The 2012 NFL Playoffs now come down to a Super Bowl XLVI matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. The Patriots had beaten the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the day, 23-20, after kicker Bill Cundiff missed a field goal that would have sent the game to overtime. The Giants, though, kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime to head to the Super Bowl with a 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. We will now have a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, which the Giants won, 17-14. That also marked the first game the Patriots lost that season.
But the thing about the Giants victory here is that it echoes back to the Niners-Giants matchup from 2003. In that one, Giants long snapper Trey Junkin botched the snap and the field goal was unable to be attempted. On this one, the snap was botched, but the holder was able to properly recover the ball and allow Lawrence Tynes to successfully kick the 31-yard field goal.
In regulation, tight end Vernon Davis caught two touchdown passes from Alex Smith, one being a 73-yarder. However, Eli Manning found Bear Pascoe and Mario Manningham for touchdowns. Tynes and David Akers each added a field goal to keep it an odd score of 17-17 at the end of regulation.
On Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, the Patriots and the Giants will clash at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Game time is set for 4:29 p.m. MT and the game can be seen on NBC.
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