Gronkowski Glenn Highlight Host Down Skid

Football Betting Lines

"I think we had a lot of ups and downs throughout the season," Cruz said after that win. "When our team needed us the most, we responded. We've done some good things. We were able to keep a level head going on a four-game skid. We were able to keep our composure and not get crazy or not start a spatting board with each other."

Up first was a dominating 24-2 victory over the Wild-Card winning Atlanta Falcons in which the New York defense allowed just 247 yards and helped the offense control the ball for over 34 minutes. That was followed by the Giants avenging their earlier loss to the top-seeded Packers with a 37-20 win in Green Bay.

"Well, considering where we came from, it means everything," defensive end Osi Umenyiora said after the Green Bay win. "Everybody wrote us off. They always do that. So we're just going to keep on fighting and keep on playing hard and hopefully we'll keep things going."

That they did, thanks to another gutsy effort from Manning, whose accomplishments this season have helped him once and for all step out of the shadow of big brother Peyton. The younger Manning shook off six sacks to help rally the Giants for a 20-17 overtime win over the 49ers, and erased a late four-point deficit with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter.

After notching five fourth-quarter wins during the regular season, Manning helped put together another strong finish to become the first player in NFL history to record five road postseason victories. That has him on the verge of grabbing his second Super Bowl championship, which would be one more than future Hall-of-Famer Peyton.

With eight touchdown passes in the playoffs, Manning looks nothing like the quarterback that was picked off five times over New York's four-game skid, or three times in the late loss to Washington. He looks like a true leader, one who can once again have his team standing tall at season's end.

"Guys never quit, never ever have any doubts," Manning said. "They keep believing and fighting until the very end, no matter what the circumstances are."

"They have grit now. They're battle-tested," he remarked. "We've had five straight single-elimination games. Somehow, some way we've found a way to scratch our way to a win. We prepare well. The guys really do know what's at stake."

Who knows what the Giants have in store this time around, but it won't matter as long as it ends in a win.

"It does [feel like 2007] and hopefully we will have the same result," said Umenyiora. "We still have one more game to go, but this is truly unbelievable."

comments

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•    Real f-ck-ng hot, put it in park,Take a shot, higher than a tube sock You a bop, give me top top, as I load the guap

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•    "Mystic Falls and I are on a bit of a break." - Damon Salvatore, Season 3, The Vampire Diaries

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•    Can't wait till basketball season is over.

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•    My daddy is so sick he put his shirt on inside out and backwards #feelbetter #muchlove

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•    So y'all got bread on the Giants for the Superbowl?

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•    "A RUBBER meet the ROAD at a skid mask aptly named OBEDIENCE" -Visadklline

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•    Lol KUWTK is so ridiculous. Season 1 is on netflix and it's cracking me up. Scott has always sucked. And Kim has never done anything.

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•    - #LoveAndHipHop Season Finale was so Adorable.... #Jamaica =*

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•    To #oomf yes forgive you but next time you have a problem call me dont subtweet me cause I put 1 and 1 together but still lovr u bro

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•    I've had a lot of let Downs, why am i not use to your broken promises. #fuckyou.

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