball on their own 22.
@GhostAtTheFeast tweets: "Would it be safe to say, on today's evidence, that the Patriots won't be worrying too much about the events on February 5th?"
Here's the way I see it: Tom Brady wakes up every day next to Gisele. How much do we really think he worries about things?
49ers 17- Giants 17, 12:02, OT Remember, any points here and the Niners win.
Smith comes out throwing...and it's incomplete. On 2nd down, he hands off to Gore, who is smothered in the backfield for a loss. It's 3rd and 12, and Smith completes the pass...but it's just short of the first down! He only got 11 yards.
The 49ers punt and the Giants will take over on their own 36.
49ers 17- Giants 17, 10:13, OT Bradshaw picks up 6 on first down and then Manning throws to Beckum for the first down. Giants on their own 47.
Hynoski gains a yard on the first down and San Francisco calls a timeout.
Some love for the Niners in OT...
@notRuairi tweets: "Can't help but feel both sides bottled the 4th quarter's last two minutes. 49ers to edge it, I think."
And @red_monkey68 adds: "I'd love to be more eloquent, but all I can come up with is "GO NINERS!"
49ers 17- Giants 17, 9:43, OT Coming out of the timeout, the Niners are offside. It's 2nd and 3 and Manning tries to go loooong...but he's hit on the arm as he delivers it. Incomplete. On 3rd down Manning is under pressure....and he's SACKED!
That's six sacks for the day. Big-time defensive play by the Niners.
FUMBLE! 49ers 17- Giants 17, 9:32, OT: On the punt, the ball is muffed (again!) by Williams...and the Giants recover! The ball is on the Niners' 24 and they're in field goal range right now.
49ers 17- Giants 17, 7:43, OT: Pity Kyle Williams...poor poor bastard.
Manning sets up on the Niner 24. He hands off to Bradshaw, who runs for 8 yards. The ball is on the 16 and Bradshaw rumbles for the first down...to the 10. And Bradshaw gets the ball again and he brings it to the 6.
The Giants center it...and in comes Tynes to kick the field goal...
49ers 17- Giants 17, 7:16, OT: The Giants are called for a delay of game! How foolish is that? Then a Niner timeout.
FIELD GOAL!!! Giants 20- 49ers 17 Tynes' kick is up....and IT'S GOOD!
The Giants will return to the Super Bowl!
FINAL SCORE: Giants 20 - 49ers 17
POST-GAME: And so we will have a rematch of Super Bowl XLII on February 5. And this time, it's personal.
Four years ago, the Giants prevented the Patriots from completing their perfect season, leaving them with a bittersweet 18-1 record...and no Vince Lombardi trophy. New England will certainly be looking to even the score this time around.
And once again, the Giants won't go easy. They have played like a team of destiny for the past month and today's overtime win won't do anything to dull their confidence.
As for the Niners, they made a noble effort today—they played terrific defense and pressured Manning—but Alex Smith just couldn't get enough going on offense. Certainly not in the air.
Time for the trophy....
Trophy Presentation: The Giants are receiving the George Halas Trophy for winning the NFC Championship—they're now 5-0 in this game—and it's well-deserved.
And you really have to hand it to Eli Manning today. He was seriously pressured by the defense...sacked 6 times...but still managed to be 32 of 58 for 316 yards. (Eli 3:16?)
So now he'll face Tom Brady in two weeks and Super Bowl XLVI should be a beauty.
We'll return in two weeks with live coverage of the game...the commercials...and of course Madonna's halftime show.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and predictions tonight.
See you all again on Super Bowl Sunday...
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