A Never Give Up Attitude Wins Again

What a great story in the NFL, two underdog teams advancing to the NFC Championship Game. The New York Giants beat the Packers 37-20 and the San Francisco 49’ers beat the Saints 36-32 in the NFC divisional playoffs. Two quarterbacks Alex Smith and Eli Manning used their positive mindset, believed in their team along combined with a never give up attitude led their teams to upset victories.

It’s been 9 years since the 49er’s have been in the playoffs. Smith a first overall draft pick in the 2005 draft last year at this time was clearing out his locker, preparing for free agency. This year he led his team to a 12-3 record and the NFC West title. He had the game of his life, beating the Saints  throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns with his pass to Vernon Davis in the end zone at the end of the game to be part of 49er’s history, like the legend Joe Montana. I could hear my friend Bob in California screaming with excitement all the way in New York on the winning touchdown pass. 

The Saints had a season-high five turnovers, but Drew Brees showing a lot of heart, rallied his team back to take a lead with a 66-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jimmy Graham and added a two-point conversion pass to Darren Sproles to give the Saints a 32-29 lead with 1:37 left. Needing a field goal to send the game into overtime, Harbaugh the 49er’s coach went with his intuition, going for the win.  Smith answered with a 14-yard game winning pass with 9 seconds left, to tight end Vernon Davis. Smith won the game, a $1 million bonus and possibly a 2-3 year extension worth $8-11 million annually with one pass. AMAZING!

Eli Manning and the New York Giants had a great game beating the Green Bay Packers who were (15-2) this past season and the Super Bowl champions from last year.  In 2007 the last time the Giants made the playoffs where they beat the Packers and advanced to the Superbowl. Manning threw for 330 yards, three touchdowns, one of them, a Hail Mary to Hakeem Nicks ending the first half shifting the tone of the game to the Giants.  Aaron Rogers was not sharp, along with his receivers who had eight dropped passes, their worst game, all season ending their season.

The NFC Championships game is sure to be a great game with two teams with a lot of heart playing each other with another great storybook ending to be seen.  Go Giants Go!

See some videos with highlights of the divisional games

Best divisional moment of the game.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/baltimore-ravens/09000d5d8260aed6/Best-divisional-moments

Giants vs. Packers.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1025879-giants-vs-packers-video-highlights—

Comments

[Michel @ DUI Driving]

Congratulations to the New York Giants! That's a very inspiring story for all the Football enthusiasts out there. Thanks for this post. :)

[Bonnie Gortler, the Option Girl]

Thank you Michel, I really enjoyed writing and sharing this post. Go Giants. Looking forward to the Superbowl!