Giants stun champions

Eli Manning was the hero as the New York Giants stunned reigning Super Bowl champions the Green Bay Packers in their NFC divisional play-off at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

The Packers were the punters choice in the pre-game NFL bets but they had an unusual off day and Manning took full advantage. The quarterback threw for 330 yards and three touchdown passes as the Giants stormed to a 37-20 victory and booked a meeting with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game on January 22.

Manning had to share the limelight with Hakeen Nicks, who collected seven throws to make 165 yards and score two touchdowns.

Manning and Nicks combined for the first touchdown of the game. Manning found Nicks with a short pass and the wide receiver ran 66 yards for the touchdown.

The pair was to the fore again just before halftime when the Giants capitalized on poor defending to make it 20-10 going into the break. Nicks collected Manning’s Hail Mary for his second touchdown of the game.

The Packers rallied briefly with a field goal in the third quarter, but the Giants pulled away in the fourth with Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs scoring either side of a 16-yard touchdown catch by Donald Driver for the Packers.

It was a disappointing end to the season for Green Bay, after a season which promised so much. Punters who bet on NFL and had backed the Packers were left bitterly disappointed, especially as they had cruised through the regular season and looked well set for another Super Bowl appearance.

However, the week off appeared to have an adverse effect as the Packers produced an uninspiring performance full of errors.

New York’s season goes on with a trip to San Francisco. The Giants are just one game away from a Super Bowl appearance against either the New England Patriots or the Baltimore Ravens.