MISSED FIELD GOALS—Houston, Rackers 50 (SH). THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ADVERTISING GREEN BAY, Wis. — For Eli Manning and the New York Giants, Lambeau Field has become a familiar launching pad. After beating the Green Bay Packers there for the second
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GREEN BAY, Wis. — For Eli Manning and the New York Giants, Lambeau Field has become a familiar launching pad. After beating the Green Bay Packers there for the second time in four years, they only hope this trip ends the same way — at the Super Bowl.
Manning threw three touchdown passes, and the Giants shocked the Packers 37-20 in an NFC divisional playoff game Sunday. Manning threw for 330 yards, sending the Giants to San Francisco for the NFC championship game next Sunday night.
The Packers (15-2) might have been the reigning Super Bowl champs, but the Giants (11-7) might be the hottest team in the NFL. They’ve been on a roll ever since beating the rival Jets on Dec. 24, beating the Dallas Cowboys to get in the playoffs and then blowing out Atlanta in the wild card round last week.
RAVENS 20, TEXANS 13
BALTIMORE — If style points and offensive fireworks meant anything, the Baltimore Ravens wouldn’t stand a chance of making it to the AFC championship.
Playing defense and protecting the football are what they do best, and that formula led to a 20-13 victory over the Houston Texans, putting Baltimore in the AFC title game against the New England Patriots.
The Ravens (13-4) had almost as many punts (nine) as first downs (11) and scored only three points over the final 46 minutes. But Baltimore wasn’t penalized once, didn’t commit a turnover, intercepted rookie quarterback T.J. Yates three times and totaled four takeaways — two in the first quarter and two over the final eight minutes.
Baltimore visits New England next Sunday. The Patriots lead the series 6-1, but Baltimore’s lone win came in the postseason.
Giants 37, Packers 20
N.Y. Giants 10 10 0 17 — 37
Green Bay 3 7 3 7 — 20
First quarter
NYG—FG Tynes 31, 8:33.
GB—FG Crosby 47, 5:33.
NYG—Nicks 66 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 3:47.
Second quarter
GB—Kuhn 8 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick), 14:54.
NYG—FG Tynes 23, 1:51.
NYG—Nicks 37 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), :00.
Third quarter
GB—FG Crosby 35, 3:50.
Fourth quarter
NYG—FG Tynes 35, 7:48.
NYG—Manningham 4 pass from Manning (Tynes kick), 6:48.
GB—Driver 16 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick), 4:46.
NYG—Jacobs 14 run (Tynes kick), 2:36.
A—72,080.
NYG GB
First downs 19 25
Total Net Yards 420 388
Rushes-yards 27-95 23-147
Passing 325 241
Punt Returns 0-0 1-16
Kickoff Returns 1-4 4-94
Interceptions Ret. 1-0 1-12
Comp-Att-Int 21-33-1 26-46-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 1-5 4-23
Punts 2-48.0 2-39.5
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-3
Penalties-Yards 3-30 3-20
Time of Possession 29:35 30:25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—N.Y. Giants, Bradshaw 12-63, Jacobs 9-22, Manning 4-10, Ware 2-0. Green Bay, Rodgers 7-66, Starks 6-43, Grant 8-33, Saine 1-3, Kuhn 1-2.
PASSING—N.Y. Giants, Manning 21-33-1-330. Green Bay, Rodgers 26-46-1-264.
RECEIVING—N.Y. Giants, Nicks 7-165, Cruz 5-74, Manningham 3-31, Bradshaw 3-21, Beckum 2-22, Ballard 1-17. Green Bay, G.Jennings 4-40, Finley 4-37, Starks 4-24, Driver 3-45, Nelson 3-39, Cobb 3-38, Grant 3-17, J.Jones 1-16, Kuhn 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—N.Y. Giants, Tynes 40 (BK).
Ravens 20, Texans 13
Houston 3 10 0 0 — 13
Baltimore 17 0 0 3 — 20
First quarter
Hou—FG Rackers 40, 12:24.
Bal—Wilson 1 pass from Flacco (Cundiff kick), 9:51.
Bal—FG Cundiff 48, 6:02.
Bal—Boldin 10 pass from Flacco (Cundiff kick), 1:08.
Second quarter
Hou—FG Rackers 33, 11:42.
Hou—Foster 1 run (Rackers kick), 4:48.
Fourth quarter
Bal—FG Cundiff 44, 2:52.
A—71,547.
Hou Bal
First downs 16 11
Total Net Yards 315 227
Rushes-yards 28-131 31-87
Passing 184 140
Punt Returns 6-4 0-0
Kickoff Returns 4-133 1-25
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 3-1
Comp-Att-Int 17-35-3 14-27-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 5-36
Punts 5-40.0 9-49.3
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 3-0
Penalties-Yards 3-20 0-0
Time of Possession 28:40 31:20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Houston, Foster 27-132, Yates 1-(minus 1). Baltimore, Rice 21-60, R.Williams 6-27, Leach 2-1, Flacco 2-(minus 1).
PASSING—Houston, Yates 17-35-3-184. Baltimore, Flacco 14-27-0-176.
RECEIVING—Houston, A.Johnson 8-111, Foster 5-22, Daniels 2-26, Walter 2-25. Baltimore, Boldin 4-73, Rice 4-20, Pitta 2-29, Evans 1-30, Dickson 1-14, T.Smith 1-9, Wilson 1-1.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Houston, Rackers 50 (SH).
