Big Blue are GIANTS...Again!!

New York comes from behind to shock New England for the second time in four years.

Giants - 21  Patriots - 17

The Giants were dominant at times. They were sloppy at times. At the end of the game, however, Eli Manning and the G-Men did what they have all season - they found a way to win it at the end.

The Giants dominated the first half, but a questionable holding call on New York guard Kevin Boothe turn the game around. Instead of potentially going up two scores at halftime the Giants were forced to punt and Tom Brady led New England on an epic 14 play, 96 yard touchdown drive to take a 10-9 lead at the intermission.

The Patriots continued to roll by scoring another touchdown to start the second half and extend its lead to 17-9. The TD reception by TE Aaron Hernandez would be the last points scored by New England for the rest of the season. The Giants offense moved the ball all game, but failed to put the ball in the endzone as the Patriots defense stiffened in the redzone. Sloppy play also hurt Big Blue offensively at times as Eli Manning had to burn turn timeouts early in the fourth quarter while fumbles by Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, and Ahmed Bradshaw were bailed out by a defensive penalty and recoveries by FB Henry Hynoski and OT Kareem McKenzie.

A missed opportunity by Brady and Wes Welker later, the Giants trailed 17 - 15 with 3:46 remaining in the game as Manning led his team on the field. On the first play of the drive from their own 12 yard line New York's franchise quarterback launched a picture perfect pass down the left sideline to receiver Mario Manningham who made a sensational play to catch the ball cleanly and keep his feet inbounds. As good as the athletic display by the Giants' wideout to come down with the ball the throw by the elite Eli was even better. At that point, it wasn't a matter of if the Giants would score and take the lead, but how much time would be left when they did.

Super Bowl XLVI was a microcosm of the Giants' 2011 season. Just when it looked like all hope was lost for Tom Coughlin and his team, Big Blue found themselves with one last chance - and Eli Manning proved yet again he knows what to do with it.

Was there ever any doubt? Game, set, match.

Bleeding Links: Super Bowl Edition

Super Bowl XLVI is less than 24 hours away. Stories upon stories on the Giants, Patriots, and Big Game have been feature this week leading up to tomorrow evening. Below are links to the some of the best content around web surrounding the NFL's signature event.

1. Giants.com gaffe prematurely crowns G-Men as Super Bowl XLVI champions

2. Patriots release WR Underwood on the eve of Super Bowl

3. Giants' ability to 'Finish' has them on cusp of Super season

4. Missy Modell music video for the 'The G-Men Are Back Again'

5. Not to be outdone, Pats fans exclaim 'I Wanna Gronk'

6. Eli letting his play change outside perceptions

7. Giants' DEs bring the pressure

8. The mysterious role of Belichick's right hand man, Ernie Adams 

9. WFAN's Mike Francesa interviews Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin

10. Super Bowl XLVI match-up unlike any other history

Super Bowl XLVI Countdown Begins

The highly anticipated NFL Pro Bowl was played tonight. For those who care, the AFC was victorious. Football fans now only have one game left on the schedule to look forward to. Hardcore fans who still want to see more football after tonight can look forward to some game called the "Super Bowl" that is now less than a week away.

Until then, everyone has the pleasure to enjoy an overabundance of mostly worthless media coverage that surrounds America's marque sporting event. Next Sunday can't come soon enough.

In the meantime, here is an excellent NFL Films highlight package from Showtime's Inside The NFL of the New York Giants victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

Giant Run Propels Big Blue Back to Super Bowl

The New York Football Giants went 9-7 during the 2012 regular season....and now the G-Men find themselves in the Super Bowl. The Giants struggled with consistency all season on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the team could never find a running game while defensively a propensity to give up big plays plagued them. Only the thing the Giants could rely on was the right arm of Eli Manning and his big play receivers coming from behind and pulling games out in the 4th quarter.

After a four game losing streak in November most observers expected the Giants to continue a seemingly yearly late season collapse and fade into oblivion. Instead, with Eli leading the charge the rest of his teammates finally caught up and put things together in the nick of time. The running game improved and defensively this unit looks like an entirely different squad than the one that showed up earlier in the season. The Giants entered the playoffs peaking at the right time. The end result has been another magical run that has resulted in second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons and a rematch with the Patriots.

More analysis to follow. In the meantime, checkout the highlights from the Giants' triumphs in Green Bay and San Fransisco.

Giants - 37, Packers - 20

Giants - 20, 49ers - 17

Giant Run Erases Talk of "Coughlin Collapse"

Bleeding Sports resident General Manager Be Nasty has been a long time critic of New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and his coaching staff. Mr. Nasty like to make reference to the annual "Coughlin Collapse" where the Giants usually start the season off fast only to fall apart during the second half of the schedule.

Earlier in the season, the Bleeding Sports GM provided the below analysis to support his incessant clamoring for the franchise to making a coaching change.

NY Giants record under Coughlin - First half of season vs. second half:

2004 - Final record: 6-10
1st Half:  5-3
2nd Half: 1-7
* No playoffs

2005 - 11-5
6-2
5-3
* Lost to Panthers at home in Wild Card round of playoffs

2006 - 8-8
6-2
2-6
* Lost at Eagles in Wild Card game

2007 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
* Spags wins them the Super Bowl  
(Notice no credit given to Coughlin)

2008 - 12-4
7-1
5-3
* Lost 3 out of last 4
* Lost to Eagles at home in Divisional round

2009 - 8-8
5-3
3-5
* Started 5-0 then lost 4 straight
* Pathetic losses to Saints, Chargers, Broncos, Panthers, and Vikings
* Charger game was a Coughlin time management blunder as usual
* No playoffs

2010 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
"You can kiss my a$$!" ~ Coughlin Collapse
* No playoffs

This season the after another strong start (6-2), the #NYG didn't fair much better going 3-5 in their last 8 contest. The difference this year is the Giants won the games they had to have down the stretch. New York won three of their last four games including the two wins against Dallas to overtake the Cowboys as NFC East champions. There were certainly reasons to once again doubt the passion of Coughlin's squad after a horrible home loss to Washington. For all their faults, however, the Giants were able to rediscover its vaunted pass rush led by monster Jason Pierre Paul and develop a component running game to complement Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and company on offense just in the nick of time.

Mr. Nasty makes some valid points, but fails to give Coughlin credit for leading the Giants to a Super Bowl championship against in '07 and division titles in 2005, 2008, and this season. The Super Bowl victory against the previously unbeaten, "greatest team ever" New England Patriots was historic and capped off the most remarkable playoff run in NFL history. Even the most passionate Coughlin haters would be hard pressed to label that season as a collapse and while the defense led the way it was a team effort led by its head coach.

As for the 2011 season, while not pretty, the Giants made the playoffs a division champions. Coach Coughlin has emphasized that its all about getting into the tournament and giving yourself a chance to win a championship. The Giants are playing their best football at the right time and how the team played two months ago is irrelevant. Right now the Giants have won 3 must-win games in a row and coming off their most complete performance of the season. There is no reason to believe the Giants can’t win come Sunday in Green Bay. If Tom Coughlin and his team can win its fourth straight game nobody will remember the Giants finished the regular season at 9-7. All the media and fans will be concerned with is how Big Blue would be just one game away from its second Super Bowl appearance of the Coughlin era.

Bye Bye Tom Bye Bye

Get your trash together because Tom Coughlin is going to get canned

The Talented Mr. Hamilton

Josh Hamilton started the 2010 Major League Baseball season slowly hitting for a decent average, but lacking in the power and run producing departments. The 2008 AL RBI leader had been overshadowed by new teammate Vladamir Guerrero and outfield buddy Nelson Cruz. All that has changed thanks to Hamilton's torrid June where the Texas slugger is batting .476 with 8 HRs and 26 RBIs to go along with a current 17 game hitting streak. This current exhibition has catapulted Hamilton back into spotlight among baseball followers and will now likely find himself once again starting in the outfield at the All-Star Game in Anaheim come July.

Make no mistake, Hamilton is the centerpiece of the Texas line-up and been the catalyst for the Rangers' current 9 game winning streak. After coming out of nowhere in 2008, Hamilton struggled through nagging injuries all of last season and again early on this year. His offensive outburst has silenced any naysayers who believed that his 2008 breakout season was a fluke. Hamilton's story is well documented, but still no less amazing. He continues to defy the odds and mesmerize fans with his all-around play. Despite everything he has battled through, the 29 year old Hamilton has performed at such a high level it is hard to argue against him as being one of the most gifted players in the game today. The financially strapped Rangers will need to rely on Hamilton to continue being one of the most dominant hitters at the plate if they hope to be playing in October.