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Superbowl XXIV is set...it will be the Jaguars and Giants for the 2006 CSL title!
The stage is set...32 teams started out on a quest back in August of last year...2 teams remain. Will it be the tough defense of Jacksonville and strong running of Fred Taylor that will bring the Jaguars their first title...or will it be the New York Giants lead by Tiki Barber, Plaxico Burress and Michael Strahan, who claim their first title ever. Great offense versus great defense...Tom Couglin versus his old team Jacksonville, which story line will play out? To get to this point,both teams had to overcome tough opponents. For Jacksonville, the AFC Championship was a game they had to play perfect football to win...for the Giants in the NFC Championship...it came down to big plays...to the AFC & NFC Championship highlights we go...
May 7, 2007
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Jacksonville Jaguars 24 New York Jets 14
The AFC Championship...a trip to Superbowl XXIV...a season at stake...with everything on the line, the N.Y. Jets 2006 run to repeat as AFC Champs ended with a 4th down play with 1:05 to go in the game. The Jets drove the field in the final two minutes down by 10 points, breaking inside the Jaguars' 2 yard line and it would be there that their season would end. The league's #1 defense put up a huge goal line stand and stuffed Curtis Martin on a 4th and inches to preserve the 24-14 and kept the Jets from a come back win. This game was as good as advertised. Great defense vs. great offense...the first half was a victory for the defenses, as the Jets claimed a surprising 7-3 halftime lead. However, the Jaguars came out in the third quarter and dominated. They opened the third quarter with a 13 play-10 minute drive and finished it off when Fred Taylor broke a 32 yard touchdown run on 4th down and 3...that play set the tone for the second half. The Jaguars' defense then stepped up and forced a Jets' three and out. Following a short punt, Fred Taylor started the fourth quarter with the play of the game. Intially stuffed for a loss, Taylor broke two tackles, got outside and turned up field for a 37 yard sideline touchdown run...Alltel Stadium went crazy. Now up 17-7, the Jets had to answer to get back in the game. The Jets responded...as Pennington hit Coles for a 37 yard touchdown pass with 9:14 to play in the game to end a short 5 play drive. But the Jets could not stop Leftwich and the Jaguars passing game. Jacksonville sealed the Jets fate with a 41 yard touchdown pass from Leftwich to Brady with 5:07 left and the lead was 10. Once again the Jets had to have a drive. They converted 2 fourth down plays, as they drove the field for a first and 10 at the Jag 11 yard line and that is where it would all end. Three straight plays the Jag defense held...then on fourth and inches the Jets gambled and went for the TD instead of the field goal...and Curtis Martin was denied. Jacksonville is off to Detroit and Superbowl XXIV, the franchises' 2nd Superbowl trip...first since 1997. Your game leaders...Fred Taylor-28 carries, 211 yards, 2 TDs...Curtis Martin 20 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD
May 8, 2007
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
New York Giants 26 Seattle Seahawks 20 Overtime
What a special game and what a special ending! Tiki Barber, playing in his final game at Giants Stadium, gets a fitting send off, as Tiki's final run produces a piece of Giants history, as he sends the Giants to their first ever Superbowl. The Giants had to overcome a Seahawks defense that played their hearts out, as the Seahawks lead the entire game, forcing the Giants to rally late and win in OT. This game is easily one of the greatest NFC Championships of all time. The Seahawks lead the entire game, but the leads were slim, as they took a 7-6 lead into halftime. Seattle opened the third quarter with a huge play...a 62 yard touchdown pass to Darryl Jackson to make it 14-6. The Giants finally got going on offense. Following a 49 yard run by Tiki Barber...Manning hit Plaxico Burress for a 33 yard touchdown and it was 14-13. Seattle came right back with another quick score. Alexander broke a 60 yard run on the next drive, but Seattle could not finish the drive, as the Giants defense held. That lead to a 53 yard Brown Field goal with 3:51 to go in the third. The Giants next drive took the rest of the third quarter and well into the fourth...it ended in a punt from mid-field. Seattle drove again and again the Giants came up with a huge stop. With just 6:22 to play, Brown hit another field goal of 57 yards and it was 20-13 Seattle...crunch time. With the season on the line...the Giants needed a huge play from their star...and they got one. On third and long, Tiki Barber turned a routine sweep at their own 17 into a 63 yard tight rope run down the sidelines to the Seattle 20 yard line with 2:53 to play. On the next play Manning got the ball to Burress to the Seattle 5 yard line. Two plays later Manning hit Burress for the game tieing touchdown with 1:12 to play. With all their timeouts left...here came the Seahawks. Hasselbeck picked up a quick first down out to the Seattle 38. With :34 to play, the Seahawks had their greatest opportunity. Hasselbeck rolled right and went deep to Jackson, that would have put them in field goal range, but the pass was short. The Giants then held on and the game went into overtime. The game...the season...the NFC Championship now hung on a coin toss...the Seahawks called heads...it came up tails. The Giants got the ball at their own 20, but Seattle completely committed to stopping Barber. Manning then came up big. He converted 2 straight third and long passes, both to Shockey to get the ball out to mid-field...then the miracle happened. The failure and ghost of 1996 was erased forever and the Giants became NFC Champs, as Barber broke a 50 yard game sealing touchdown run to send the Giants to Superbowl XXIV...it was utter pandamonia at Giants Stadium. It was a moment that a franchise will never forget and at the same time...it was a crushing moment for Seattle. If you look at the stats it is amazing what the Seahawks did. They had the ball only 28 plays versus 49 for the Giants...and they almost won. Tiki Barber saved his best game for last with 34 carries for 241 yards and 1 franchise changing touchdown. Shaun Alexander finished with only 83 yards on 13 carries...the NFC has a new champion and the Superbowl XXIV is set...Jags and Giants...
Next up the Superbowl...photos of the Superbowl and playoffs will be posted next week following the Superbowl...
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