NFL Playoffs 2012: Eli Manning and Giants Are Destined to Hoist Lombardi

Lost among the Tim Tebow hoopla and records being shattered by Drew Brees was the fairytale unfolding around the NY Giants. Eli Manning is this season's man of destiny, and he will prove it with a Super Bowl MVP performance. 

If you are a fan of poignant moments and things that come full circle, you have been looking in the wrong places. 

The season started with Peyton Manning bringing a pall over the Indianapolis area due to a serious neck injury. It will end with a Manning hoisting the most coveted prize in football in the stadium that was starved of celebration this year. 

Forget Tim Tebow, a quarterback that many felt wasn't given a fair shake this season. It's time to take notice of a quarterback that threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Yet, he performed under the shadow of Tebow hype, record-breaking performances by Drew Brees and the Packers that only faltered once during the regular season. 

However, none of those chumps were good enough to land here at conference championship week. The Giants are lead by a head coach that is forever on the hot seat and a defense that can't decide if it is more Patriots porous or Ravens stern. 

49ers' Challenge 

The best story in football has been glossed over, and it stops now. The Giants have an uphill battle against the 49ers, but this team is all about these types of challenges. 

If you think they will have issues with Alex Smith, consider that they tempered Aaron Rodgers to throwing 26-of-46 with an interception. The run game will be tough to stop, but the Giants have weapons of their own. 

The 49ers passing defense was middling this season. It will have to deal with an Eli Manning that is enjoying one of his best seasons and is coming off a game in which he threw for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

Super Bowl Destiny

What lies beyond the 49ers are two teams that couldn't be anymore different in strengths and weaknesses. 

The Giants are the team that would take both down with their balanced talents on both sides of the ball.

The Ravens defense is something to fear, but at some point, the real Joe Flacco will show up, and the Giants defense that swarmed the field and enveloped the pocket on Green Bay will welcome his presence. 

The Patriots may have Tom Brady, but they have the secondary of an Arena Football team. Defense may not be what wins championships now, but it will certainly keep you from it. You can't give up nearly 300 yards per game like the Pats do and expect greatness. 

The Giants may seem to have come out of nowhere, but that is only because we weren't paying much attention. Now that all the fluff is gone, we can finally see that the Giants were true contenders all along. 

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