Giants red hot, have a real shot

GREEN BAY, Wis.

And so this unlikely journey continues.

What began as a desperate attempt by a team barely clinging to playoff life at the end of the season suddenly has been transformed into a stunning and improbable march through the postseason.

The latest victim: the best team in football. On the road at historic Lambeau Field. Against the defending Super Bowl champions. Against the presumptive Most Valuable Player.

And against the odds again.

The ride continues for at least another week in San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, and maybe another two weeks after that. If these Giants make like their 1990 counterparts and beat the 49ers in San Francisco in football's penultimate game, it will be on to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl.

The Giants are the embodiment of the hot team, and their narrow escape from playoff extinction late in the season now has them one step away from a shot at their first title since an equally unexpected Super Bowl run after the 2007 season.

Their late-season renaissance in many ways started with a loss to the Packers at MetLife Stadium last month; that 38-35 thriller proved to the Giants that they could hang with the defending champs.

As long as they had Eli Manning, they had a chance. And once that defense finally righted itself after a series of second-half-of-the-season calamities, the exhilarating run-up to the playoffs included three wins in the next four weeks. And now back-to-back playoff wins over the Falcons and the Packers.

"I think we're a dangerous team," said Tom Coughlin, who has gone from the hot seat to a coach with a chance at a second ring. "I like where we are. I like our attitude. I like the way we're playing."

There is everything to like about the way the Giants are playing. Manning was terrific again, outdueling Aaron Rodgers. Manning threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, including one on a Hail Mary pass as time expired in the first half for a 20-10 Giants lead.

The Giants' defense made Rodgers look pedestrian in his first game back from his record-setting regular season. He set an NFL record with a 122.5 rating, but that number plummeted to 78.5 against a Giants defense that sacked him four times and held him to 264 yards, two TDs and an interception.

"We know we're a good football team and we're a great defense," said defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who had two sacks and a forced fumble. "We might not have shown it most of the regular season, but that doesn't matter. This is the postseason, and we're playing the way we're supposed to be playing right now. Hopefully, we'll keep it going and take this thing all the way."

The Giants have gotten hot at just the right time, and there might not be a more complete team among the final four vying for the Super Bowl.

They're playing tough and they're talking tough, backing up their strong words with even stronger performances. Another win Sunday, Justin Tuck?

"I'll answer this for you before you even ask it," the defensive end said. "Do we feel like we're going to win in San Francisco? Yes, we feel like we're going to win in San Francisco. Am I guaranteeing a win? No. But do we feel like we have an opportunity to win? I wouldn't board the plane if we didn't feel that way. We feel as though we play our style of football, we can beat any team."

No argument there. If the Giants keep playing like this Sunday, it's on to Indianapolis for a chance at winning it all.