My Prediction of the NFC Championship Game

Sunday is going to be a big game for both teams. This is what teams play for every year the right to go to the Superbowl.

The New York Giants have proven to be a coming of age team this year. While starting of slow, Eli Manning was looking like the same old Eli that just couldn't make it to a playoff win. Nobody really knew what to expect with this team during the off season. Micheal Strahan held out of most of training camp and he is one of the most important defensive players on the team. Plexico Buress had to deal with not getting enough practice in either, due to an injury to his leg. Former Giant Tiki Barber questioned Eli Manning's leadership ability as well. It really looked as if their season would end as soon as it started. They started off terrible with an 0-2 record. They quickly turned things around going on a 6 game winning streak. By the end of the regular season The Giants turned quite a bit around to earn a wild card berth in the playoffs this year. They had to play both playoff games they have won so far this year on the road. In my opinion they were overlooked going into Tampa Bay. While I am not taking away from the talent that is in Tampa Bay I think most people including players in the Tampa Bay organization figured Eli manning would pull his usual choke job. However even with the warm temperatures and high humidty Eli Manning proved he could get over the playoff hump. The following week Eli and the Giants went to Dallas where most people were assuming that Tony Romo and the Cowboys would easily beat the Giants. Once again Eli Seemed to mature a little more. The defense seemed to play their best when they needed to step it up and make sure they helped seal the win. This week will prove to be tough both mentaly and physicaly for the Giants. One thing the Giants have going for them right now in the mental aspect of this is that they have won 9 straight road games including the 2 playoff games they have played so far this season,

Brett Favre. Need I say more? He holds just about every possible record there is for a quarterback to hold. He was unsure at the end of last season if he would return for yet another season. He made his decision to comeback to the delight of many football fans. He took a little bit of scrutiny for a comment he made early in the season when he had said "this is one of the more talented teams I have played with". Those that basically laughed at him for his comment aren't laughing anymore. It has become quite obvious that the 38 year old quarterback knows what he is talking about. While the started off what seemed to be one diminsional this season due to a lack of a running game, Ryan Grant has made them a multi diminsional team. Now you have to wonder if Favre is going to get you deep by bombing a pass out ot Jenkins or Driver or if He is going to nickel and dime you down the field with the use of Ryan Grants legs. Lets not forget their defense either. Al Harris and Charles Woodson have proven to be some of the best cornerbacks in the NFC this year. Although they were swept by thier divisional rival the Chicago Bears who had an overall bad season concidering they were in the Superbowl last year and they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season they ended the regular season with a strong convincing 13-3 record. Certainly good enough to earn a first round bye week in the playoffs and the overall 2nd seed in the NFC. When Seattle came to town they had all the confidence they could beat Green Bay at home, but the frozen Tundra proved to be too much for the Seahawks. Now Green Bay gets a chance to win again with the homefeild advantage as they prepare for a team that has shown a vast amount of maturity and comming of age for an overall young team.

This weekends matchup should be intresting. The two teams met up in week 2 of the regular season. Green Bay won the matchup in week 2 with the final score of 35-10. After that loss the Giants really began to click as a team and get things turned around. The Packers continued on thier path of clicking and finding their running game as well as showing off the arm of a 38 year old quarteback that some were stating he was too old to play the game.

The matchup I will be looking forward to in this game is going to be Clifton vs Umenyiora. The packers have allowed very few Sacks this year and Favre has a knack for getting rid of the ball quickly. Clifton will have to make sure Umenyiora can't get past him. He is very dangerous when breaking the line of scrimmage, knowing how to bring down both runners and quarterbacks. With 13 sacks 52 tackles and 5 forced fumbles on the season you have to wonder if he will be able to disrupt Brett Favre in his game now that Umenyiora has had 16 weeks to grow and mature. In my opinion this has been the season where he has defensivly made a name ofr himself making offensive coodinaters do their best to make sure he has a man on him at all times.

I personally think this game will be close. Most people seem to forget that while yes it is supposed to be a frigid 4 degrees in Green Bay when the game kicks off, that the new York Giants have played in their fair share of bad weather games and it is cold in New York. I think if defensively the Giants can disrupt Favre's passing game they have a chance to win this game. Going into Lambeau Field for a road game almost has to be a sigh of relief for Eli manning who has had a better road record than home record this season. While I do think the Giants have a shot to win this game I think that Green Bay will come out the winner of this NFC Chapionship game with a final score of 27-24.