16 Jan 2012

Giants send defending NFL champs packing

3:09 pm on 16 January 2012

The New York Giants eliminated last year's Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers from the NFL American football playoffs with a 37-20 road win.

Eli Manning had three touchdown passes, including two long strikes to Hakeem Nicks, and the Giants defence contained explosive Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to end Green Bay's shot at becoming the first team in seven years to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

The Giants, who won the Super Bowl four years ago with an improbable run to the title as a wild card, are now one win away from returning to the title game on February the 5th in Indianapolis.

The Packers had the NFL's top-scoring offence during the regular season, averaging 35 points a game as they went 15-1, but were unable to solve a suffocating Giants defense that forced four turnovers in the game.

The Giants face the San Francisco 49ers in next week's NFC title game.