[milford3]

Elizabeth:  You are a Jet fan?

[jimdgoulding]

Eli took a lickin (multiple times) but kept on tickin.  He IS tougher than he looks.  SF made a match of it.  Alex Smith needs to improve his accuracy and I did enjoy their speed and hustle.  How would you like to be that ex field goal kicker for Baltimore right about now.  Geez, what an awful breakdown.  The Ravens looked like they were gonna tie it up and I would have given them a 60/40 chance of winning it if they had.  I'm taking New York in the SB.  I love their wide outs as much as Brady's tight ends. 

[cujobob]

Eli looked to be in a lot of pain after the game. It's unfortunate that the two teams who probably played the hardest didn't win. The 49ers win this game if their normal returner is in and Baltimore likely does if their kicker makes the routine field goal.

[soundbitten1]

The 49ers win this game if their normal returner is in and Baltimore likely does if their kicker makes the routine field goal.

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.

The team that makes the most mistakes usually loses.

[milford3]

And the 9er's made their mistake with the strip of the football.  Game Giants!!

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth:  You are a Jet fan?

packers fan. 
The Packers were in such bad shape for the Giants/Packers game. The Packers quarterback had not played in four weeks at the time of the Giants match. He lost to Detroit, then did not play in the next game. Then a bye week. That is a long gap. I think it damaged his passing game. Then the kid of the coach dying did not help either.
Like I said, pity.

One other point.. the Packers and the ICE BOWL.. is more like a curse. As the Packers in the past few years just seem to have problems in rather cold weather. At least more than the teams they face.
I wonder if it is some sort of 'Packers are tough, we do not need to worry about staying warm... (not really, cold fingers drop balls.)

[jimdgoulding]

I could say the same thing about the Cowboys, almost!  Just kidding, Elizabeth,  Crying shame about the Pack.  They are as good if not better than any team out there today.  It's just so happened when it mattered most, they weren't.

[AmpDesigner333]

Yes, this was an awesome game. Congrats to the Giants and Pats! It should be a good one.

I agree!  Should be a great Superbowl.

-Tommy O

[timind]

packers fan. 
The Packers were in such bad shape for the Giants/Packers game. The Packers quarterback had not played in four weeks at the time of the Giants match. He lost to Detroit, then did not play in the next game. Then a bye week. That is a long gap. I think it damaged his passing game. Then the kid of the coach dying did not help either.
Like I said, pity.

Packers should've learned from the Colts experience a few years ago. The Colts began resting their starters after they sewed up home-field advantage and were soundly beaten in the first playoff game. 

[cujobob]

Should play them at least one half of the last game. Just to get reps in and all of that.

On another note: http://www.freep.com/article/20120123/SPORTS01/120123042/cam-newton-pro-bowl-eli-manning

What...the....f*ck? Newton had a great year but Stafford even had a better year than Manning. Weakkk

[jimdgoulding]

You know, the Ravens won that game on the ground.  Flacco won that game on the ground.  He even threw the game winning TD pass, perfectly, and between two defenders yet, but, his receiver allowed the ball to be stripped away.  Then, one of the saddest things ever with that kick.  Go figure.

Belated congratulations to Ravens and Niners fans.  Your teams done real good.  A couple of mistakes defeated SF more than the Giants did.  Your defense is solid. 

[jackman]

I'm a huge NFL Football fan and I somehow felt cheated at the end of those games.  It's way more fun for me (if I don't have a favorite team in the mix) to see a team win by making exceptionally good plays versus watching teams lose by making bone-head plays or mistakes as the losing teams did yesterday. 

The Ravens had that game wrapped up...until their receiver forgot how to catch the ball and their kicker missed a chip shot most HS kickers can make.  The Niners game was a bit different because they literally handed the Giants the game by fumbling the ball in OT...in field goal range.  I don't think I've ever seen that in such a big game.  The kid who fumbled is the son of White Sox GM, Kenny Williams.  I would have felt sorry for him if he wasn't the same idiot who let a ball bounce off his leg on a punt earlier in the game.  These mistakes are inexcusable, even worse than a missed FG in my opinion. 

I'm glad to see an exciting match-up in the SB and wish both teams well.  At this point, I'm not sure who I'll be rooting for but I will say something about Giants' fans.  I've been to a few Giants games over the past two years and find the fans of the Giants to be one of the coolest bunches of fans I have ever met.  I was at the game earlier this year when the Skins won and the Giants fans were giving it to the team, yelling insults from the stands.  They were also giving it - verbally - to some Redskins fans in our section but it was all good natured.  New York teams get a bad rap outside of NY for having loud obnoxious fans but I like the New York fans.  Giants fans are a diverse group and it's not fair to lump them all together but I've always had a great time at Giants games and hope to go back next year. 

The same is true of Packers' fans.  They are a fun bunch and I would be willing to bet that, as a group, the fans in Green Bay could out drink any other fans in the league.  These people can put down the liquor and the tail-gaiting at Lambeau is as good as it gets.   Heck, they could probably out eat all of the other fans as well.  Every football fan should include Lambeau on their bucket list.  It's the Mecca of NFL Football, IMO, and there is no better place to watch a game...and this is coming from a life-long Bears' fan and Packer hater. 

IME, the worst fans in the league are Philly fans.  They are the most obnoxious, violent, crazy bunch of America's answer to soccer hooligans that I have seen.  They love their teams but take it to the extreme, especially when you are wearing the sweater of the opposing team.  Anyone who has been to a Fliers game or Eagles game knows what I'm talking about.  You Philly fans (whe ones who go to games) are a crazy bunch.   

Cheers,

J


PS - sorry for getting side-tracked. 

[thunderbrick]

Uh, your last paragraph is pretty much taken right out of the sports bible.   

[zybar]

You know, the Ravens won that game on the ground.  Flacco won that game on the ground.  He even threw the game winning TD pass, perfectly, and between two defenders yet, but, his receiver allowed the ball to be stripped away.  Then, one of the saddest things ever with that kick.  Go figure.

Belated congratulations to Ravens and Niners fans.  Your teams done real good.  A couple of mistakes defeated SF more than the Giants did.  Your defense is solid.

The 49ers' defense was the best I have seen all year and maybe the best in quite some time.  They were incredibly fast and tackled very well.  Everything the Giants did was earned and they were made to pay for it!  They held the Giants to their lowest yards per play total in the last 4+ years!!

George

[zybar]

I'm a huge NFL Football fan and I somehow felt cheated at the end of those games.  It's way more fun for me (if I don't have a favorite team in the mix) to see a team win by making exceptionally good plays versus watching teams lose by making bone-head plays or mistakes as the losing teams did yesterday. 

The Ravens had that game wrapped up...until their receiver forgot how to catch the ball and their kicker missed a chip shot most HS kickers can make.  The Niners game was a bit different because they literally handed the Giants the game by fumbling the ball in OT...in field goal range.  I don't think I've ever seen that in such a big game.  The kid who fumbled is the son of White Sox GM, Kenny Williams.  I would have felt sorry for him if he wasn't the same idiot who let a ball bounce off his leg on a punt earlier in the game.  These mistakes are inexcusable, even worse than a missed FG in my opinion. 

I'm glad to see an exciting match-up in the SB and wish both teams well.  At this point, I'm not sure who I'll be rooting for but I will say something about Giants' fans.  I've been to a few Giants games over the past two years and find the fans of the Giants to be one of the coolest bunches of fans I have ever met.  I was at the game earlier this year when the Skins won and the Giants fans were giving it to the team, yelling insults from the stands.  They were also giving it - verbally - to some Redskins fans in our section but it was all good natured.  New York teams get a bad rap outside of NY for having loud obnoxious fans but I like the New York fans.  Giants fans are a diverse group and it's not fair to lump them all together but I've always had a great time at Giants games and hope to go back next year. 

The same is true of Packers' fans.  They are a fun bunch and I would be willing to bet that, as a group, the fans in Green Bay could out drink any other fans in the league.  These people can put down the liquor and the tail-gaiting at Lambeau is as good as it gets.   Heck, they could probably out eat all of the other fans as well.  Every football fan should include Lambeau on their bucket list.  It's the Mecca of NFL Football, IMO, and there is no better place to watch a game...and this is coming from a life-long Bears' fan and Packer hater. 

IME, the worst fans in the league are Philly fans.  They are the most obnoxious, violent, crazy bunch of America's answer to soccer hooligans that I have seen.  They love their teams but take it to the extreme, especially when you are wearing the sweater of the opposing team.  Anyone who has been to a Fliers game or Eagles game knows what I'm talking about.  You Philly fans (whe ones who go to games) are a crazy bunch.   

Cheers,

J


PS - sorry for getting side-tracked.

As a lifelong NYer (now stuck in the heart of New England), I appreciate your post Jackman about NY fans.   

Maybe instead of feeling cheated, you should focus on all of the play before the mistakes or drops?  I know it wasn't a textbook game for either team, but there were still a ton of good plays, made by good players, in a pressure packed environment.  For the Niners/Giants game, add in the elements of rain and high winds on a muddy field.  Both games were competitive and obviously close until the end.  Can't say that for many of the league championships over the last 15-20 years.

BTW, I'll help you pick the team to root for - GO BIG BLUE!! 

George

[jimdgoulding]

Jackman, I share your sentiments about the game in general and about those two games in particular even tho NY and NE were my picks.

[jackman]

As a lifelong NYer (now stuck in the heart of New England), I appreciate your post Jackman about NY fans.   

Maybe instead of feeling cheated, you should focus on all of the play before the mistakes or drops?  I know it wasn't a textbook game for either team, but there were still a ton of good plays, made by good players, in a pressure packed environment.  For the Niners/Giants game, add in the elements of rain and high winds on a muddy field.  Both games were competitive and obviously close until the end.  Can't say that for many of the league championships over the last 15-20 years.

BTW, I'll help you pick the team to root for - GO BIG BLUE!! 

George

Hey George,

I have nothing but positive feelings towards the Giants fans.  I was expecting them to give me a hard time at the Bears' game last year (at MetLife stadium) because I was wearing my Bears' jersey but the only drunken obnoxious D-bags were a couple of Bears' fans we ran into in line for beer.  Before the game, in the parking lot, the Giants fans were awesome and very good natured with their "insults" and in responding to the ones I yelled back.  After the game, the Bears were beaten so badly (it was game in which Cutler was almost killed) I think the Giants fans felt sorry for us because they didn't say a word!

I am not sure about yesterday's games.  In the San Fran game, both teams played very good defense and I was disappointed to see a team lose on such a bad play.  I would have prefered to see a long bomb by Eli or a field goal after a good drive.  Either way, a win is a win.  Congrats on your team making the Superbowl.  I'm leaning towards rooting for the Giants and the Pats looked beatable.  If they play like they did against the Ravens, the Giants have an excellent chance to win the game. 

[chip]

packers fan. 
The Packers were in such bad shape for the Giants/Packers game. The Packers quarterback had not played in four weeks at the time of the Giants match. He lost to Detroit, then did not play in the next game. Then a bye week. That is a long gap. I think it damaged his passing game. Then the kid of the coach dying did not help either.
Like I said, pity.

One other point.. the Packers and the ICE BOWL.. is more like a curse. As the Packers in the past few years just seem to have problems in rather cold weather. At least more than the teams they face.
I wonder if it is some sort of 'Packers are tough, we do not need to worry about staying warm... (not really, cold fingers drop balls.)

Those bye weeks seem to kill teams. I get resting the starters in the last game against detroit as a Win did nothing for the Packers but then that is alot of time off for them and they looked real rusty in that Giants game. I never saw so many dropped balls in one game....easy catches too. Maybe next year but first they need to do something with that defense....it was awful all year. They barely ever had good pressure on QBs. Always a Packers fan just not a happy ending for them this year.

[cujobob]

Jackman, I agree. I don't necessarily mind if the teams I'm rooting for don't make it, so long as the teams who do make it win by playing a better game. The strange thing is that it's not like Baltimore or the Niners played badly, quite the contrary. So to see one team who probably shouldn't be there (the Patriots) and another who in most years would be the underdog (the Giants)...this is just sort of a strange game.

Every major metro area has their share of bad fans from my experience.

[JerryM]

I really wanted to see the 49ers win. Sometime during the third quarter, though, it was apparent to me that they should not be allowed to win. Any team that cannot convert a third down, in a game of such importance, does not deserve to go to the SB.

It's interesting that both games were decided at the very end by Special Teams play, both good and bad.

I hope the very best of both remaining teams appear on the field for the Super Bowl. 

Have fun,

Jerry