Lessons from recent National Football League campaigns have the New York Giants hoping that history will repeat as they prepare to face Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers in the playoffs on Sunday.
The New Yorkers, coming off their best game of the season, a 24-2 drubbing of the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of playoffs, could be peaking at the right time, just as they did in the 2007 season when they won the Super Bowl in February 2008.
Coach Tom Coughlin, whose team won their last two games to qualify for the playoffs as a wildcard, said he felt echoes of that magical season.
«I am enjoying this group and I am enjoying those similarities,» Coughlin told reporters. «There are some and if we can get on a roll and play our best football right now, then yes.
«We are playing a little more like Giant football right now … good defense, not turn the ball over, rush the ball and have some patience about it and that is the direction we are in right now.»
The Giants, hit hard by injuries before and during the season, could also look to Green Bay for inspiration.
Last season, the Packers overcame early season injury woes to get their game in high gear behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers and overtake the Giants to reach the postseason as a wildcard.
Rodgers then led Green Bay on a charge through the playoffs to bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to Lambeau Field, where the famed coach won his championships.
Oddly, a pair of defeats also gave symbolic comfort to positive thinkers in the Giants camp.
The Giants, with nothing to gain in playoff seedings in the final regular season game of 2007, played all-out to try and derail the New England Patriots’ bid for a 16-0 record.
New York came up just short, losing 38-35, but the tilt made the Giants feel they were a match for anyone, and they proved it by beating the Patriots in a Super Bowl thriller.
This season, the 11-0 Packers visited the Giants and handed them a fourth straight defeat by the identical 38-35 score, but playing Green Bay so close seemed to boost Giant confidence.
New York went on to win four of their last five games.
«We played right with them to the end,» Eli Manning said about the Packers. «There are a few things we can do better to give us a shot to win. Our play is at an all-time high for the season. That’s the most important thing. The defense is playing outstanding.»
The Giants also can look back on beating the Packers in Green Bay for the NFC title in overtime during their 2007 Super Bowl run, though that team had Brett Favre at quarterback.
Rodgers this season set a record for best quarterback rating in leading Green Bay to most points scored in the NFL.
«Aaron’s had a year this year that’s going to rival just about any year a quarterback can put up,» said defensive end Justin Tuck.
«He’s played completely lights out. We know that the Packers are the number one seed for a reason. 15-1, playing in Lambeau Field.
«I feel as though we’ll be ready for the task.»
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