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New York Giants (12-7) vs. New England Patriots (15-3)

Line: Patriots by 3.0

Notable Facts:

1. Rob Gronkowski is listed as questionable with a high ankle sprain (has not practiced)
2. The biggest battle in this game will be the Patriots O-Line vs. Giants D-Line
3. Patriots have improved their rushing defense and pass rush as of late (held Ray Rice to 89 rushing yards on 27 carries and have eight sacks in the past two contests)
4. Eli Manning could solidify himself as a top three playoff quarterback with a win in this game

AFC Championship Recap

It all came down to the right foot of kicker Billy Cundiff. With 15 seconds left and the Patriots up 23-20, Cundiff had a 32-yard field goal to send the game to overtime. A kick which he has kicked over a thousand times in his career. This time the moment was too much for him and Cundiff shanked it wide left. Moving Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to the Super bowl for the first time since 2008.

The missed field goal certainly did help Brady who was having an irregular off game for the usually calm, cool and collected big game finisher. The Ravens defence did all they could to limit Brady and the Patriots high powered offence kept Brady in check as he finished with only 239 passing yards, no passing touchdowns and two interceptions. He did have a rushing touchdown in the 4^th quarter that was the winning score of the game.  Joe Flacco on the other hand, had the game of his life. Flacco who was called out earlier in the week by team veteran Ed Reed for not playing up to the moment in the playoffs, stepped up under the spot light. Finishing the game with 306 passing yards, and two touchdowns.  As much as Flacco and the Ravens defence stepped up and did enough to put them in a position to win the game. It was just not meant to be this year.

The game leaves us with a of couple questions. First, will the Ravens defence be able to come back next year. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are not in their primes anymore, will they have enough in them to come back next year using this loss as motivation for a Super Bowl run next year. Secondly, which Brady will show up for the Super Bowl. If it’s the one that showed up Sunday in the AFC championship game there might be hope for the Giants. However, if it’s the Brady who has been tearing apart the league this past year, well the game will then just be a mere formality.

NFC Championship Recap

The dream ride continues for the New York Giants. A team that was just about out in the regular season has now won five straight must-win games to make it to the Super Bowl. The road to the big game was not without their fair share of drama and a little bit of luck.

With superstar kick returner, Ted Ginn Jr. out with an injury he suffered in the previous road. Second year wide receiver, Kyle Williams was put into that role. A name that every 49er fan will remember for the rest of their lives. Williams who botched two separate punt returns both in the clutch moment, had a big hand in costing the 49ers the game. First, in the fourth quarter he muffed a punt that bounced off his knee, setting the Giants up with an amazing field position to set up the go ahead touchdown. Then in overtime, he was stripped by Jacquian Williams to give the Giants the ball in field goal range, handing the Super Bowl to the Giants on a silver platter. A few plays later, Kicker Lawrence Tynes lined up for a 31 yard field goal, which he nailed right down the middle sending the Giants to the Super Bowl and a rematch of the Super Bowl XLII against the Patriots.

However, all the blame can’t just be put on Kyle Williams. The 49ers as a team were only 1-for-13 on third down conversions.  With the only conversion coming on the last play of regulation in which the Giants were just preventing the touchdown. As a team they did not play at the level they set for themselves all year. The defence forced no turnovers, and dropped three routine interceptions, something very uncharacteristic for a team that topped the league in almost every defensive category. As well San Francisco's wide receivers had just one catch the entire game. Any team would have had a problem winning games with stats like that. One shining spot for the 49ers was the emergence of Vernon Davis once again. The big fella came to play in the playoffs and caught two touchdown passes and 12 yards.

Once again Eli Manning stepped up big in the spotlight, finishing the game with 316 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He also set a Giants record for most passes and pass completed in a game going 32 for 58. His two favourite receivers came through once again as Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks combined for 15 catches and 197 yards.

This leads us to a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, will we see the same result as we had in 2008. Or will Brady be looking for revenge and come out gunning against the team that ruined his perfect season. We will find out in two weeks.

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Written by: Omar Khamissa - @omarbha135