NFL Playoffs: Why the New York Giants Are on a Super Bowl Run Similar to 2007

Not too many people were giving the Giants a chance to beat the Packers on Sunday.

The same Green Bay Packers who were 15-1, including 8-0 at Lambeau Field in 2011 and the defending Super Bowl Champions.

And the same Packers who defeated the Giants 38-35 back on December 4 at MetLife Stadium.

It's the same people that made the Giants an eight-point underdog and didn't give them a chance to survive the frozen tundra of Green Bay.

Shame on those people who doubt Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin, because they went into Lambeau Field and from start to finish beat the Green Bay Packers 37-20, knocked off the champions and will advance to the NFC Championship Game.

In one week, the Giants will travel to Candlestick Park and face the San Francisco 49ers, and the winner will earn a trip to Indianapolis and Super Bowl XLVI.

Three days ago, I made a bold prediction that the Giants would beat the Packers. I actually said the Giants would win 42-35. (I guess I gave Green Bay too many points.)

Now, I'm going to make another bold prediction: The Giants are going to make another Super Bowl run.

That's right. I am picking the Giants to win next week against the 49ers and move on to the Super Bowl and win, just like they did in 2007.

Why? Because the 2007 and 2011 seasons are shaping up to be very similar.

And now, the explanation of the Giants' potential run to Indianapolis.

The Defense Is Making Plays

The week before, the Giants defense held the Atlanta Falcons to 247 total yards, two sacks of Matt Ryan and no points scored (the safety was not against the defense).

This week was even more impressive against the champions.

The Giants forced four turnovers against Green Bay, two of which were made by Aaron Rodgers, and they sacked him four times.

A crucial turnover was Packers running back Ryan Grant fumbling the ball, which was brought back by Chase Blackburn all the way to the Packers' 4-yard line, setting up an Eli Manning-to-Mario Manningham touchdown that made it 30-13.

The Packers did gain a total of 388 yards, but only had 20 points total. This is a team that averaged 35 points per game in 2011.

Rodgers was also held to 264 yards and two touchdowns and none of his receivers had more than 45 yards receiving (Donald Driver was the leading receiver with 45 yards).

The Giants defense is playing at a championship level. They're bringing pressure, they're causing havoc and they are getting turnovers.

Good defensive play wins championships. The 2007 team got that pressure against quarterbacks like Tony Romo, Brett Favre and Tom Brady.

Thus far, they've done so against Ryan and Rodgers and will likely continue against Alex Smith.

The Running Game Is Doing the Job

One of the biggest keys to 2007 was establishing the running game with Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. At the time, Derrick Ward was placed on the injured reserve, so it was up to them.

Sharing the load, they got the job done.

Four years later, they are sharing the responsibilities again, and it's working.

Against the Falcons, Jacobs had 92 yards rushing and eight yards receiving while Bradshaw had 63 yards rushing and 22 yards receiving.

Against the Packers, Bradshaw had 63 yards rushing and 21 yards receiving. Jacobs only rushed for 21 yards, but he did score a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that sealed the game at 37-20 with 2:36 to go.

The Giants have been relying on the passing game a lot in 2011, but they aren't just a one-dimensional team.

Because they are mixing in the run, it makes Eli Manning passing the ball that more effective, just like it did four years ago en route to Super Bowl XLII.

Hakeem Nicks Asks, "Plaxico Who?"

In the 2007 playoff run, Eli Manning relied heavily on Plaxico Burress.

Plaxico Burress dominated the Packers in the NFC Championship Game and made the winning catch in the Super Bowl against the Patriots.

Hakeem Nicks is making Burress a very distant memory.

Against Atlanta, Nicks caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Both of Nicks' touchdowns were from four yards and 72 yards.

Against Green Bay, Nicks put on a show, catching seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Nicks caught a 66-yard touchdown pass that put the Giants ahead 10-3 and then caught a 37-yard pass to end the first half with the score at 20-10.

What made the second touchdown so spectacular was that Eli Manning threw up a Hail Mary into the end zone and Nicks leaped over several Packers defenders and hauled in the touchdown catch.

When the Giants drafted Nicks in the 2009 NFL Draft, we all had an idea what kind of star Nicks could be. But each year, he just keeps getting better and better.

In the 2011 NFL Playoffs, we are seeing Nicks transcend into a star for the Giants. It definitely helps that Victor Cruz is also developing into a star too.

And when they try to stop and double cover Cruz, just like the Falcons did, it tends to leave Nicks open, which is a huge mistake to make.

Eli Manning Is Once Again Playing Elite

Anyone who wants to question whether Eli Manning is an elite quarterback may need to have their head examined.

Against the Falcons, Manning was 23-for-32 for 277 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

Against the Packers, Manning was 21-for-33 with 330 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Six touchdowns with one one pick has equaled to two victories in the playoffs for the Giants.

If the Giants are going to have any success in the playoffs, it's because Manning is playing at an elite level.

We all remember Eli's first playoff game back in 2005 against the Panthers: 10-for-18 with 113 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. They lost 23-0. Or, the 2008 playoffs against the Eagles: 15-for-29 with 169 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. They lost 23-11.

When Eli plays bad in the postseason, generally, the Giants lose.

Now let's look at 2007.

Against the Buccaneers: 20-for-27, 185 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. They won 24-14.

Against the Cowboys: 12-for-18, 163 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. They won 21-17.

Against the Packers: 21-for-40, 251 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. They won 23-20.

Against the Patriots: 19-for-34, 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. They won 17-14.

Notice a trend?

When Eli plays well, the Giants tend to win. Just as is the case in the 2011 playoffs.

The Road to the Super Bowl

The playoff brackets from 2007 and 2011 are just too similar for me to ignore.

In 2007, the Giants were the No. 5 seed at 10-6 and defeated the No. 4 seed Buccaneers.

Then, they traveled to Texas Stadium and knocked off the No. 1 seed Cowboys, a team that beat them twice in the regular season.

Then, they defeated the No. 2 seed Packers at Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship, another team that beat them in Week 2 of the regular season.

And then yes, they defeated the 18-0 Patriots 17-14 to win Super Bowl XLII.

Fast forward four years later.

The No. 4 seeded Giants who were 9-7 defeated the No. 5 seeded Falcons.

Then, they just traveled to Lambeau Field and knocked off the 15-1 Packers, a team that beat them in Week 13.

Next week, they are going to travel back to Candlestick Park to play the No. 2 seed 49ers, a team they played in Week 10 and lost to.

A team I think the Giants will get revenge against in the NFC Championship and move on to the Super Bowl.

And there's a decent chance the Giants could be playing the Patriots in a rematch from four years ago. (Or the Ravens from 11 years ago.)

Coincidence? Or a 2007-like run?

The Bottom Line: The Giants Are the Hottest Team in the NFL

In 2007, the Giants lost to the Redskins 22-10 in Week 15 at Giants Stadium.

They then defeated the Buffalo Bills 38-21 to clinch their playoff spot, and then lost to the Patriots 38-35 (but it was a game that the Giants fought New England tooth and nail for).

Following that, the Giants then defeated the Buccaneers, Cowboys, Packers and then the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

They got hot at the right time.

Now fast forward four years later.

In 2011, the Giants again lost to the Redskins 23-10 in Week 15 at MetLife Stadium.

They then defeated the Jets 29-14 in Week 16 and the Cowboys 31-14 in Week 17 to clinch the NFC East and a playoff spot.

Following that, they defeated the Falcons 24-2 and the Packers 37-20. And next up is the 49ers.

Right now, the Giants have won four in a row and are the league's hottest team.

And in the end, it's not always the best team, like the Packers or Patriots, who wins the Super Bowl, but the hottest team, like the Giants in 2007.

And I am predicting the Giants will do so again in 2011.

The road to Indianapolis continues. Enjoy the ride.