Packers shocked by Giants

Scottish-born kicker settles NFC Championship in overtime

Last updated: 21st January 2008

Lawrence Tynes New York Giants v Green Bay Packers

Tynes slots over the winning field goal at Lambeau Field

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Lawrence Tynes' 47-yard field goal in overtime secured the New York Giants a trip to the Super Bowl as they stunned the Green Bay Packers 23-20.

The Giants secured a 10th road win this season to be crowned NFC champions. They will next face the New England Patriots on February 3.

It will also be a rematch of the final game of the regular season when the Patriots fought back from a 12-point deficit in the second-half to win 38-35.

As well as battling freezing temperatures the Giants had to fight back from a 10-6 half-time deficit to stun the home fans at Lambeau Field.

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw ran in touchdowns for the visitors after Tynes had kicked two field goals to give them an early 6-0 advantage.

The Scottish-born kicker went on to miss two attempts towards the end of the fourth quarter, though he made it third time lucky in overtime to end the game.

He may well have believed he had blown his side's chances when his second unsuccessful kick, a 36-yarder on the final play of regulation, sailed to the left of the posts.

Opportunity

However, Corey Webster's interception of Brett Favre allowed the kicker to get a second bite of the cherry and kick the first post-season field goal over 40 yards in the history of Lambeau Field.

"I screwed it up twice. Thank God we got another opportunity," Tynes said afterwards.

"I wasn't waiting for him (coach Tom Coughlin) to say 'Go kick'. He would have had to pull me off the field."

Quarterback Manning, who watched his brother, Peyton, win the Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts last year, was again impressive, completing 21-of-40 passes for 254 yards and crucially no interceptions.

Plaxico Burress was his number one target, finishing with a career-best 154 yards on 11 catches, while the Giants also rushed for 134 yards.

"It doesn't seem real," Burress said. "We just threw ourselves over the wall. It's one of the best feelings in the world. We got it done."

Packers slump

While Manning and co celebrate Green Bay are left to wonder whether they have seen the last of Favre.

It had seemed the 38-year-old was destined to reach another Super Bowl, giving him the chance to win a second ring in the twighlight of his stellar career.

The veteran quarterback certainly got off to a good start, hitting Donald Driver for a 90-yard touchdown in the second quarter - the longest play in the franchise's play-off history.

But from then on he managed only 146 more yards through the air, 12 of them coming to tight end Donald Lee in the third quarter for Green Bay's second touchdown.

As well as Webster's interception in overtime, R.W McQuarters picked off a poor Favre pass only to then fumble when he was tackled.

Kicker Mason Crosby scored the Packers' other points, slotting over two field goals, his second levelling the scores at 20 apiece to take the game into overtime.

The Giants' defence shut down Green Bay's running game, holding Ryan Grant to just 29 yards on 13 carries a week after he rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks.