CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

NEW ENGLAND 21 vs. SAN DIEGO 12
The Chargers came into this game as underdogs and the Patriots were looking for their 18th straight win. The Chargers started off the game well by stopping the Patriots first drive with a 3-and-out. After the 1st quarter, the Chargers led 3-0. In the 2nd quarter, the Patriots scored quickly on a Laurence Maroney TD run. The Chargers managed a field goal on their next drive. The Chargers had trouble controlling the ball after that and Philip Rivers threw an interception at their own 24-yard line that led to an easy TD drive for the Patriots. On the next possession, Rivers threw another interception. The Chargers would manage another field goal and go in at halftime down 14-9.

In the 3rd quarter, the Chargers held the Patriots scoreless and put up another field goal making it 14-12 going into the final quarter. The Patriots took their first possession for a TD. The Chargers had a chance to make a run, but failed to get any points and the Patriots were able to run 9:13 off the clock on their drive to end the game to take the win 21-12. The Patriots are on their way to Super Bowl XLII.

NEW YORK 23 vs. GREEN BAY 20
It was -4 degrees with a wind chill making the temperature -24. The Giants came in as the NFC Wild Card and big underdogs to the home team Packers. The Giants defense was tough and did not allow the Packers to get anything going in the 1st quarter. The Giants managed a field goal and led 3-0. In the 2nd quarter the Giants managed another field goal. After falling behind 6-0, the Packers took advantage with a Donald Driver 90-yard catch and run for a TD. The Packers would manage a field goal and go into halftime with the lead 10-6.

In the 3rd quarter, The Giants wasted no time scoring on a 69-yard drive, capped off by a 1-yard TD run by Brandon Jacobs. After a great kickoff return, the Packers had terrific field position, but the Giants defense stayed tough and appeared to have stopped them on 3rd down. But a personal foul penalty gave the Packers a new set of downs and set up an easy TD to TE Donald Lee. The Giants would score on their next drive when Ahmad Bradshaw rushed up the middle for a 4-yard TD run. Going into the 4th quarter, the Giants led 20-17. The Packers were driving in the opening minutes of the 4th quarter and Brett Favre threw an interception to R.W. McQuarters. But as he returned the interception he fumbled the ball and the Packers recovered at the Giants 19-yard line. The Packers could not move the ball any farther than that and were forced to kick a field goal that tied the game, 20-20. The Giants drove down the field to set up Lawrence Tynes for a tough 43-yard field goal attempt on a frozen field. He missed the kick and the Packers got the ball back. After stopping the Packers, the Giants were able to drive down the field for a last-second, game-winning field goal attempt with 4 seconds to play, but the snap was high and Tynes missed the 38-yard try and the game went to overtime!

The Packers won the coin toss and got the ball first, but the Giants defense struck again. CB Cory Webster jumped a Brett Favre pass and intercepted it. The Giants moved the ball to the 29-yard line and give Lawrence Tynes another chance. Tynes had missed his last 2 field goal attempts that would have won the game in regulation. At 47-yards, this game-winning field goal attempt was his longest try of the day. The snap was good, the hold was good and the kick sailed through the uprights to complete the Giants upset of the Packers and send them to Super Bowl XLII,where they will face the undefeated New England Patriots!