GREEN BAY, Wis. — With their own star quarterback and a dominating defense, the New York Giants exposed the Green Bay Packers for what they now are — former Super Bowl champions.
The Packers dropped passes, fumbled the ball and couldn’t stop Eli Manning and his receivers in the Giants’ 37-20 divisional playoff victory Sunday. To the Giants’ delight, a Green Bay team that had a real shot at an undefeated season less than a month ago is heading home.
And that the win came at Lambeau Field, well, that was just as sweet. The site has become a familiar launching pad for the New Yorkers. After beating the Packers (15-2) at home for the second time in four years, they only hope this trip ends the same way — in the Super Bowl.
The Giants will play the 49ers in San Francisco for the NFC championship next Sunday.
“I think we’re a dangerous team,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “I like where we are and how we’re playing.”
The Giants (11-7) have been on a roll since beating the rival Jets on Dec. 24, eventually beating the Dallas Cowboys to get in the playoffs and then blowing out Atlanta in the wild-card round last week.
They took down the Packers on Sunday as Manning threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns.
The Giants are 3-4 against the 49ers in the playoffs, including their memorable collapse in a wild-card game at San Francisco on Jan. 5, 2003. New York led 38-14 in the third quarter but fell apart and lost 39-38.
That probably won’t be much of a worry for the Giants, who were oozing confidence even before they beat the Packers.
“This team knows how to win on the road,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “It seems like right now it’s our time.”
The Giants stunned the Packers with a touchdown off a long heave from Manning to Hakeem Nicks just before halftime, then knocked the Pack out with a late touchdown off a turnover.
Lambeau Field fell silent as the Giants swarmed the field in celebration, with a handful of New York fans chanting, “Let’s go, Giants!”
“I knew we were going to beat them on Wednesday, to be honest with you,” running back Brandon Jacobs said.
The Packers fully expected to go back to the Super Bowl, but the reality hit quarterback Aaron Rodgers quickly.
“Oh, it’s real,” Rodgers said. “We got beat by a team that played better tonight.”
Key play
Holding a 13-10 lead with just seconds left in the first half, Giants quarterback Eli Manning, working out of the shotgun, threw up a desperation pass that Hakeem Nicks came down with as defenders encircled him, scoring a 37-yard touchdown.
