LOOK IN MY EYES. THAT'S THE EYES OF A CHAMPION.
NFC CHAMPION, HOMEY. "NEW YORK GIANTS" ON 3.
1, 2, 3... All:
NEW YORK GIANTS! Announcer: TEMPERATURE'S ABOUT
MINUS-1 DEGREES. WINDCHILL FACTOR --
MINUS-17 BELOW. COME ON, JOHN.
COME ON, JOHN. BANG! BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA WIN
THIS...GAME. Announcer: GIANTS ARE NOT
IN FIELD-GOAL RANGE. AN END-OVER-END KICK
TO THE UPRIGHTS. Narrator:
IT'S A DAY FROZEN IN TIME... Announcer: MINUS-1 DEGREE
WITH A WIND CHILL OF MINUS-23. Narrator: ...A GAME
BURNED IN OUR MEMORY... Announcer:
TOUCHDOWN, DONALD DRIVER! MISSED IT WIDE LEFT! COREY WEBSTER GOT THE PICK! HERE GOES TYNES AGAIN
FROM 47 YARDS. Narrator: IT WAS BRETT FAVRE'S
LAST CALL AS A GREEN BAY PACKER. VALIDATION FOR ELI MANNING. REDEMPTION FOR TOM COUGHLIN. YET THE 2007 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
HAD ITS GENESIS A YEAR EARLIER, IN 2006. THAT WAS MIKE McCARTHY'S
FIRST YEAR IN GREEN BAY. IT WAS ALMOST COUGHLIN'S LAST
IN NEW YORK. A DEVASTATING WILD-CARD LOSS
REVEALED THE GIANTS AS A FRACTURED TEAM
FACING AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE WITH AN UNPOPULAR HEAD COACH. Toomer: I REMEMBER PLAYERS
COMING UP TO ME AFTER THE GAME SAYING, "YOU KNOW,
I'M REALLY UPSET THAT WE LOST. BUT I'M GLAD THAT<i> HE</i> LOST." YOU HATED TO GO TO WORK.
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE. GUYS BASICALLY CAME IN, I FELT,
AND DID WHATEVER THEY HAD TO DO SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF THERE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TOM COUGHLIN WAS SEEMINGLY
LOSING CONTROL OF THAT LOCKER ROOM. LITERALLY EVERY BEAT WRITER, EVERY MAJOR NEWSPAPER
IN NEW YORK, EVERY TV STATION IN NEW YORK
SAID, "GET RID OF THIS GUY. "GET RID OF COUGHLIN.
GET RID OF THE PLAYERS. GET RID OF THE QUARTERBACK." Narrator: WHILE 2006 ENCOURAGED
CHANGE IN NEW YORK, IT FOSTERED OPTIMISM
IN GREEN BAY. FOUR CONSECUTIVE WINS
TO CLOSE THE SEASON AND FAVRE'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE
WOULD RETURN FOR HIS 17th YEAR INVIGORATED PACKER NATION. THE 2007 PACKERS WON 10
OF THEIR FIRST 11 ON THEIR WAY TO A 13-3 RECORD. WE DID IT!
WE DID IT, BABY! HUH?! GREAT JOB.
GREAT JOB. 328 SCAT
300 DOUBLE... THE PACKERS HAD THE BEST OFFENSE
IN THE NFC, DRIVEN BY A RECORD-SETTING
FAVRE. Announcer:
421 TOUCHDOWN PASSES. MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAN
IN NFL HISTORY. YEAH! MIKE McCARTHY GOT BRETT FAVRE
TO PLAY LIKE HE HAD PLAYED
UNDER MIKE HOLMGREN. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
A HOLE. I THOUGHT THAT HE HAD
SORT OF LOST THAT DISCIPLINE UNDER MIKE SHERMAN. IT WAS McCARTHY'S OFFENSE,
AND HE WAS RUNNING IT. AND THEY WERE RUNNING
A VERY SIMILAR OFFENSE TO WHEN MIKE HOLMGREN WAS HERE. Announcer: ON THE FIRST PLAY
FROM SCRIMMAGE IN OVERTIME. Narrator: WITH FAVRE REACHING
BACK TO HIS CHAMPIONSHIP PAST... Announcer:
RAINBOWS DOWN THE LEFT SIDELINE. HE'S GOT A MAN OUT THERE.
IT'S GREG JENNINGS. TOUCHDOWN! 80 YARDS TO VICTORY! Narrator:
...AND THE EMERGENCE OF FREE-AGENT RUNNING BACK
RYAN GRANT, THE PACKERS RAN AWAY
WITH THE NFC NORTH. Announcer:
THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE YOUR NEW NFC NORTH DIVISION
CHAMPIONS. GRANT'S TEAM-RECORD
201-YARD RUSHING PERFORMANCE IN THE DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF
AGAINST SEATTLE PROPELLED THE PACKERS
INTO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP. IN NEW YORK, 2007 BEGAN WITH
A KINDER, GENTLER TOM COUGHLIN. IT HAD BEEN SAID TO ME
BY PEOPLE IN MY INNER CIRCLE, "YOU NEED TO LET THE PLAYERS SEE
YOU AS YOU ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN." HOW LONG
HAS SHE BEEN SICK? FOR A WHILE. YEAH. "LET THEM SEE
THAT PART OF YOU." 'CAUSE I HAD ALWAYS BEEN
INTERESTED IN FIRM, FAIR, HONEST, DEMANDING. FIRM, FAIR, HONEST,
AND DEMANDING -- THAT'S THE CODE
I'VE ALWAYS OPERATED UNDER. BUT NOW I NEEDED TO SLIP
THE CARING PART IN. HE'S SAYING, "HAVE FUN. ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE DOING, FELLAS.
HAVE FUN." HE'S CRACKING JOKES. HE'S SMILING. EVERYBODY ENDED UP RELAXING AND FEELING
A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE. THERE WAS A NATURAL TRUST
THAT DEVELOPED. Narrator: COUGHLIN'S EXTREME
PERSONALITY MAKEOVER COULD NOT HASTEN THE RENOVATION
OF THE DEFENSE UNDER NEW COORDINATOR
STEVE SPAGNUOLO. WE THOUGHT WE HAD IT ALL PLANNED AND KNEW EXACTLY
WHAT WE WAS DOING IN PRESEASON. AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE GOT
TO THAT COWBOY GAME, WE JUST COULD NOT COVER ANYBODY. WE WAS HAVING ZONE DOGS,
BLITZES, COVERAGES --
WE WERE JUST BLOWING IT. YOU CAN JUST SEE GUYS OPEN
BY 5 TO 10 YARDS. WE GOT KICKED IN THE TEETH
THOSE FIRST TWO GAMES. IT WAS CRAZY. Announcer:
AND THE PACKERS HAVE PUT UP AN IMPRESSIVE 28 POINTS
HERE IN THE SECOND HALF. Narrator: 2007 WAS ELI MANNING'S
FOURTH NFL SEASON, AND A TROUBLING PATTERN
OF UNPREDICTABILITY CHARACTERIZED HIS CAREER. MANNING PLAYED TO EXTREMES -- BRILLIANT ONE MOMENT,
FLAWED THE NEXT. IT REACHED THE TIPPING POINT
IN HIS 50th NFL START, AT HOME AGAINST MINNESOTA
AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. Announcer:
INTERCEPTED OFF THE DEFLECTION. AND MANNING THROWS
HIS THIRD PICK-SIX OF THE GAME. THIS IS AS EMBARRASSING OF
A LOSS FOR A TEAM THIS TALENTED AS I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT GAME.
IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT. THAT'S BEEN BLOCKED
OUT OF THE MEMORY. Vacchiano: HE'S MEASURED
AS IF HE'S AN ELITE QUARTERBACK. AS WELL HE SHOULD BE, BECAUSE HE
WAS THE NUMBER-ONE-OVERALL PICK. THERE WAS REALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE
AT THAT POINT THAT THOUGHT NOT ONLY SHOULD COUGHLIN GO,
BUT ELI SHOULD GO. Narrator:
DESPITE MANNING'S UNEVEN PLAY AND THE DEFENSE'S GROWING PAINS, THE GIANTS CLINCHED A WILD-CARD
SPOT WITH A VICTORY IN BUFFALO ON THE SEASON'S 16th SUNDAY. Announcer: NO ONE'S GONNA GET
THE ROOKIE OUT OF MARSHALL! TOUCHDOWN, AHMAD BRADSHAW! Narrator: THE 15-0
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WERE NEXT, MARCHING TOWARD HISTORY. WITH THE GIANTS' PLAYOFF SEEDING
ALREADY ESTABLISHED, COUGHLIN DEFIED
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM. HE PLAYED TO WIN. Strahan: 1, 2, 3... All: NEW YORK GIANTS! I DO NOTHING BUT TALK
TO OUR GUYS ABOUT WINNING. HOW THE HECK
AM I GONNA GO IN TO MY TEAM AND START COUCHING,
"WELL, IF THIS HAPPENS AND THAT HAPPENS,
BUT IF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN..." THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME. I GOT A TOUGH TIME WITH THAT. Narrator:
FOR MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS, THE GIANTS WERE THE BETTER TEAM. Announcer:
GIANTS 28, PATRIOTS 16. DIRECT SNAP TO BRADY. Narrator: BUT THE PATRIOTS
RALLIED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER TO REMAIN PERFECT. Announcer:
TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS! IF THEY PLAY
LIKE THEY PLAYED TONIGHT, THE NEW YORK GIANTS CAN MAKE
SOME HAY IN THE NFC PLAYOFFS. Narrator: IN THE DIVISIONAL
PLAYOFFS AT DALLAS, THE DEFENSE SECURED A TRIP
TO GREEN BAY FOR THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP. Announcer:
FOURTH AND 11 AT THE GIANTS' 23. 16 SECONDS TO GO. GIANTS LEADING BY 4. ROMO TAKES THE SNAP. TO THE END ZONE. INTERCEPTED BY THE GIANTS! Narrator: MOST BELIEVED
IT WOULD BE A COLD DAY IN HELL BEFORE FAVRE AND THE PACKERS
LOST A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT LAMBEAU FIELD. JANUARY 20, 2008, PROVED TO BE
A COLD DAY IN HELL. Announcer: WELCOME
TO LAMBEAU FIELD IN GREEN BAY FOR THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN THE NEW YORK GIANTS
AND THE GREEN BAY PACKERS. Woodson:
LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD TODAY. "WIN" ON 3. 1, 2, 3... All: WIN! Announcer: SECOND-COLDEST GAME
EVER AT LAMBEAU FIELD -- MINUS-1 DEGREE
WITH A WIND CHILL OF MINUS-23. I CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN
HOW COLD IT WAS. THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU AT MINUS-23
DEGREES TO STAY IN THE HOUSE. DON'T GO OUTSIDE.
IT'S UNSAFE. BUT THE NFL -- "GO OUT THERE AND PLAY
SOME FOOTBALL FOR US, SON." IT'S THE WEATHER YOU WANT
ABOUT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. IT ISN'T COLD.
IT'S ALL IN YOUR MIND. BEFORE EVERY GAME, ME, PLAXICO,
AND AMANI GO OUT THERE AND DO ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
A 25-MINUTE WARM-UP WHERE WE'RE THROWING
THE ROUTE TREE. I THINK WE LASTED SEVEN MINUTES. Coughlin:
I ALWAYS GO OUT WITH A BALL CAP. SO I THOUGHT, "I'M GONNA GO OUT
WITH A BALL CAP. WE'LL SEE." I'M OUT ON THE FIELD
IN A BALL CAP ABOUT TWO MINUTES, AND I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, "HOW AM I GONNA GET
BACK INTO THE LOCKER ROOM?" BECAUSE THESE THINGS -- MY EARS, WHICH ARE BIGGER
THAN NORMAL ANYWAY -- THOSE SUCKERS ARE LIABLE
TO BREAK AND FALL OFF. LAMBEAU FIELD -- THE MYSTIQUE OF COMING HERE
INTO THE FROZEN TUNDRA. LAMBEAU THE WAY
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. ALL YOU HEAR ABOUT IS THE PAST,
THE PAST, THE PACKERS THIS,
THE PACKERS THAT, BRETT FAVRE THIS,
BRETT FAVRE THAT. THE PAST IS THE...PAST! THAT PREGAME SPEECH
WAS MY FAVORITE, BECAUSE YOU CAN BE INTIMIDATED
BY THE PAST. YOU CAN BE INTIMIDATED BY THE FEELING
OF BEING IN LAMBEAU FIELD. OF COURSE THEY HAVE BRETT FAVRE. OF COURSE THEY HAVE
THE HISTORY OF THE PACKERS. BUT THAT'S THE PAST. WE MAKE OUR OWN HISTORY NOW. THE PAST IS DEAD. THIS IS THE PRESENT! THIS IS WHAT WE DO! COLD IS VERY TEMPORARY. BUT YOU WIN THIS FREAKING GAME,
THE CHAMPIONSHIP, NEVER TAKE IT AWAY. THAT'S PERMANENT.
THAT'S GOING NOWHERE. IT'S GOING DOWN, BABY. IT'S GOING DOWN
RIGHT HERE IN LAMBEAU. HEY, BRETT, AS FAST AS YOU CAN,
NOW, OKAY? ALL RIGHT. FAST AS YOU CAN.
GOT BOMB RIGHT 98 KEEP LEFT... Announcer: BRETT FAVRE, FIRST
AND 10 FROM THE GREEN BAY 25. FIRST PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE.
JUST UNDER WAY. BLITZ COMING
FROM ANTONIO PIERCE. FAVRE ROLLING OUT LEFT.
DUMPS IT OFF, LEFT SIDE. HE'S GOT HALL RUNNING DOWNHILL,
30. 35.
GOT A FIRST DOWN. RIDDEN DOWN FROM BEHIND. GIBRIL WILSON MAKES THE TACKLE
12 YARDS DOWNFIELD. 37-YARD LINE OF GREEN BAY.
FIRST AND 10. AND FAVRE TAKES.
FAKES THE HAND-OFF. KEEP PLAY. ROLLING RIGHT.
THROWS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. AND HE'S GOT THE BIG TIGHT END
RUNNING DOWNHILL. IT IS BUBBA FRANKS
ACROSS THE 45. AND HE'S GOT A FIRST DOWN.
GAIN OF 11, TO THE 48-YARD LINE. EAGLE, EAGLE, EAGLE!
GREEN RIGHT, FULLBACK LEFT... Narrator: THE PACKERS OFFENSE
BEGAN THE GAME WITH FIRST DOWNS ON EACH
OF THEIR FIRST TWO PLAYS. THEY WOULD NOT GET ANOTHER FIRST
DOWN UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER. THEIR NEXT NINE PLAYS, THROUGH
THREE OFFENSIVE POSSESSIONS, GAINED JUST 4 YARDS. THE GIANTS' FOCUS
WAS NOT BRETT FAVRE, BUT RATHER RYAN GRANT. Umenyiora: WE JUST KNEW
WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN RYAN GRANT. THE WEEK BEFORE, HE HAD RUSHED FOR 200-SOMETHING YARDS
AGAINST SEATTLE. IF WE ALLOWED THEM
TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL <i> AND</i> HAVE BRETT FAVRE THROWING
THE FOOTBALL, WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE
OF WINNING. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS TAKE
AWAY COMPLETELY THE RUNNING GAME AND TAKE OUR CHANCES
WITH BRETT FAVRE. ANY TIME YOU SEE SOMETHING
ON FILM THE WEEK BEFORE, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU
DON'T WANT TO ALLOW TO HAPPEN. WHEN WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RUN
THE FOOTBALL IN THOSE ELEMENTS, IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT
IN ORDER TO MOVE THE FOOTBALL. Pierce:
I THINK OUR GUYS UP FRONT WERE PHYSICALLY BEATING
THEIR OFFENSIVE LINE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
COLD WEATHER. NEGATIVE-25.
IT HURTS. NO RUNNING BACK IN THE LEAGUE WANTS TO GET HIT
THREE OR FOUR TIMES EVERY CARRY. THAT TAKES ITS TOLL. Narrator: THE GIANTS'
INITIAL BUILDING BLOCK WAS 265-POUND RUNNING BACK
BRANDON JACOBS. A BASIC ZONE RUN
ON THE FIRST PLAY DELIVERED AN IMPACT
MUCH GREATER THAN 5 YARDS. [ WHISTLE BLOWS ] Announcer: CHARLES WOODSON,
THE CORNER, GOT A FACIAL. I SAW IT AND I HEARD IT. AND I THINK HEARING IT WAS
JUST AS IMPACTFUL AS SEEING IT. Woodson:
FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS NOT MY INTENTIONS
TO GO IN THERE LIKE THAT. [ LAUGHS ] MY PLAN WAS TO HIT HIM
FROM THE SIDE AND STRIP THE BALL
THE WAY THAT I NORMALLY DO. AND IT JUST DIDN'T QUITE
WORK OUT THE WAY I PLANNED IT. HE JUST PLOWED INTO ME. I HIT THE GROUND, YOU KNOW,
AND IT SHOOK ME. I REMEMBER
A FEW OF THE PLAYERS -- I THINK COREY WILLIAMS -- I REMEMBER, ON THE GROUND,
JUST LOOKING UP AT HIM JUST KIND OF LIKE, "WHAT --
WHAT THE...JUST HAPPENED?" AND HE'S LIKE, "WOOD, GET UP. YOU ALL RIGHT?
YOU ALL RIGHT?" Coughlin:
IT WAS ONE HECK OF A COLLISION. AND I THINK
THAT THE ENTIRE STADIUM, KNOWING THAT IT'S 23
OR 24 BELOW ZERO, THAT KIND OF SHOCK POWER -- I THINK THAT KIND OF SENT
A MESSAGE. Manning:
IT WAS A 5-YARD GAIN, BUT IT WAS KIND OF MORE THAN
THAT IN JUST SETTING THAT TEMPO AND SAY, "HEY, YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT THAT COLD OUT TODAY, AND WE'RE HERE TO PLAY." Narrator: THE NEXT BRICK
IN THE GIANTS' STURDY WALL WAS PLACED FOUR PLAYS LATER,
ON THIRD AND 10. IT FEATURED THE MATCHUP BETWEEN
WIDE RECEIVER PLAXICO BURRESS AND CORNER AL HARRIS. Announcer:
BURRESS SPLIT TO THE LEFT. PRESS COVERAGE ON BURRESS. MANNING IN THE SHOTGUN.
JACOBS TO HIS LEFT. THIRD AND 10.
MANNING FROM THE GUN. BACK TO THROW.
ZIPS ONE LEFT. BURRESS HAS IT ON THE RUN
AT THE 40. KNOCKED DOWN
AT THE 47-YARD LINE, AS HE BEAT AL HARRIS
ON THE SLANT. WE CALLED THE PLAY 62 "Y" HOOK,
"Z" DIAGONAL. WE CALLED IT "X" FADE STOP. THEY CALLED IT, LIKE,
FADE STOPS, WHICH IS A PLAY THAT,
AS A DEFENSIVE BACK, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT PLAY. IT'S A HARD PLAY TO DEFEND. I REMEMBER HIM GETTING INSIDE,
YOU KNOW, AND ELI HIT HIM. IT LOOKED LIKE A SLANT
OR A SKINNY POST. Announcer: THEY BEAT AL HARRIS
ON A QUICK SLANT. GOOD THROW BY MANNING. 18-YARD GAIN,
OUT TO THE 48-YARD LINE. Manning:
IF THE CORNER PLAYED OUTSIDE, PLAXICO WOULD SLIP INSIDE,
AND I'D JUST HIT HIM REAL QUICK. IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE A SLANT
OR A GLANCE. BUT IT'S A FADE ROUTE.
HE JUST TOOK AN INSIDE RELEASE. Narrator: THE BURRESS-HARRIS
MATCHUP WOULD PROVE PIVOTAL ON THIS FRIGID
GREEN BAY EVENING. ON NEW YORK'S
OPENING POSSESSION, ELI MANNING THREW THE BALL
EIGHT TIMES, COMPLETING FIVE. Announcer: MANNING BACK.
FIRES ONE OVER THE MIDDLE. AND HE COMPLETES IT
TO KEVIN BOSS, THE TIGHT END. AND HE'S GOT A GIANT FIRST DOWN. Narrator:
THE GIANTS WERE IN THE RED ZONE. THEY HAD ERASED
MORE THAN 7 MINUTES OF CLOCK. THE DECISIVE PLAY WAS THIRD
AND 10 FROM THE 11-YARD LINE. SET! Announcer:
THIRD AND 10. SNAP TO MANNING.
LOOKING LEFT ALL THE WAY. TIGHT POCKET.
HIT AS HE THROWS THE MIDDLE. AND IT'S NEARLY INTERCEPTED.
IT'S INCOMPLETE. SO NOW A 29-YARD FIELD GOAL
FOR LAWRENCE TYNES. YOU SAY, "HEY, 29 YARDS --
NO BIG DEAL." HE'S TRYING TO KICK A ROCK
RIGHT NOW. IT'S NOT LIKE A ROCK. I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING
THAT DOESN'T MOVE. IT'S JUST SOMETHING
THAT DOESN'T COMPRESS. YOU'RE USED TO THAT LITTLE POP OR EXPLOSION
COMING OFF YOUR FOOT. WHEN IT'S REALLY COLD LIKE THAT, IT DOESN'T EVER SOUND
LIKE YOU HIT IT VERY GOOD. Announcer:
FEAGLES TO HOLD. SNAP IS GOOD. KICK ON ITS WAY, END OVER END,
WITH THE DISTANCE. AND IT IS GOOD. SO LAWRENCE TYNES NAILS ONE
FROM 29 YARDS OUT. AND WITH 4:50 TO GO
IN THE FIRST, THE GIANTS STRIKE FIRST. O'Hara: I REMEMBER
TALKING ABOUT IT TO CHRIS SNEE AND RICH SEUBERT AND DAVE DIEHL
AND KAREEM. WE WERE ALL ON THE SIDELINES
TALKING ABOUT HOW THEIR OFFENSE IS ONE PLAY AWAY
FROM TAKING THE LEAD. HEY, WE NEED A PLAY!
COME ON! WITH THEIR HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE, WE KNEW, "HEY,
WE HAVE TO SCORE TOUCHDOWNS. WE CANNOT KEEP KICKING
FIELD GOALS." Announcer:
THE PACKERS APPEAR TO BE A TEAM JUST LOOKING FOR A SPARK HERE
IN THIS NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SEE
HOW PATIENT FAVRE IS, BECAUSE HE'S HAD A FEW SERIES
WHERE THEY HAD NOTHING. THEY HAVE NO RHYTHM. LET'S JUST SEE IF HE GETS
A LITTLE ANXIOUS HERE AND GETS A BIT UNDISCIPLINED AND
TRY TO GO FOR A BIG SHOT HERE. FIRST AND 10
AT THE PACKER 10-YARD LINE. WORST FIELD POSITION
FOR GREEN BAY TONIGHT. Narrator: THE PLAY CALL
WAS GREEN RIGHT CLOSE FOX 2 "Z" POST "Y" BASIC. IT WAS A PLAY WE HAD DESIGNED
FOR QUARTERS COVERAGE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT
FROM THE GIANTS THAT GAME. THE WHOLE PLAY WAS DESIGNED TO ME TO RUN A POST ONE-ON-ONE
COVERAGE WITH, I THINK, WEBSTER. WE KIND OF JUST TALKED
ABOUT THE PLAY AND SAID, "THIS IS GONNA BE THE PLAY
TO SCORE." Announcer:
FAVRE UNDER CENTER. FAKES THE PASS.
NOW BACK TO THROW DEEP. HE RAINBOWS RIGHT SIDE. HE'S GOT A MAN
DOWN THE RIGHT SIDELINE! TO THE 45, 50! HE'S TO THE 40!
TO THE 35, 30! DOWN THE SIDELINES!
HIGH-STEPPING, END ZONE! TOUCHDOWN, DONALD DRIVER! BANG! 90 YARDS! OH, MY! I THINK THAT QUALIFIES
AS A SPARK. ONE PLAY, 90 YARDS. GIANTS HAVE DOMINATED THE GAME,
BUT IN ONE PLAY, THE PACKERS ARE AN EXTRA POINT
AWAY FROM THE LEAD. THAT SOUNDS LIKE FAVRE TO ME. Driver: WHEN I CAME OFF THE
BALL, WEBSTER TRIED TO GRAB ME. SO WHEN HE TRIED TO GRAB ME,
I JUST THREW HIM ON THE GROUND. AND I JUST RAN, AND BRETT
KIND OF JUST LOOKED UP. I WAS WAVING AT HIM. HE JUST KIND OF SOFT-TOSSED IT
TO ME. Narrator: COREY WEBSTER
WAS THE GIANTS CORNER BEATEN ON THE PLAY. Webster: THEY ROLLED COVERAGE
THE OPPOSITE WAY FROM ME. SO THEY LEFT ME AND DRIVER
ONE-ON-ONE. HE CAME OFF AND I KIND OF JAMMED
HIM AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. WE HAD A LITTLE TUSSLE GOING, AND HE GOT THE BEST OF ME
ON THAT TUSSLE. I ENDED UP SLIPPING
TO THE GROUND. YOU KNOW, FAVRE AND HIM BEEN
PLAYING TOGETHER FOR A WHILE. HALL OF FAMER, SO THEY'RE NOT
GONNA MISS NOTHING LIKE THAT. Announcer: THAT'S DONALD DRIVER
UP TO THE 40. ACROSS MIDFIELD,
TO THE GIANT 30. Vacchiano: WHAT I REMEMBER
THINKING ABOUT THAT IS, "BOY, IT HAD TO HAPPEN
TO COREY WEBSTER." THIS IS A KID THAT HAD BEEN
THROUGH SO MUCH DURING THE YEAR. GETS INTO IT WITH THIS COACH
OR THAT COACH. HE'S ON THE FIELD,
AND THEN HE'S NOT ON THE FIELD. GOING FROM STARTER
TO LOSING HIS STARTING JOB TO THE INACTIVE LIST --
AND NOT FOR HEALTH REASONS. Narrator:
A STARTER THE FIRST THREE WEEKS AND OUTSIDER MOST OF THE SEASON, WEBSTER BEGAN HIS ROAD
TO REDEMPTION IN THE PLAYOFF-CLINCHING WIN
AGAINST BUFFALO. Webster:
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST GAMES I ACTUALLY STARTED
PLAYING BACK AGAIN. I WAS PLAYING
IN THE NICKEL PERSONNEL. GOING OUT
AND MAKING THAT INTERCEPTION AND RETURNING IT FOR A TOUCHDOWN
WAS A BLESSING. I FELT LIKE THE WORLD LIFTED UP
OFF YOUR SHOULDERS AT THE TIME. Narrator:
WHEN THE PLAYOFFS BEGAN, WEBSTER WAS THE GIANTS'
NUMBER-ONE CORNER, CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEFENDING THE OPPONENT'S
TOP RECEIVER. Announcer:
INTERCEPTED BY COREY WEBSTER! WHAT A JOB. THIS YOUNG MAN IS HAVING
SOME GAME. IT WASN'T AN EASY SEASON
FOR COREY, BUT I WILL SAY THIS. TO HIS CREDIT, THE QUALITY OF INDIVIDUAL
THAT HE IS, HE STAYED WITH IT. IF YOU'RE GONNA PLAY CORNER
IN THIS LEAGUE AND IF YOU'RE GONNA BE EFFECTIVE AND IF YOU'RE GONNA BE
A GOOD ONE, WHICH COREY IS, YOU GOT TO HAVE A BAD MEMORY. Announcer: COREY WEBSTER
PAID THE PRICE THAT TIME. [ CROWD CHEERING ] Narrator: WEBSTER'S COVERAGE
BREAKDOWN CHANGED THE GAME. GREEN BAY NOW LED, 7-6. WHEN THIS MEMORABLE
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP WAS OVER, IT WAS A MISTAKE
NO ONE WOULD REMEMBER. Narrator:
TOM COUGHLIN'S PHILOSOPHY WAS BUILT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE GIANTS WERE
THE MORE PHYSICAL TEAM. THE IDEA THAT THE PHYSICAL
PRESENCE OF OUR FOOTBALL TEAM, THE ABILITY OF OUR TWO FRONTS
TO WIN THE PHYSICAL BATTLE -- WE ALWAYS CHALLENGE OUR FOOTBALL
TEAM TO WIN THE PHYSICAL BATTLE. Narrator:
THE GIANTS WERE RUNNING THE BALL AND TAKING TIME OFF THE CLOCK. ONE OBJECTIVE WAS TO LIMIT THE
NUMBER OF PACKERS POSSESSIONS. Coughlin: WE DID HAVE ALWAYS,
AS A STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE, TIME OF POSSESSION. WE ALWAYS HAVE FELT
THAT IF THE BALL'S IN OUR HANDS AND WE KEEP THE OUTSTANDING
PLAYERS FROM THE OPPONENT OFF THE FIELD,
WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO WIN. ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTIVES
FOR US AS AN OFFENSE WAS TO CONTROL
THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, CONTROL THE TIME OF POSSESSION, AND TRY TO KEEP BRETT FAVRE
AND THAT OFFENSE OFF THE FIELD. Announcer: HAND-OFF FOR JACOBS.
HE'S GONNA RUN LEFT. TRYING TO GET THE EDGE.
LOWERS HIS SHOULDER. DETERMINED RUN
BY BRANDON JACOBS. HE JUST SPLATTERED NICK BARNETT. Narrator: DESPITE PHYSICALLY
DOMINATING WITH THE RUN, THE NEXT TWO GIANTS POSSESSIONS
PRODUCED JUST ONE FIRST DOWN AND TWO PUNTS. THE PROMISING START
HAD ONLY DELIVERED 6 POINTS AND TOO MANY
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. DEFENSIVELY, THE GIANTS WERE EXECUTING
THE GAME PLAN BRILLIANTLY. RYAN GRANT WOULD FINISH
THE FIRST HALF WITH SEVEN RUSHES FOR 12 YARDS. IT WAS CLEAR THAT FAVRE
WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE PACKERS OFFENSE. Announcer:
AND FAVRE TAKES. BACK TO THROW. PUMP-FAKES LEFT.
NOW THROWS IT OVER THE MIDDLE. THREADS THE NEEDLE.
AND HE'S GOT DONALD LEE. BARRELING ACROSS THE 40
TO THE GREEN BAY 42-YARD LINE! FIRST DOWN! GOOD, GOOD, GOOD,
GOOD, GOOD. FIRST AND 10, PACKERS.
GREEN BAY 42-YARD LINE. FAVRE TAKES.
LOOKS LEFT. THROWS TO THE LEFT SIDE.
GOT JENNINGS ONE-ON-ONE. MAKES A MAN MISS. 16-YARD GAIN. AND THE PACKER OFFENSE, LARRY, FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT,
BEGINNING TO SHOW A RHYTHM. WIDE LEFT, WIDE RIGHT,
FOXY 2 "X" LIGHT "Z" PUMA. WIDE LEFT, WIDE RIGHT... Narrator: THE PACKERS'
ACHILLES HEEL WAS THIRD DOWN. THEY DID NOT CONVERT
ANY OF THEIR SIX ATTEMPTS IN THE FIRST HALF. Announcer:
THIRD AND 10 AT THE GIANT 44. PACKERS 0 FOR 3
ON THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS. SNAP TO FAVRE IN THE SHOTGUN. TIGHT POCKET.
WINGS IT OVER THE MIDDLE. IT'S OFF THE HANDS OF MARTIN. CATCH THE BALL! Announcer: I THINK THAT'S ONE
RUVELL HAS GOT TO HAVE. IT WAS IN HIS HANDS. THAT WAS AN ACCURATE THROW
BY BRETT FAVRE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
FIRST AND GOAL INSIDE THE GIANTS' 10-YARD LINE. INSTEAD THE PACKERS PUNTED FOR THE FOURTH TIME
IN THEIR FIVE POSSESSIONS. ON THEIR NEXT SERIES, WITH LESS THAN 3 MINUTES
REMAINING IN THE HALF, FAVRE WENT BACK TO DRIVER. Announcer: FAVRE UNDER CENTER.
TAKES AND HE DROPS BACK. LOOKING.
DRILLS IT OVER THE MIDDLE! AND HE'S GOT DRIVER! SPINNING INSIDE THE 25! DOWN TO THE GIANTS'
21-YARD LINE! BRETT WITH A TRACER. Narrator: YET AGAIN,
THIRD DOWN FAILED THE PACKERS. Announcer: IT'S THIRD AND 8
FROM THE 19-YARD LINE. FAVRE OUT OF THE SHOTGUN. TAKES THE SNAP AND DROPS BACK. LOOKS RIGHT. LOOKS LEFT.
SETS UP A SCREEN, LEFT SIDE. AND HE'S GOT BRANDON JACKSON. JACKSON TRYING TO DISENGAGE
BUT CANNOT. HE HAD BLOCKERS, AND THEY COULD
NOT TAKE CARE OF THE GIANTS. ANTONIO PIERCE HAD IT DIAGNOSED
PERFECTLY. THIS WILL BE ABOUT
A 37-YARD FIELD-GOAL ATTEMPT OFF THE LEFT HASH MARK. HERE'S THE SNAP.
PLACEMENT MADE. KICK END OVER END
TO THE UPRIGHTS. AND IT IS GOOD! 1:05 TO GO IN THE HALF. MANNING CALLING OUT SIGNALS. HE'LL TAKE THE SNAP.
LOOKS RIGHT. THROWS RIGHT,
LOOKING FOR BURRESS, WHO MAKES THE CATCH! PLAXICO BURRESS HAS BEEN BURNING THE ALL-PRO AL HARRIS
HERE TONIGHT. 34-YARD PASS PLAY. Narrator: THAT WAS BURRESS'
SEVENTH CATCH IN THE FIRST HALF, FOR 102 YARDS. THE NEXT PLAY WAS YET ANOTHER
MISSED OPPORTUNITY. Announcer:
RAINBOWING THE RIGHT SIDE. BURRESS OUT THERE.
MAKES THE GRAB. AND HE FUMBLED
INTO THE END ZONE. [ CROWD BOOING ] PASS IS RULED INCOMPLETE. AS HE HIT THE GROUND,
THE BALL CAME POPPING OUT. A FOURTH-DOWN SACK BY A.J. HAWK
ENDED THE DRIVE. THE GIANTS HAD DOMINATED
THE FIRST HALF, BUT A SINGULAR PLAY -- BRETT FAVRE TO DONALD DRIVER
FOR 90 YARDS -- HAD PUT THE PACKERS AHEAD. Announcer:
FAVRE TAKES A KNEE. GREEN BAY GOES TO THE LOCKER
ROOM WITH 10 UNANSWERED POINTS. THEY HAVE A 10-6 LEAD
OVER THE GIANTS. THE KEY FACTOR
WAS THE WAY WE WERE PLAYING. WE WERE PLAYING WELL.
WE KNEW WE WERE PLAYING WELL. HONESTLY, WE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THEY WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO
ANYTHING WITH US. WE DIDN'T THINK
THEY COULD SCORE. WE KNEW RYAN GRANT
WASN'T GONNA RUN THE FOOTBALL. WE JUST KNEW THAT. SO WE HAD TO FIND A WAY
TO JUST MAKE SURE BRETT FAVRE WASN'T GONNA BEAT US IN THIS
PARTICULAR FOOTBALL GAME. Narrator: BEFORE THIS
UNFORGETTABLE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP WAS OVER, BRETT FAVRE WOULD EMERGE
AS THE CENTRAL FIGURE. UP NEXT, A RETURN TO THE GAME'S
MOST FASCINATING MATCHUP. THE DUEL BEGAN
ON THE OPENING SERIES AND CONTINUED THROUGHOUT
THE FRIGID GREEN BAY NIGHT. THE GIANTS' GAME-PLAN APPROACH
DID NOT CHANGE ON THEIR FIRST POSSESSION
OF THE SECOND HALF. Coughlin: YOU WANT TO MAKE
A STATEMENT ABOUT IT. YOU WANT TO GO BACK OUT AND DO
REALLY WHAT YOUR PLAN WAS. IT WAS TO HOLD THE BALL,
MOVE THE BALL, DRIVE THE BALL, SCORE,
TAKE TIME OFF THE CLOCK, LET THAT HALL OF FAME
QUARTERBACK REMAIN SEATED OVER THERE ON THE BENCH, LET THE ELEMENTS HELP
A LITTLE BIT. SO THAT WAS REALLY A VERY,
VERY CRITICAL DRIVE. Narrator:
THE INTENT WAS ATTRITION -- PERSISTENT, UNYIELDING, SMALL GAINS THAT ACCRUED VALUE
OVER TIME. AND MORE PLAXICO BURRESS. Announcer:
BURRESS SPLIT WIDE TO THE RIGHT ON A SECOND AND 8
FROM THE GIANTS' 33. MANNING BACK TO THROW. HAS PROTECTION.
ZIPS ONE RIGHT. BURRESS MAKES THE CATCH
AT THE 42. PLAXICO BURRESS IS JUST DOING
A NUMBER ON AL HARRIS. GAIN OF 8 YARDS.
FIRST DOWN. Narrator: IT WAS
THE BURRESS-HARRIS MATCHUP THAT PRODUCED THE FIRST DECISIVE
MOMENT OF THE THIRD QUARTER. Announcer: THIRD AND 9
AT THE NEW YORK 43-YARD LINE. MANNING STEPS AND THROWS. AND INTERCEPTED, AL HARRIS! GOT TO BE A FLAG. AL HARRIS WITH THE INTERCEPTION. GIANTS ARE LIVID, AS AL HARRIS
KNOCKED THE RECEIVER DOWN TO GET THE INTERCEPTION. Official:
5-YARD PENALTY. Harris:
ILLEGAL CONTACT -- IT'S A REAL TOUCHY,
TOUCHY THING. BEFORE THE GAMES,
I ALWAYS GO TO THE REFS. I WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, REF. WE CAN MAKE THIS HARD
OR WE CAN MAKE THIS EASY." AND THEY ALWAYS RESPOND,
"WELL, IT'S UP TO YOU IF IT'S GONNA BE HARD
OR IT'S GONNA BE EASY." I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS ILLEGAL CONTACT. BUT THE REFS THOUGHT IT WAS
ILLEGAL CONTACT, AND, YOU KNOW,
GOT TO GO WITH THE CALL. Narrator:
THREE PLAYS LATER, ANOTHER THIRD-DOWN PENALTY
EXTENDED THE GIANTS DRIVE. Announcer: NOW ANOTHER BIG THIRD
DOWN COMING UP FOR THE GIANTS. THIRD AND 5 AT THE PACKERS' 47. O'HARA. THE SNAP IN THE SHOTGUN
TO MANNING. HERE IT IS.
RUSH IS ON. BLITZ IS ON. MANNING -- PASS IS INCOMPLETE. PENALTY MARKER DOWN. OH! Official: PERSONAL FOUL.
ROUGHING THE PASSER. DEFENSE, NUMBER 36. COME ON! 15-YARD PENALTY. Announcer:
THAT'S A BIG, BIG PENALTY. Narrator: TWO PLAYS
AFTER THE COLLINS PENALTY, MANNING WENT BACK TO BURRESS
ON THE FADE STOP. Announcer: MANNING AT THE LINE.
CHANGING THE PLAY. LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT.
MANNING TAKES. BACK TO THROW. HE WINGS IT OVER THE RIGHT SIDE.
AND HE'S GOT BURRESS AGAIN! HE TURNED AROUND AL HARRIS. OUT OF BOUNDS AT
THE 11-YARD LINE OF GREEN BAY. GOODNESS! THAT SAME ROUTE WE HIT
SEVERAL TIMES IN THE GAME -- THE FIRST THIRD DOWN OF THE GAME
AND ALSO THIS ONE. IT'S THAT FADE STOP. THE CORNER'S OVER TOP, AND I'D THROW IT
RIGHT TO HIS BACK SHOULDER. HE CATCHES IT,
AND HE'S ABLE TO GO UPFIELD AND GET A FEW MORE YARDS
AND GO OUT OF BOUNDS. Harris: THAT'S THE MOTIVE
BEHIND THE FADE STOP. WHEN YOU GET THE DB's HIPS
TURNED TO GO FOR THE GO -- WHICH I WAS CLEARLY GOING
FOR THE GO -- "OKAY. THIS GUY'S GOING.
HE'S GOING DEEP." AND THEY UNDERTHROW THE BALL
BECAUSE I'M ON TOP OF THE ROUTE. IF THERE'S A DB COACH OUT THERE THAT SAYS HE CAN COACH YOU
ON THE FADE STOP, HE'S LYING. YOU CAN'T PLAY TWO ROUTES
AT ONE TIME. SO YOU PLAY THE BIG BALL,
WHICH IS THE DEEP BALL. IF HE CATCHES THE UNDERNEATH,
THE FADE STOP, THEN, HEY, THEY CAUGHT THAT ONE. HE WON THE PERSONAL BATTLE. IT WASN'T ACCEPTABLE FOR ME.
SO, YOU KNOW, HE WON THAT ONE. PLAX, YOU GOT THAT ONE. [ CROWD CHEERING ] Narrator: BURRESS' NINTH CATCH
HAD THE GIANTS IN THE RED ZONE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE GAME. THE DRIVE ALMOST ENDED WITH
YET ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY ON THIRD AND 1
FROM THE GREEN BAY 1-YARD LINE. Announcer:
BALL AT THE 1-YARD LINE. THIRD AND INCHES FOR THE GIANTS. THIS IS THE OPENING DRIVE
OF THE THIRD QUARTER, IS IT NOT? Announcer #2:
YEP. IT IS. Announcer #1: SEEMS LIKE IT
STARTED AN HOUR AGO. HAND-OFF TO THE RUNNING BACK
JACOBS. JACOBS. SECOND EFFORT.
DID HE GET THERE? NOW THE BALL CAME LOOSE! THEY'RE RULING THAT A FUMBLE. IT LOOKED LIKE BOSS FELL ON IT
INSIDE THE 1-YARD LINE. Vacchiano: WHEN BRANDON JACOBS
IS ON HIS WAY IN ON SHORT YARDAGE
AND HE FUMBLES THE BALL AND IT'S LOOSE AND YOU COULD
SEE IT BOUNCING ON THE SIDE, YOU REALLY THOUGHT,
"NOW THEY HAVE BLOWN IT AGAIN." IF THE PACKERS RECOVER THAT, THE MOMENTUM SWING
COULD HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY HUGE. I JUST REMEMBER KEVIN BOSS -- IT DIDN'T EVEN LOOK
LIKE HE BENT DOWN. HE JUST KIND OF BENT OVER
AT THE WAIST. HE TRIED TO PICK UP THE BALL. AND AS IT DEVELOPED, IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS TRYING TO
PICK IT UP FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE HE FINALLY GOT IT
INTO HIS HANDS. Announcer: IT WENT RIGHT BETWEEN
THE LEGS OF AARON KAMPMAN AND WAS RECOVERED BY THE GIANTS
BY THE TIGHT END KEVIN BOSS. Silverstein: THE BALL IS ALMOST
IN AARON KAMPMAN'S LAP. AS KAMPMAN'S
ABOUT TO PICK IT UP, A.J. HAWK COMES OVER THE TOP
AND HITS BOSS AND ACTUALLY KIND OF KNOCKS HIM
RIGHT OVER THE BALL SO THAT HE'S ABLE TO CRADLE IT. IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS
WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE FATEFUL PLAYS
THAT DECIDE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. Burress:
GOOD JOB, BOSS. Narrator: AFTER TWO OFFSIDE
PENALTIES ON THE PACKERS, THE GIANTS HAD FIRST AND GOAL
INCHES FROM THE END ZONE. Announcer:
THE NOSE OF THE FOOTBALL INCHES AWAY FROM THE GOAL LINE. MANNING DUCKS IN UNDER CENTER
OUT OF THE "I." COME ON! LET'S GO!
LET'S GO! Announcer:
GIANTS BIDDING FOR THE LEAD. HAND-OFF GOES
TO THE RUNNING BACK JACOBS. THIS TIME UP THE MIDDLE.
HE'S IN FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. YEAH! YEAH! GIANTS EXECUTE
A 69-YARD DRIVE. FOUR PENALTIES ON THE PACKERS. AND WITH 7:56 TO GO
IN THE THIRD, THE GIANTS ARE BACK IN FRONT. Narrator:
THE GIANTS HAD SCORED THEIR FIRST TOUCHDOWN
OF THE GAME. THE DRIVE TOOK
MORE THAN 7 MINUTES. Announcer: THE GIANTS
ON A SUSTAINED DRIVE -- 13 PLAYS, 69 PAINSTAKING YARDS
IN 7:04. THE PACKERS
COULDN'T GET OFF THE FIELD. WE GOT TO GET ONE ON THE BOARD,
BUT WE GOT TO GET THE TEMPO UP. THEY JUST TOOK HALF THE QUARTER
ON ONE DRIVE. Narrator: THE KICKOFF FOLLOWING BRANDON JACOBS'
GO-AHEAD TOUCHDOWN PROVIDED THE PACKERS
WITH THE SPARK THEY NEEDED. Announcer: MAKING THE CATCH
IS TRAMON WILLIAMS. 14-YARD LINE.
CUTTING LEFT TO THE 15, 20. CUTS IT BACK RIGHT.
25. HE'S TO THE 30, 35.
TO THE OUTSIDE! RIGHT SIDELINES!
40! 45, 50!
TO THE 45, 40! AND HE'S HAMMERED OUT OF BOUNDS
ON THE FAR SIDE! 49-YARD RETURN. McCarthy:
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. GIVE ME BIG FOUR.
BIG FOUR. BIG FOUR. Announcer:
PACKER OFFENSE ON THE FIELD FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN THIS THIRD QUARTER. FIRST AND 10
AT THE GIANTS' 39-YARD LINE. FAVRE ALONE IN THE SHOTGUN. TAKES THE SNAP. DROPS BACK.
ZIPS IT OVER THE MIDDLE. HE'S GOT DRIVER, WHO MAKES A
SLIDING CATCH AT THE GIANTS' 32. HEY, REF!
HEY, REF! Narrator:
AN UNNECESSARY-ROUGHNESS PENALTY ON GIANTS CORNERBACK SAM MADISON
SUSTAINED THE PACKERS DRIVE. Announcer:
PENALTY MARKERS DOWN LATE. HAS SAM MADISON GOTTEN CALLED
FOR A PENALTY BAITED BY MORENCY? Official:
PERSONAL FOUL. UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS.
DEFENSE, NUMBER 29. HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE GOAL. AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWN. REGULAR, REGULAR, REGULAR,
REGULAR, REGULAR. GREEN LEFT "Y" COUNTER FAKE 94
TANK "Z" ARROW "X" CROSS. Narrator:
FOLLOWING THE PENALTY, THE PACKERS WERE IN THE RED ZONE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE GAME. Announcer: YOU CAN'T GIVE FAVRE
A SECOND LIFE. NOW THE PACKERS, FIRST AND 10.
12-YARD LINE OF THE GIANTS. OUT OF THE "I."
LEE ON THE WING, LEFT SIDE. HE GOES IN MOTION TO THE RIGHT
AND NOW JOINS THE BACKFIELD. FAVRE CALLING SIGNALS. PLAY FAKE.
FAVRE TO THROW. DRIFTS.
FIRES ONE OVER THE MIDDLE. THERE YOU GO.
TOUCHDOWN. Announcer: WINGS IT
TO THE MIDDLE OF THE END ZONE. TOUCHDOWN, LEE! YEAH! TOUCHDOWN, DONALD LEE! HE SPIKES THE FOOTBALL
IN THE NORTH END ZONE AND NOW GALLOPS
TO A LAMBEAU LEAP! IT'S A GOOD PLAY. WE WAS PLAYING QUARTERS
ACROSS THE BOARD. QUARTERS WITH THE CORNER,
THE SAFETY, THE OTHER SAFETY,
AND THE FIELD CORNER. WE KNEW BRETT FAVRE LOVES
THROWING TO THE TIGHT ENDS IN THE RED ZONE. McCarthy: WE INSERT
THE TIGHT END A LOT OF TIMES IN A MAN BLOCKING PRINCIPLE
ON THE BACK SIDE. BUTLER WAS REALLY HITTING THAT
GOING INTO THE GAME. Pierce: IT ALL STARTS WITH
BRETT FAVRE AND HIS PLAY-ACTION. YOU'RE MAKING THEM BITE.
YOU HOLD THEM FLAT-FOOTED. NOW YOU GOT A GUY THAT'S RUNNING
FULL SPEED 10 YARDS AT YOU. YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO COVER HIM. BUTLER STEPPED UP. AND WHEN HE STEPPED UP, IT'S A PERFECT PASS
THAT NO ONE COULD STOP. Announcer:
TOUCHDOWN, DONALD LEE. BEAT JAMES BUTLER,
WHO'S BEEN A LIABILITY TODAY. McCarthy:
BUTLER BIT BIG TIME THERE, NOW. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING
TO US THE WHOLE GAME. IT'S PUMP. IT'S FAKE DRAW.
THEY WANT HIM TO THROW IT. THEY CAN'T RUN THE FOOTBALL
AGAINST OUR FRONT, OKAY? BE PATIENT, JAMES. JAMES, BE PATIENT. BOUNCE, BOUNCE,
READ THE HIGH HATS, PLAY PASS. IF IT IS RUN, COME UP, AND YOU'RE STILL IN GREAT SHAPE
TO TACKLE IT. Narrator:
JAMES BUTLER'S AGGRESSIVENESS HAD RESULTED
IN DONALD LEE'S TOUCHDOWN. THE PACKERS LED, 17-13, WITH 5 MINUTES REMAINING
IN THE THIRD QUARTER. COME ON, D! Narrator:
THE GIANTS OFFENSE RESPONDED WITH A SEVEN-PLAY,
57-YARD TOUCHDOWN DRIVE THAT AGAIN FEATURED
PLAXICO BURRESS AND A COMMITTED RUNNING GAME, THIS TIME WITH ROOKIE
AHMAD BRADSHAW. Announcer:
HAND-OFF RIGHT FOR BRADSHAW. BOUNCES OFF A TACKLE.
ACCELERATES AT THE 40. DOWN TO THE 35-YARD LINE. GIVES THE GIANTS A LITTLE MORE
ZIP IN THE RUN GAME THAN JACOBS. GET THEM OFF THE FIELD.
LET'S GO. IT IS A STYLE CHANGE. THE GUY HAS
TREMENDOUS QUICKNESS. HE'S VERY LOW TO THE GROUND.
HE'S A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY. THERE'S A LOT OF STEEL
WOUND INTO THAT GUY. HE THINKS HE'S 250 POUNDS,
AND THAT'S THE WAY HE RUNS. BRADSHAW COMING IN
IN THE SECOND HALF -- IT WAS REALLY A JOLT OF ENERGY
FOR US OFFENSIVELY. Narrator: ELI MANNING REMAINED
DECISIVE AND ACCURATE. THIS COMPLETION TO AMANI TOOMER AGAIN MOVED THE GIANTS
INTO THE RED ZONE. Announcer:
BACK TO THROW. LOOKS RIGHT. LOOKS LEFT.
THROWS IT LEFT. LOOKING FOR TOOMER
DOWN THE SIDELINE. MAKES A DIVING CATCH.
IS HE IN OR OUT? THEY SAY HE'S IN
AT THE 12-YARD LINE. THEY BEAT CHARLES WOODSON DOWN
THE LEFT SIDELINES FOR 23 YARDS. Toomer:
I'VE PLAYED AGAINST WOODSON EVER SINCE HE WAS A FRESHMAN
IN COLLEGE AND I WAS A SENIOR. WE'D PLAY AGAINST EACH OTHER 'CAUSE WE WERE THE TWO BEST
GOING AGAINST EACH OTHER. I THOUGHT I GOT
THE BEST OF HIM THEN, AND I THOUGHT I GOT
THE BEST OF HIM IN THE TWO GAMES WE PLAYED
AGAINST THE PACKERS. AMANI'S LYING. YOU KNOW, HE BEAT ME
A FEW TIMES. THE PLAY KIND OF WENT ON
A LITTLE LONGER, I THINK, THAN I ANTICIPATED, AND HE KEPT RUNNING AND MADE
A GREAT, GREAT DIVING CATCH. Toomer:
I REMEMBER THINKING, "OH, MAN, THIS IS REALLY GONNA HURT," BECAUSE THE WHOLE SIDELINE
WAS FROZEN ICE. Announcer: THAT WAS A BIG-TIME
PASS AND A BIG-TIME CATCH. Woodson:
TO OUR SURPRISE, YOUNG MANNING CAME OUT THERE
AND HE WAS ON FIRE. HE THREW THE BALL THE WAY WE EXPECT FOR
BRETT FAVRE TO THROW THE BALL -- SOMEONE WHO'S PLAYED
IN THAT WEATHER COUNTLESS TIMES. HE CAME OUT THERE, AND IT WAS LIKE ANOTHER
SUNNY DAY IN NEW YORK CITY. Announcer: ROLLS RIGHT.
THROWS RIGHT. TOOMER'S GOT IT. AND HE STEPS OUT OF BOUNDS
AT THE 4-YARD LINE. IT BLEW MY MIND HOW FOCUSED AND HOW IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE
THE WEATHER BOTHERED HIM. AND I'M THINKING,
"THIS GUY'S FROM MISSISSIPPI. IT'S HOT AND HUMID DOWN THERE.
HOW IS HE GONNA HANDLE THIS?" AND HE HANDLED IT LIKE HE LIVED
IN GREEN BAY HIS WHOLE LIFE. HE THREW THE BALL
LIKE IT WAS 80 DEGREES. HE MADE SOME UNBELIEVABLE
THROWS. HIS CONNECTION WITH PLAXICO
THAT DAY -- IT TOOK US TO ANOTHER LEVEL. THEY JUST SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE
OUT THERE PLAYING CATCH IN THEIR BACKYARD. HE ACTS LIKE THERE'S NOTHING
UNUSUAL ABOUT THE DAY. IT'S MINUS-24. DON'T ASK ME HOW HE DID IT. Announcer: ANYBODY WORRYING
ABOUT ELI MANNING PLAYING IN BAD WEATHER --
HE'S PLAYED PLAYED PRETTY WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME,
HERE TONIGHT. HE'S MADE SOME BIG THROWS. SECOND AND 2 AT THE 4. MANNING.
HAND-OFF FOR BRADSHAW. CUTS UP THE MIDDLE.
TO THE GOAL LINE! NO SIGNAL YET. TOUCHDOWN, GIANTS! AHMAD BRADSHAW, LIKE HE WAS SHOT
OUT OF A CANNON, BLASTS HIS WAY
INTO THE END ZONE. THE GIANTS ANSWER
THE PACKERS' TOUCHDOWN WITH A TOUCHDOWN DRIVE
OF THEIR OWN -- 57 YARDS. BRADSHAW ON THE 4-YARD
TOUCHDOWN RUN. AND THE GIANTS REGAIN THE LEAD
HERE IN THE THIRD WITH 2:12 TO GO. Narrator: ALMOST THREE QUARTERS
HAD BEEN COMPLETED IN THE THIRD-COLDEST GAME
IN NFL HISTORY. DESPITE THE ARCTIC CONDITIONS,
THERE HAD BEEN NO TURNOVERS. IT'LL BE FINE NOW. BOTH ELI MANNING AND BRETT FAVRE
HAD THROWN THE BALL OFTEN AND WELL. THE PACKERS' SECOND DRIVE
OF THE SECOND HALF BEGAN WITH A FAVRE COMPLETION
TO KOREN ROBINSON. Announcer:
SNAP TO BRETT FAVRE. PUMP-FAKES SHORT.
NOW THROWS TO THE LEFT SIDE. HE'S GOT ROBINSON OPEN! CUTTING RIGHT AT THE 35.
AND DOWN HE GOES. 16-YARD GAIN. Narrator:
THE NEXT PLAY WAS THE PACKERS' FIRST
SUCCESSFUL RUN OF THE GAME. Announcer:
RYAN GRANT, LEFT SIDE. BREAKS THROUGH TO THE 40, 45. RUNNING HARD!
GOT A FIRST DOWN! FIRST GOOD RUN OF THE NIGHT
FOR THE PACKERS. 13-YARD GAIN. Narrator:
THROUGH THREE QUARTERS, THIRD DOWN HAD SQUEEZED
THE PACKERS OFFENSE. THEY HAD FAILED TO CONVERT
ON ALL SIX OF THEIR ATTEMPTS. IT WAS THIRD AND 10 ON THE FIRST
PLAY OF THE FOURTH QUARTER. Announcer: PACKERS ARE 0 FOR 6
ON THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS. GIANTS SHOWING THE BLITZ WITH THE SAFETY JOHNSON
AND THE LINEBACKER PIERCE. AND THEY'RE BOTH COMING. SNAP TO FAVRE. LOOKING.
WINGS IT OVER THE MIDDLE. DIVING GRAB! DONALD DRIVER
ON A SENSATIONAL GRAB! INSIDE THE 35,
AND, OH, WAS THAT BIG! DOWN TO THE 31-YARD LINE
OF NEW YORK. A 20-YARD GAIN. ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT EAGLE.
EAGLE, EAGLE, EAGLE. Announcer: OPENING MINUTE
OF PLAY, FOURTH QUARTER. PACKERS TRAILING BY 3.
HERE WE GO. FIRST AND 10, GREEN BAY.
31-YARD LINE OF NEW YORK. FAVRE TAKES.
FAKES THE HAND-OFF. ROLLING OUT LEFT.
LOOKING. WAITING. HAS TIME. NOW PUMP-FAKES ONCE. SPINS AWAY FROM UMENYIORA. WHAT'S HE DOING?
WHAT'S HE DOING? NOW THROWS TO THE LEFT SIDE. AND IT IS INTERCEPTED. BRETT, WHY WOULD YOU
DO THAT? AT THE 10-YARD LINE.
CUTTING BACK LEFT. R.W. McQUARTERS. ACROSS THE 20.
HE FUMBLED THE FOOTBALL! THE PACKERS HAVE IT! WE GOT IT. MARK TAUSCHER MAKES
THE RECOVERY! McQUARTERS GOT STRIPPED! TAUSCHER RECOVERS INSIDE THE 20,
AT THE 18-YARD LINE OF NEW YORK! [ LAUGHS ] OH, WHAT A TURN OF EVENTS! AS HE WAS ABOUT TO THROW
THE BALL, I HIT HIM. I HIT HIS HAND. AND THE BALL KIND OF FLOATED
IN THE AIR A LITTLE BIT. I SEE R-DUB SETTING UP. YOU KNOW, HE'S A PUNT RETURNER, SO I'M THINKING,
"OH, THIS IS GONNA BE NICE. IT'S ALMOST LIKE HIM CATCHING
A PUNT. Announcer:
THROWS ONE LEFT DOWNFIELD. AND IT'S INTERCEPTED
BY THE GIANTS! R.W. McQUARTERS! I REMEMBER YELLING AT R-DUB
TO GO DOWN. SOME GUYS WERE WAVING HIM ON,
LIKE, "GO TO THE END ZONE." I'M LIKE, "HEY, LET'S
CALM THIS DOWN, SLOW IT DOWN." Announcer:
THEN HE FUMBLES THE FOOTBALL! AND THE PACKERS RECOVER IT
AT THE 19-YARD LINE! YOU HAVE BRETT FAVRE LIKE THIS, AND YOU GET HIM INTO THESE
HELTER-SKELTER TYPE OF PLAYS. YOU MAKE THE PLAY.
YOU'VE<i> GOT</i> TO SECURE IT. IT WAS A CRAZY PLAY. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT YOU LOOK BACK ON AND YOU THINK
THAT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS USUALLY MEAN GOOD THINGS
ARE GONNA HAPPEN. UNFORTUNATELY,
IT JUST LED US TO, I BELIEVE, THE GAME-TYING FIELD GOAL. Announcer: THIRD AND 3 FOR
THE PACKERS AT THE GIANTS' 12. BRETT FAVRE LOOKS IT OVER.
AND HE TAKES. FAVRE BACK TO THROW. SWINGS IT LEFT FLAT.
RYAN GRANT. AND HE RUNS
RIGHT INTO COREY WEBSTER. DECKED FOR A LOSS
BACK TO THE 20-YARD LINE. Webster: THEY TRIED TO GET IT
TO HIM QUICK, GET 3 YARDS. SOME KIND OF WAY,
I BEAT THE BLOCK. I KIND OF PICKED THE PLAY OUT
A LITTLE EARLY. THAT JUST COMES FROM FILM STUDY. Announcer: GOOD RECOGNITION
BY THE GIANTS AND COREY WEBSTER. Webster:
GAVE THEM THE 90-YARDER EARLY, SO MAKING PLAYS LIKE THAT,
I THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO GET THAT BAD TASTE
OUT OF MY MOUTH. NOT TO SAY IT WAS STILL
IN ANYBODY ELSE'S MOUTH. BUT TO GET IT OUT OF MY MOUTH, I
NEEDED TO MAKE PLAYS LIKE THAT. LIKE I SAID,
I WAS LOOKING FOR IT, ENDED UP MAKING A BIG PLAY
ON THIRD DOWN. Announcer: BIG 37-YARD
FIELD GOAL COMING UP HERE FOR MASON CROSBY,
THE ROOKIE FROM COLORADO. 37-YARD FIELD GOAL
TO GET THE GAME TIED. HERE'S THE SNAP.
PLACEMENT MADE. KICK END OVER END
TO THE UPRIGHTS. AND IT IS GOOD! SO WE ARE TIED WITH 11:46 LEFT TO GO
IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. LET'S GO.
ALL RIGHT, DEFENSE. GOT TO STOP THEM.
LET'S GO. GOOD JOB. Narrator:
WHEN "GREATEST GAMES" RETURNS, A KICKER EMERGES AS THE MOST
DECISIVE PLAYER IN THE GAME -- AND IT DID NOT BEGIN WELL
FOR LAWRENCE TYNES. Announcer: COULDN'T HAVE ASKED
FOR A BETTER GAME, NO MATTER HOW IT TURNS OUT. WHO WILL CLOSE THE DEAL? LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING -- PLAYING THE NEW YORK FOOTBALL
GIANTS IN THESE PLAYOFFS IS LIKE GOING TO THE DENTIST AND GETTING TEETH PULLED
WITHOUT NOVOCAINE. THEY ARE ONE TOUGH BALL CLUB. Narrator: THE GIANTS' FIRST
DRIVE OF THE FOURTH QUARTER FOLLOWED A FAMILIAR SCRIPT -- ANOTHER DECISIVE CONNECTION
BETWEEN ELI MANNING AND PLAXICO BURRESS. Announcer: BIG THIRD DOWN HERE.
THIRD DOWN AND 3. MANNING PUMP-FAKES. NOW THROWS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. AND A DIVING GRAB MADE
BY BURRESS OUT OF BOUNDS. ARE THEY RULING IT A COMPLETION? YES, THEY ARE! GOODNESS. ANOTHER CLUTCH CATCH
BY PLAXICO BURRESS. Narrator: THE GIANTS CONTINUED
TO FEATURE AHMAD BRADSHAW, AND HIS VERSATILE SKILL SET
ENERGIZED THE OFFENSE. Announcer:
SCREEN LEFT FOR BRADSHAW. CAN'T GET OUT OF A TACKLE. GETS OUT OF ONE.
CUTS TO HIS RIGHT. Manning: AHMAD JUST WAS HAVING
GREAT SUCCESS, JUST HAVING THAT QUICKER BACK. HE DOESN'T GO DOWN EASY.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO HIT HIM. HE BOUNCES OFF AND HE JUKES. BUT HE KNOWS WHEN TO LOWER
HIS SHOULDER, ALSO. SO HE HAS A GOOD MIX
OF SPEED AND POWER. Announcer: BRADSHAW RAN THROUGH
THE TACKLE OF NICK BARNETT. AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR EXCELLENT,
EXCELLENT HUSTLE BY AARON KAMPMAN,
WE GOT MAJOR PROBLEMS. Narrator: THIS FOURTH-QUARTER
DRIVE WAS PUNCTUATED BY ONE OF THE FEW POOR THROWS
MANNING MADE. SET! Announcer:
FIRST AND 10 AT THE PACKERS' 28. PLAY FAKE.
MANNING TO THROW. HAS TIME. THROWS IT DOWN THE MIDDLE
FOR BURRESS. AND IT'S KNOCKED AWAY
BY AL HARRIS. HE UNDERTHREW IT BY A BIT. HE HAD HIM BEAT. HE WAS THERE.
HE RAN A GREAT ROUTE. WE HAD A GREAT CONCEPT CALLED. THEY PLAYED
A LITTLE QUARTERS COVERAGE. FOR WHATEVER REASON,
THE BALL JUST -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE ARM
JUST WASN'T -- I HAD A CERTAIN LIMIT TO HOW FAR
I COULD THROW IT OR WHAT, BUT IT DIDN'T COME OUT WELL
AT ALL. JUST A POOR THROW. Narrator:
MANNING'S MISFIRE LED TO A 43-YARD FIELD-GOAL
ATTEMPT BY LAWRENCE TYNES WITH LESS THAN 7 MINUTES
REMAINING. HE AIN'T MAKING THIS. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA MAKE
THAT KICK 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES. I FELT REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT,
HAVING MADE TWO EARLIER. Announcer: THIS WILL BE
A 43-YARD FIELD-GOAL ATTEMPT. AND HE DOES NOT HAVE
THE BIGGEST LEG IN THE LEAGUE. THIS IS WHERE TYNES SAID
HIS RANGE WAS -- 43 YARDS. [ CROWD CHEERING ] SNAP IS GOOD.
KICK ON ITS WAY. END OVER END.
IT'S GOT THE DISTANCE. IT IS...NO GOOD! YEAH! Announcer: LAWRENCE TYNES
HOOKS ONE LEFT FROM 43 YARDS. ME MISSING THAT KICK KIND OF
TOOK ME OFF GUARD A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, WHEN I HIT IT,
I EVEN THOUGHT I MADE IT. ANY GIANTS KICKER
IN A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ALWAYS HAS TO DEAL WITH
THE GHOST OF MATT BAHR. Announcer:
GIANTS ARE TRAILING BY A POINT. IT ALL DEPENDS ON MATT BAHR. SNAP. SPOT. KICK IS AWAY.
IT'S GOT THE DISTANCE. IT IS GOOD!
GOOD! Papa: MATT BAHR KICKED
FIVE FIELD GOALS IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
IN 1990. YOU'RE SITTING THERE, AND YOU'RE
SAYING TO YOURSELF, "OH, MAN. MATT BAHR WOULDN'T HAVE
MISSED THAT." Narrator: TYNES' KICK
LEFT THE GAME TIED AT 20. Announcer: AND THE PACKER
DEFENSE HAS SURVIVED. THE OFFENSE WILL TAKE OVER
WITH THE GAME STILL TIED AT 20. Narrator: GREEN BAY HAD TWO
FOURTH-QUARTER POSSESSIONS. THEY WENT THREE AND OUT
BOTH TIMES, THROWING THE BALL
ON ALL SIX PLAYS. Announcer: THIRD DOWN AND 10
FOR THE PACKERS. 6:36 TO GO
IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. SNAP TO BRETT FAVRE.
LOOKING AROUND. OVER THE MIDDLE HE GOES.
HE'S GOT MORENCY. HE SLIPS BY A DEFENDER.
REACHING ACROSS THE 40. SHORT OF THE FIRST DOWN. KICK IT. KICK IT. KICK IT.
KICK IT. KICK IT. WHEN YOU DON'T CONVERT
THIRD DOWNS, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE RUN
IS NOT GONNA BE VERY HIGH. WEREN'T MAKING MUCH YARDAGE
RUSHING THE BALL. THEY KIND OF GOT AWAY
FROM TRYING TO DO THAT. IT'S A TIGHT BALLGAME.
IT'S A LOW-SCORING BALLGAME. AND OUR DEFENSE
IS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SEND THAT OFFENSIVE TEAM
TO THE SIDELINE, WHICH WAS A HUGE FACTOR
IN THE GAME. WE WAS VERY CONFIDENT ON DEFENSE THAT IF THE GAME CAME DOWN TO
BRETT FAVRE THROWING THE BALL, THAT WE'LL WIN THE GAME. Announcer: AN OFFENSE THAT
GENERATED SO MUCH A WEEK AGO HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH KEPT
OUT IN THE COLD THIS WEEK. BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA WIN
THIS...GAME. LET'S GO.
ONE TIME. Narrator: WITH 2:30 REMAINING
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, JON RYAN PUNTED
FOR THE SIXTH TIME. Announcer:
RYAN TAKES THE SNAP. KICKS IT, MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. McQUARTERS WILL FIELD IT
AT THE 48 OF GREEN BAY. ACCELERATES TO THE 45.
BREAKS LEFT. FUMBLES THE FOOTBALL! IT'S LOOSE ON THE GROUND! IT'S STILL LOOSE! I THINK THE GIANTS RECOVERED IT
AT THE 48-YARD LINE. IT IS GIANT BALL. OH, MY! PRACTICE IT EVERY DAY. Announcer: THE PACKERS HAD
A COUPLE OF SHOTS AT IT. COULD NOT COME UP WITH IT. MICHAEL JOHNSON,
WHILE THAT BALL IS THERE AND BUSH IS TRYING TO GET
THAT BALL -- HE SWATS THAT AT BALL AS WELL. AND THAT GIVES US A CHANCE FOR DOMENIK TO COME IN THERE
WITH GREAT HUSTLE. Announcer: DOMENIK HIXON MAY
HAVE SAVED THE GIANTS' SEASON. THE UNSUNG HERO OF THAT GAME
IS DOMENIK HIXON, 'CAUSE HE JUMPED ON THE BALL
AND GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY. THEY WOULD HAVE GOT THE BALL
IN FIELD-GOAL RANGE. MIGHT EVEN BEEN ABLE TO SCORE
A TOUCHDOWN. SO IT IS FIRST DOWN
FOR THE GIANTS. THEY GET THE FIELD POSITION
THEY COVETED AT THE 48-YARD LINE
OF GREEN BAY. 2:15 LEFT TO GO. DRAW PLAY FOR BRADSHAW. HAS A CREASE LEFT.
BRADSHAW TO THE 40. BRADSHAW TO THE 35.
STILL ON HIS FEET. BRADSHAW'S STILL RUNNING!
TO THE 20! 15, 10, 5, TOUCHDOWN! BUT CHECK THE FLAG --
HOLDING, NEW YORK GIANTS. I'M SITTING THERE
RUNNING DOWNFIELD. I'M BREATHING HEAVY. GET ALL THE WAY TO THE END ZONE,
SURE ENOUGH, TO SEE THAT IT WAS CALLED BACK
BY A FLAG. I THOUGHT THAT WAS IT. Announcer:
THAT IS HUGE. CHRIS SNEE FEELS ABOUT AS LOW
AS LOW CAN BE RIGHT NOW. WHAT HOLD? WASN'T MUCH OF A HOLD THERE. WOW. O'Hara:
WE CALL THAT A FLOP. HE WASN'T GONNA MAKE THE TACKLE,
BUT HE REACHED OUT AND MADE IT LOOK LIKE HE COULD
HAVE POSSIBLY MADE A TACKLE. ANY TIME A DEFENDER DOES THAT
AND HE GOES TO THE GROUND, THEY'RE GONNA CALL IT ON US, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S JUST KIND OF HOW IT GOES. [ CROWD CHEERING ] Narrator: MANNING
AND THE GIANTS OFFENSE REBOUNDED WITH AN OUTSTANDING DRIVE. IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED
WITH NO TIME-OUTS AVAILABLE. Announcer: BRADSHAW TRIES TO
BOUNCE OUTSIDE AND DOES. HE GOT A FIRST DOWN AND MORE. TO THE 31-YARD LINE.
AND HE GETS KNOCKED DOWN THERE. NOW LAWRENCE TYNES
HAS TO START GETTING WARMED UP, 'CAUSE NOW IS THE TIME WHERE
THEY'RE GONNA MILK THIS CLOCK. THEY NEED A GOOD 12 YARDS. 59 SECONDS TO GO. MANNING TAKES THE SNAP.
DROPS BACK. STEPS UP.
DELIVERS ONE TO THE RIGHT. COMPLETES IT TO THE RIGHT,
TO THE 20-YARD LINE. AND THE TACKLE MADE THERE
ON STEVE SMITH. GIANTS ARE OUT OF TIME-OUTS. MANNING CALLING SIGNALS. 10 SECONDS TO GO. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. AND HE SPIKES IT. SO THE GIANTS BRING ON
LAWRENCE TYNES. I'M GONNA FREEZE HIM, ALL RIGHT?
I GOT A TIME-OUT LEFT. LET ME KNOW. GREEN BAY DOES HAVE A TIME-OUT
TO ICE HIM, TOO. ALL RIGHT. TIME-OUT.
TIME-OUT. [ WHISTLES BLOWING ] SO IT'S ALL COME DOWN TO THIS -- THE SEASON,
THE TICKET TO THE SUPER BOWL. TYNES FROM 36 YARDS OUT
FOR THE WIN. SNAP IS HIGH!
FEAGLES GETS IT DOWN. KICK A LINE DRIVE.
AND IT IS NO GOOD! LEFT. MISSED IT WIDE LEFT. WE GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF A HIGH SNAP. IT KIND OF THREW MY TIMING OFF. BUT I STILL SHOULD HAVE MAYBE
DONE BETTER WITH THE KICK AND GAVE IT A BETTER CHANCE. I DIDN'T GIVE THAT KICK A CHANCE
AT ALL FROM THE GET-GO. IT WAS LEFT FROM THE VERY START. Announcer:
OVERTIME! OVERTIME
IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP! O'Hara: THERE WAS MORE THAN
A LITTLE DOUBT ON OUR SIDELINE. I CAN REMEMBER SAYING TO MYSELF,
"YOU KNOW, THAT'S IT. "WE BLEW IT. "WE GOT
TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, WE HAD A CHANCE TO WIN IT WITH
4 SECONDS LEFT, AND WE BLEW IT." Narrator: THE GIANTS
GOT ANOTHER CHANCE. UP NEXT, THE DRAMATIC OVERTIME
PERIOD THAT ENDED AN ERA. Man:
HEADS. HEADS! IT IS HEADS. YES! [ CROWD CHEERING ] Announcer: SO THE SEASON
HAS COME DOWN TO AN OVERTIME. THE PACKER OFFENSE
WILL GET IT FIRST. LET'S GO WIN THIS THING NOW. IF THIS GAME BOILS DOWN
TO ONE TEAM MAKING A PLAY, I THINK THE ADVANTAGE
GOES TO THE GREEN BAY PACKERS -- FIRST AND FOREMOST
BECAUSE OF BRETT FAVRE. EVERY PLAY -- HUGE. EVERY PLAY. AT THAT POINT,
I REALLY DIDN'T FEEL THAT THEY HAD ANY KIND
OF OFFENSIVE RHYTHM. I THINK THEY WAS REALLY FETCHING AND TRYING TO FIND
THEIR IDENTITY AT THAT POINT. Narrator: THE PACKERS' FIRST
OFFENSIVE SNAP IN OVERTIME, ONLY THEIR 48th PLAY
OF THE GAME, WAS A 2-YARD RUN BY RYAN GRANT. IT FINALIZED
A 29-YARD RUSHING PERFORMANCE THAT HAD SEVERELY LIMITED
THE PACKERS OFFENSE. REGULAR, REGULAR, REGULAR. FREEZE RIGHT WIDE PACKER THUMP,
FOX 2 DOUBLE SHAKE. IT WAS THE SECOND PLAY
THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. WHEN WE CALLED THE PLAY, EVERYONE KNEW THAT THAT WAS
PROBABLY THE BEST PLAY, AS FAR AS COVERAGE THEY'VE BEEN
PLAYING THE WHOLE GAME. THEY'D BEEN TRYING TO PLAY
2 MAN. Announcer:
SECOND AND 8 FOR GREEN BAY AT THEIR OWN 28-YARD LINE. FAVRE BACK TO PASS.
TAKES A DEEP DROP. STEPS UP.
WHIPS IT TO HIS RIGHT. THE PASS INTERCEPTED BY
THE GIANTS AT THE 40-YARD LINE! COREY WEBSTER GOT THE PICK, AND HE'S TACKLED
AT THE PACKER 34. HE READ IT,
AND HE MADE THE MOVE. "I GOT THE BALL," AND HE TOOK IT
RIGHT OUT OF THE AIR. YOUNG MAN HAS COME BACK
FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE DUNGEON. I MEAN, HE WAS BURIED
IN THE DOGHOUSE. AND HE WORKED HIS WAY BACK
ON THE FIELD, GOT HIS CONFIDENCE
LATE IN THE YEAR, AND HE'S BEEN
A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR HERE. Webster: I FIGURE,
"WHO ELSE WOULD HE GO TO?" I MEAN, REALLY.
HE HAS TO COME TO DRIVER." I UNDERCUT THE ROUTE. EYES WAS BIG AS ORANGES TRYING TO SEE THAT BALL
AND MAKING SURE I DON'T DROP IT. Announcer: WEBSTER JUST KIND OF
UNDERCUT DONALD'S ROUTE THERE. OH. McCarthy: I WANTED TO GIVE BRETT
A CHANCE TO HAVE PROTECTION AND GO DOWN THE FIELD
ON THEIR CORNERS. AND IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WE FELT GOOD ABOUT, THE MATCHUPS
GOING INTO THE GAME. I JUST DIDN'T THINK BRETT
GOT ENOUGH ON THAT FOOTBALL. THE BALL WAS THROWN
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. Driver: WHEN I SAW THE BALL
LEAVE BRETT'S HANDS, I'M LIKE, "NO." JUST, LIKE, EVERYTHING THAT I
HAD INSIDE ME JUST CRUMBLED. AT THAT MOMENT,
TEARS CAME TO MY FACE, AND I WAS LIKE, "AGAIN. "WOW.
WE LOSE AGAIN. AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST
GAMES I HAVE EVER PLAYED IN." Narrator: DRIVER'S PESSIMISM
SEEMED SURPRISINGLY PREMATURE. THE GIANTS WERE NOT YET
IN FIELD-GOAL RANGE, AND LAWRENCE TYNES'
FOURTH-QUARTER MISSES COMPLICATED THE EQUATION. WOULD THE GIANTS PLAY
FOR THE FIELD GOAL OR LOOK TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN? FINISH! Announcer: SECOND DOWN AND 6
FROM THE GREEN BAY 30. HAND-OFF. BRADSHAW PICKING HIS WAY
INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE LINE. COVERED UP AT THE 30-YARD LINE. AND IT'LL BE THIRD DOWN
COMING UP. GIANTS ARE NOT
IN FIELD-GOAL RANGE. AND NOW, IF YOU'RE TOM COUGHLIN, YOU GOT TO START THINKING ABOUT
HOW YOU'RE GONNA PLAY IT, BECAUSE YOUR FIELD-GOAL KICKER
IS RATTLED. RATTLED, YES, OBVIOUSLY,
FOR 30 SECONDS AFTER THE MISS. BUT THEN, YOU KNOW,
THE NEXT PLAY, I GOT TO MOVE ON. "CAN WE GET CLOSER, FELLAS? "WE WANT TO GET WHERE WE,
YOU KNOW, "UNFORTUNATELY MISSED
THE ONE BEFORE. "BUT LET'S GET INTO
THAT 20-YARD AREA HERE NOW. "LET'S GO. LET'S NOT LEAVE THIS THING
WITH SUCH GREAT LENGTH." Announcer:
THIRD DOWN AND 5 FOR THE GIANTS. FOOTBALL AT THE 29-YARD LINE. MANNING BACK TO THROW. SETS.
DELIVERS ONE LEFT. KNOCKED AWAY FROM SMITH.
INCOMPLETE. DECISION TIME FOR TOM COUGHLIN. OH, HE'S GONNA GO FOR IT. I'M LOOKING FOR A SIGN. I WANT TO SEE
WHAT LAWRENCE TYNES THINKS. AS THIS GAME HAS GONE ON,
HE'S MADE FIELD GOALS, HE'S MISSED
A COUPLE FIELD GOALS. TYNES RUNS OUT ON THE FIELD. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE
A CHANCE, RIGHT? THE COACHES IN MY HEADSET
ARE GOING, "NO, COACH! "BE CAREFUL HERE! "LOOK AT THE FIELD POSITION
THEY'RE GONNA GET IF HE DOESN'T MAKE IT!" I WANTED TO KIND OF TAKE
THAT DECISION OUT OF HIS HANDS. EVERYBODY'S LOOKING
AT COACH COUGHLIN LIKE, "WHAT IS HE GONNA DO?" AND COACH COUGHLIN GOES,
"WELL, THEN KICK IT, THEN!" YOU KNOW HOW COACH COUGHLIN
DOES IT. "WELL, THEN KICK IT!" "FIELD GOAL."
BOOM. THEY RUN OUT. I SEE TYNES RUNNING OUT. I SAID, "ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA KICK IT." ALL I'M THINKING IS,
"IF WE LOSE THIS GAME BECAUSE OF THE KICKER..." THIS POINT IN TIME,
I WASN'T THAT CONFIDENT. I DIDN'T THINK HE HAD A SHOT
IN HELL OF MAKING THAT KICK. THERE WASN'T A SNOWBALL'S CHANCE
IN LAMBEAU FIELD THAT LAWRENCE TYNES IS MAKING
THIS THIRD KICK. I FELT THAT HE WASN'T GONNA MAKE
THE KICK. HE AIN'T MAKING THIS. I WENT OUT THERE
WITH THE 47-YARDER WITH NOT ONE NEGATIVE THOUGHT
IN MY MIND. Announcer: ALL RIGHT.
HERE GOES TYNES AGAIN. FROM 47 YARDS TO KICK THE GIANTS
TO THE SUPER BOWL. SNAP IS GOOD.
KICK ON ITS WAY. END OVER END.
DOES IT HAVE THE DISTANCE? IT IS GOOD! YEAH! LAWRENCE TYNES HAS KICKED
THE GIANTS TO THE SUPER BOWL! THERE WASN'T EVEN ANY QUESTION.
THERE WAS NO BEND ON THAT BALL. IT WAS BANG. I MEAN, HE HAMMERED IT. AND AS SOON AS HE KICKED IT, HE TURNED AROUND
AND HE KNEW HE HAD IT. GOD BLESS LAWRENCE TYNES.
HE HAD A CONVICTION. AS I TURNED TO LOOK AT TYNES, HE WAS ALREADY
HALFWAY DOWN THE FIELD. AND I KNOW
WHAT HE WAS THINKING -- "I GOT TO GET WARM." AT THAT POINT,
I FORGOT HOW COLD I WAS, AND IT FELT LIKE WE HAD WON
THE SUPER BOWL. DO YOU REALIZE
WHAT YOU JUST DID? THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE! DO YOU BELIEVE?! THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE! NOBODY GIVES US A CHANCE. <i> NOBODY</i> GIVES US A CHANCE. THAT GAME REALLY SUMMED UP
OUR ENTIRE SEASON. YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY
AGAINST ALL ODDS. HEY. PLAYMAKER. CONGRATULATIONS, BOY. THANK YOU, BOY. YEAH!
WHOO! WHOO! Coughlin:
IT'S THE MENTALITY. IT'S THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS.
IT'S BELIEVING IN YOURSELF. IT'S YOUR ABILITY
TO OVERCOME ALL OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LET
THE OTHER GUYS DOWN. [ CHEERING INDISTINCTLY ] THIS GROUP OF GUYS -- THEY REFUSED TO LET ANYBODY TELL
THEM THAT THEY COULDN'T WIN. Narrator: NO ONE HAD TRAVELED
A LONGER ROAD THAN ELI MANNING. IT WAS ONLY TWO SHORT MONTHS
BEFORE THAT MANNING WAS A BUST, A DRAFT MISTAKE
BEYOND REDEMPTION. IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP, MATCHED AGAINST
THE LEGENDARY BRETT FAVRE, MANNING WAS THE BETTER
QUARTERBACK. Manning:
HE'S ONE OF MY HEROES, AND IT MADE IT
MUCH MORE OF A SPECIAL GAME. THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS AGAINST BRETT FAVRE AND TO PLAY HIM
IN SUCH A BIG GAME AND FOR US TO WIN
MADE IT VERY SPECIAL. LET'S GET IT, BABY. THANK YOU, MAN.
LET'S GO GET IT. WE AIN'T FINISHED.
THANK YOU, MAN. Strahan:
HE HAD GONE THROUGH SO MUCH THAT HE HAD DESERVED
THAT MOMENT, TOO, TO COME IN AND BATTLE
IN THOSE TEMPERATURES AGAINST PROBABLY
ONE OF THE GREATEST QUARTERBACKS IN NFL HISTORY. THE WAY HE PLAYED AND THE WAY HE
LED US TO WIN THAT GAME -- OH, MAN, YOU KNOW? I'M NOT WALKING DOWN THE STREET
TELLING EVERY GUY THAT I LOVE HIM,
BUT I LOVE ELI MANNING. Narrator: THE NEW YORK GIANTS
WERE NFC CHAMPIONS. IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF SPIRIT, A TRIBUTE TO THE POWER OF WILL
AND FORTITUDE. FOR THE PACKERS, IT WAS SO MUCH
MORE THAN OPPORTUNITY LOST. IT WAS A CRUEL REMINDER OF THE UNCOMPROMISING PASSAGE
OF TIME AND FOOTBALL MORTALITY. I WAS DEVASTATED. WHEN YOU PLAY IN THIS LEAGUE AS
LONG AS I HAVE, YOU WANT THAT. AND THAT WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO SOMETHING
THAT YOU DREAM OF AS A KID. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT CLOSE. AND TO GET THAT CLOSE
AND NOT GO ALL THE WAY -- THAT'S WHEN IT HURTS. I CRIED, CRIED, CRIED. AND FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, I COULD NOT BELIEVE
THAT WE LET THIS ONE SLIP AWAY. YOU DON'T KNOW
WHEN YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO A SUPER BOWL
IS GONNA COME. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, BOY.
STAY BLESSED. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME
IS TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL. AND IF YOU DON'T WIN
THE SUPER BOWL... YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE YOU DOING? WE'RE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL,
MAN! IT WAS JUST SUCH A NEAT GAME,
JUST THE WAY IT WAS PLAYED. A TIGHT GAME. IT WAS REALLY
JUST A GREAT FOOTBALL GAME. THIS IS WHAT WE PLAY
THE GAME FOR. THIS IS A LEGENDARY GAME. AS A KID,
YOU LOVE WATCHING SNOW BOWLS AND WATCHING THE BEARS
VERSUS THE PACKERS AND THE CLIMATE AND BAD WEATHER
AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT THE NFL
IS ALL ABOUT. AND TO BE A PART OF HISTORY AND ACTUALLY WIN IT
TO GET TO THE SUPER BOWL? THERE'S NO FEELING LIKE IT. Narrator: THE GIANTS'
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY IN GREEN BAY WAS THEIR 10th CONSECUTIVE
ROAD WIN, AN NFL RECORD
FOR A SINGLE SEASON. THE FINAL CHALLENGE
WAS SUPER BOWL XLII AND A REMATCH WITH THE UNDEFEATED
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. Strahan: WE AIN'T
SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, RIGHT? THEIR QUARTERBACK
CANNOT BE SACKED. CAN'T EVEN BE HIT. WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE. Narrator:
FIVE WEEKS EARLIER, THE PATRIOTS HAD SCORED ON SEVEN
OF THEIR NINE POSSESSIONS. TOM BRADY HAD COMPLETED
32 PASSES FOR 356 YARDS. Umenyiora:
THERE WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE A SITUATION LIKE THIS
EVER AGAIN. YOU'RE GOING UP AGAINST
AN UNDEFEATED TEAM, YOU KNOW, THE GREATEST OFFENSE
IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL. I'M GETTING BREAKFAST
MORNING OF THE GAME, AND OSI COMES UP TO ME,
AND HE SAYS... "IF WE DON'T PLAY
OUR BEST GAME TODAY -- "THIS IS THE BIGGEST GAME
OF OUR LIVES, ME AND YOU. "IF WE DON'T PLAY
THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, WE'RE GONNA LOSE,
AND IT'S GONNA BE OUR FAULTS." AND I'M LIKE, "OKAY.
THAT'S COOL. ALL RIGHT." HE SAID, "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
MICHAEL, LOOK AT ME." "LOOK AT ME, MAN. "I'M DEAD SERIOUS. "IF WE DON'T PLAY
OUR BEST GAME TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE
THIS FOOTBALL GAME." "OKAY. "IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL
FROM RUSHING ANYBODY ELSE. "IF<i> WE</i> DON'T GET
TO TOM BRADY TODAY, WE WILL NOT WIN THIS GAME." Announcer: THIS QUARTERBACK'S
INTERNAL CLOCK HAS BEEN JUST DISCOMBOBULATED. Brady:
WE REALLY PUT THEIR D-LINE IN A POSITION TO MAKE
A LOT OF PLAYS. YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO ASK
ANY ONE OF OUR GUYS TO LINE UP ONE-ON-ONE
AGAINST MICHAEL STRAHAN OR JUSTIN TUCK
OR OSI OR ALFORD. I MEAN, ALL THESE GUYS --
THEY CAN ALL RUSH. THEY NEVER SLOWED DOWN. THEY WERE JUST RELENTLESS
FOR FOUR QUARTERS. Announcer:
BRADY BACK. HAS TIME. STEPS UP. GETS HIT AND SACKED.
FUMBLED THE FOOTBALL! IT'S LOOSE ON THE GROUND!
THEY SCRAMBLE FOR IT! GIANT BALL AT MIDFIELD. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER
SEEN TOM BRADY FRUSTRATED, SEEN HIM YELLING
AT THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. TOM BRADY?
MR. CALM? NO, HE WASN'T CALM THAT DAY.
HE WAS A FRUSTRATED TOM BRADY. Strahan: THE FIRST GAME
WE PLAYED THOSE GUYS, AT END OF THE SEASON, THEY JUST HAD A CERTAIN AURA
OR ENERGY ABOUT THEM. BUT IN THE SUPER BOWL,
THEY HAD A LOOK OF... "THIS ISN'T -- MAN, THIS ISN'T
WHO WE PLAYED BEFORE." Narrator: THERE IS NO QUESTION
SUPER BOWL XLII FEATURED THE SINGLE GREATEST
OFFENSIVE PLAY IN CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY. Announcer: ...FIGHTS OUT OF IT.
NOW THROWS IT DEEP DOWNFIELD! WIDE OPEN!
TYREE...MAKES THE CATCH! AND THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN
TO PLAXICO BURRESS FURTHER VALIDATED ELI MANNING'S
RISE TO PROMINENCE. Announcer:
TOUCHDOWN, GIANTS! Narrator: YET THE MOST ENDURING
LEGACY IS A GIANTS DEFENSE THAT LIMITED THE PATRIOTS'
RECORD-SETTING OFFENSE TO TWO TOUCHDOWNS. FITTINGLY, IT WAS COREY WEBSTER WHO SEALED THE CHAMPIONSHIP
WITH 19 SECONDS REMAINING. I ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND THREW
IT ABOUT AS FAR AS I COULD. AND I THOUGHT, "WE HIT THIS." Announcer: HEAVES ONE
DEEP DOWN THE LEFT SIDE. LOOKING FOR RANDY MOSS. Webster:
HE THREW THE BALL AT LEAST -- FELT LIKE IT WAS
IN THE AIR FOR... AT LEAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS,
I PROMISE. WE'RE RUNNING FOR THE BALL --
ME, RANDY, AND GIBRIL WILSON. Announcer:
DEFLECTED. INCOMPLETE. GREAT COVERAGE BY COREY WEBSTER. THEIR CORNER, WEBSTER,
MADE A GREAT PLAY TO DEFEND IT. Webster:
NOT ON MY CLOCK. [ LAUGHS ] NOT ON MY CLOCK.
NOT ON MY WATCH. THAT'S WHEN I KNEW,
UNFORTUNATELY. AND IT WAS OVER AT THAT POINT. BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WORLD CHAMPIONS, BABY. WRITE<i> THAT</i> DOWN! TO BE AT YOUR BEST
ON THE BIGGEST STAGE OF THE BIGGEST GAME
OF YOUR LIFE -- IT WAS AS IF SOMEBODY TOOK
A PEN AND PAD AND THEY WROTE DOWN A SCRIPT AND SAID, "YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THE PERFECT ENDING." THE BIG PLAYS. YOU GO, "OKAY.
TYREE CATCH OFF THE HELMET. THE PLAXICO TOUCHDOWN." BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE OVERALL GAME, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LEGACY
OF THE DEFENSE. TO PLAY AGAINST AN OFFENSE
THAT WAS UNSTOPPABLE THAT YEAR AND TO HOLD THEM IN CHECK
FOR 14 POINTS WAS REALLY AMAZING
IN THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR. Papa: MANNING TO TYREE
IS GONNA GO DOWN IN LORE, AND THE TOUCHDOWN PASS
TO PLAXICO. BUT IT WAS THE WORK
OF THAT GIANT DEFENSE THAT I'M SURE
AT TIMES GETS FORGOTTEN BUT WAS AS INTEGRAL A PART,
IF NOT MORE, THAN ANYTHING ELSE
THAT HAPPENED. Narrator:
IN GREEN BAY, AN ERA CAME TO AN END SIX WEEKS
AFTER THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP. Favre: I AM OFFICIALLY RETIRING
FROM THE NFL. I'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY
CAN GIVE TO THIS ORGANIZATION, TO THE GAME OF FOOTBALL. AND I DON'T THINK
I GOT ANYTHING LEFT TO GIVE. AND THAT'S IT. I KNOW I CAN PLAY. BUT I DON'T THINK I WANT TO. AS HARD AS THAT IS
FOR ME TO SAY, IT'S OVER. WHEN HE ANNOUNCED
HIS RETIREMENT, IT DIDN'T JUST SHOCK ME. IT SHOCKED EVERYONE. IT WAS REALLY WEIRD
TO HEAR HIM SAY THOSE WORDS THAT HE WAS NOT GONNA PLAY
ANYMORE. THERE WAS NO REASON
TO THINK OTHERWISE. YOU KNEW HE WANTED TO PLAY. YOU'RE COMING BACK,
BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
DO AFTER FOOTBALL. AND IF THERE'S NO FOOTBALL,
YOU KNOW, IT'S OBVIOUS -- YOU'RE COMING BACK. Narrator:
AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION ENDED WITH FAVRE TRADED
TO THE NEW YORK JETS. Silverstein: IT PLAYED OUT
PROBABLY THE WORST WAY FOR EITHER SIDE. I THINK EVEN TODAY,
IT'S A BLACK EYE ON BOTH SIDES. IT'S REALLY ONE MAN'S
PERSONAL DECISION. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYBODY,
MYSELF INCLUDED, THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE
HIS LAST GAME IN LAMBEAU IN THE GREEN AND GOLD UNIFORM. Announcer: FAVRE BACK TO PASS.
TAKES A DEEP DROP. STEPS UP.
LOOKING TO HIS RIGHT. THE PASS INTERCEPTED
BY THE GIANTS! Narrator: FAVRE'S 16-YEAR CAREER
AS A PACKER ENDED ON THAT FRIGID
GREEN BAY EVENING. THE 2007 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
WAS A COMPELLING MORALITY PLAY OF REDEMPTION, VALIDATION,
AND RESOLVE. Announcer: LAWRENCE TYNES
HAS KICKED THE GIANTS TO THE SUPER BOWL! Coughlin: WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT
WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY OUR TEAM, HOW TO FACE ADVERSITY
AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT CHALLENGES AND HOW DO YOU REACT WHEN THINGS DON'T GO
THE WAY YOU WANT THEM TO GO? THERE'S STILL
SUCH A SPECIAL FEELING ABOUT THAT NFC
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, JUST BECAUSE IT IS
IN LAMBEAU FIELD. IT IS NEGATIVE-21 DEGREES. IT'S BRETT FAVRE
IN HIS LAST GAME. THERE'S SO MUCH OCCURRING THAT, YOU KNOW,
I STILL THINK ABOUT IT. IT'S JUST ONE OF MY FAVORITE
GAMES THAT I EVER PLAYED IN. AND I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU'LL EVER TOP A GAME THAT JUST HAD SO MUCH GOING ON
AROUND IT. YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH!
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT! SUPER BOWL.
NEW YORK GIANTS. Umenyiora: I WOULDN'T TRADE
THAT GAME FOR THE WORLD. I THINK PLAYING IN THAT WEATHER
WAS HISTORIC. PLAYING AGAINST BRETT FAVRE AT THAT POINT IN TIME
IN GREEN BAY WAS HISTORIC. THE WAY OUR TEAM PLAYED
WAS HISTORIC. AND SO IT WAS A WONDERFUL GAME,
A WONDERFUL SITUATION, AND I CAN'T THINK OF
NOTHING BETTER THAN THAT. IT WAS BY FAR THE GREATEST GAME
THAT I'D EVER PLAYED IN, WITNESSED PERSONALLY,
ANYTHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE. IT BLEW IT AWAY BY 10. Narrator:
THE 2007 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP -- AN EXTRAORDINARY GAME
IN AN UNFORGETTABLE SEASON.
