Here's a look at the most important drive of New York's 2007 season, their opening drive of the second half of the NFC championship game in Green Bay.

 

 

 

The Giants beat the Packers 23-20 in the NFC championship game. They scored the game-winning points on a four-play, five-yard drive in overtime.

 

But the G-Men won the game on the opening series of the second quarter, a series that featured New York's steady diet of Brandon Jacobs and Plaxico Burress.

 

It turned into an improbable, edge-of-your-seat drive of 16 plays (four of which were wiped from the books by Green Bay penalties) that truly personified the white-knuckle roller-coaster ride of the 2007 Giants.

 

The Giants trailed 10-6 at intermission and opened the second half like any great team: they moved the ball 12 yards, called a timeout and threw an interception.

 

Only this drive, like the Giants season, would not die easily. Green Bay CB Al Harris intercepted Eli Manning, but was called for illegal contact on Burress. The penalty negated the interception and gave the Giants a new set of downs (Harris was praised for his physical play all year, but in the biggest game of the season his physical play resulted in a critical mistake that probably cost the Packers a Super Bowl appearance).

 

Jacobs gained 5 yards on the next two plays. Then the Giants failed to convert their second straight third down when Manning’s pass fell incomplete. Again, Green Bay was flagged for a penalty, in this case roughing the passer (Nick Collins), for another New York first down. And that was just the start of it.

 

Manning connected with Burress for 18 yards, the longest play in New York’s biggest drive of the season.

 

Once inside the red zone, at the Green Bay 11, the Giants pounded away with a circa-1934 diet of Jacobs off right tackle, Jacobs off left tackle and Jacobs up the middle. But the season nearly slipped away when Jacobs fumbled on third down at the Packers 2. Back-up tight end Kevin Boss, one of the unsung heroes of New York’s Super Bowl run, jumped on the ball at the 1, giving the Giants a first down.

 

Manning’s pass to Boss in the end zone fell incomplete. But another Green Bay penalty (offsides on Corey Williams) gave the Giants a new set of downs. Jacobs was stuffed for no gain on the next play. But – that’s right – another Green Bay penalty (offsides on Cullen Jenkins) meant another fresh set from the 1.

 

Jacobs finally bulldozed into the end zone on the next play. And the Giants found themselves with a 13-10 second-half lead over the mighty Packers at Lambeau Field.

 

The improbable drive lasted 7:04 and covered 69 yards, New York’s longest TD drive of the game. It’s officially listed as a 12-play drive. But the ball was snapped 16 times, with four of the plays negated by four critical Green Bay penalties.

 

Jacobs, officially, carried nine times for 22 yards and a touchdown. Manning went 2-3 on passes that counted with both completions to Burress for 27 yards.

 

The drive was a lot like New York’s season – one in which the Giants started out 0-2 but also won 10 consecutive road games; a season in which Manning was the city’s favorite whipping boy but is now the toast of the town.

 

It was bad at times, and ugly at others. But when it all counted the Giants did what they've done at critical times throughout the year: pulled through and got the job done. If they can pull through against the odds for one more game, they'll call themselves Super Bowl champions.

 

1st and 10 at NY 31 – Brandon Jacobs carries for 2

2nd and 8 at NY 33 – Manning to Burress for 9

1st and 10 at NY 42 – Jacobs carries for 1

2nd and 9 at NY 43 – Manning incomplete

3rd and 9 at NY 43 – Manning intercepted by GB’s Harris (Harris called for illegal contact)

1st and 10 at NY 48 – Jacobs carries for 2

2nd and 8 at 50 – Jacobs carries for 3

3rd and 5 at GB 47 – Manning incomplete (GB’s Collins called for roughing the passer)

1st and 10 at GB 32 – Jacobs carries for 3

2nd and 7 at GB 29 – Manning to Burress for 18 yards

1st and 10 at GB 11 – Jacobs carries for 5

2nd and 5 at GB 6 – Jacobs carries for 4

3rd and 1 at GB 2 – Jacobs fumbles, recovered by Kevin Boss for gain of 1

1st and 1 at GB 1 – Manning pass incomplete (GB's Williams called for offsides)

1st and 1 at GB 1 – Jacobs carries for 0 (GB’s Jenkins called for offsides)

1st and 1 at the GB 1 – Jacobs carries for 1 (TD)