New York was able to get off to a fast start, as on the third play of the game, the Giants were able to score first. On the third play of the game, the snap to Eli Manning was bobbled, but then he gathered and threw to an open Travis Beckum. The tight end, a Wisconsin native, was able to burn Charlie Peprah on the play down the field and Manning threw a perfect pass to him for the 67-yard touchdown to get New York on the board first.
But the defending champs had an answer. Midway through the first quarter, Rodgers hooked up with Jordy Nelson for a 33-yard gain to move into Giants territory. That would help set up a Rodgers touchdown pass to Jermichael Finley to tie the game up at 7.
After New York regained the lead with a field goal, the Packers came back with a response from their defense. Manning went back to pass and was looking and threw it late to the right side. Predictably, Clay Matthews jumped the route and picked it off and ran it back 38 yards for the score to put the Packers in front for the first time in the game, 14-10.
An interception of Rodgers set up the Giants to take the lead back. After a pass to Hakeem Nicks put the ball at the 1, Brandon Jacobs took it in from there and the Giants took the lead back. But Green Bay would come back to take the lead right back in the seesaw first half. The 11-play drive ended with a touchdown to Donald Driver of 13 yards. The play was the second third down conversion of the drive. The score would remain 21-17 heading into halftime.
The Green and Gold jumped out to to a two score lead on the first drive of the second half. Greg Jennings was huge on the drive. He caught two passes for 31 yards on the drive, as well as drawing a 20-yard pass interference penalty. He also caught the touchdown from 20 yards out on a third down from Rodgers to put the Packers in front 28-17.
However, the G-Men came right back and cut it back down to four. It was the Nicks drive, both starting it and ending it. He caught a 51-yard pass from Manning on the first play of the drive, as well as the 4-yard touchdown to cut into the deficit. He had all 71 yards receiving on the drive to help the Giants cut it to 28-24. They would also add a field goal on their next drive to cut it down to one point.
The defending champs would move down the field and put them up by eight. They received good starting field position at their own 43 and would gain 26 yards on their next four plays. On a 2nd-and-10 from the Giants 31, Rodgers found Nelson, who made an incredible catch along the sideline for 21 yards down to the 10. Rodgers would throw a touchdown to Driver two plays later to give the Packers the 35-27 lead.
New York had one final chance to tie the game up. Manning started off the drive by completing back-to-back 15-yard passes to Jake Ballard to move the ball down to the Green Bay 39. Manning then found Victor Cruz for 22 yards to move the Giants into the red zone. Another Manning pass to D.J. Ware moved it to the 2. Three plays later, Manning found Nicks in the end zone for the score. Ware ran in the two-pont conversion and it was tied at 35.
Green Bay started its next drive at the 20, trying to stay perfect. Rodgers threw two passes to Finley and Nelson for a total of 51 yards to start out the drive to move down to the 29. Two plays later, Rodgers would connect with Jennings for 18 yards to move it for a short Mason Crosby field goal attempt for the win. The 30-yard kick was good and Green Bay moved to 12-0 on the season.
Unfortunately, these two teams would meet in the playoffs and the Giants beat the Packers at Lambeau 37-20 en route to their second Super Bowl win in five seasons.
No comments:
Post a Comment