Third Tynes the charm: Giants' kicker redeems himself, sends New York to Super Bowl
The x-factor Sunday for the Giants was ... Lawrence Tynes?
Yes indeed.
Lawrence James Henry Tynes, a 29-year-old Troy alum, proved to be the difference against the Green Bay Packers during the NFC Championship game on Sunday night.
After badly shanking a potential 36-yard game-winning field goal with four seconds left in regulation (to be fair, it was a high snap), Tynes, a native of Scotland, drilled a 47-yard attempt in overtime to make amends and grant the Giants access to the Super Bowl.
But, like many kickers in the NFL, he had help.
In one corner, he had a suddenly matured Eli Manning directing New York up the field. Shaking off the inconsistency which had defined his career up to this point, Manning’s accuracy and poise in the pocket got Tynes within conceivable kicking range.
In the other, he had Brett Farve.
The Packers gunslinger had momentum seemingly behind him.
Green Bay had just won the coin toss in overtime and were looking to drive the distance of the field to give the Pack a berth into the Big Dance.
That all ended when his throw landed in the hands of Giants cornerback Corey Webster. The INT would ultimately set up the game-winning boot by Tynes.
Farve’s performance throughout the contest was quite uncharacteristic of the 38-year-old signal caller.
It was highly publicized even before the game that the cold elements of Wisconsin belonged to the 17-year veteran.
The frozen tundra of Lambeau Field — which was so kinds to Favre throughout his decorated career — was suddenly an unforgiving adversary.
He struggled in the minus-3 degree temperature and finished 19-for-35 with both a pair of touchdowns and interceptions.
From the get-go, the Giants were the team that wanted the win the most.
Manning and wide receiver Plaxico Burress picked the once stout Packers defense apart while the Giants defense grinded the Green Bay offense to a halt.
Even though the G-Men were unable to get into the endzone, Tynes drilled two field goals before Favre found wide receiver Donald Driver streaking past Giants’ defenders for a Green Bay touchdown.
The window of hope that shined over Lambeau Field when Tynes missed the game-winner in regulation was abruptly shut when Favre miss fired in overtime.
It was eventually shattered when Tynes (who finished 3-for-5) nailed the kick that sent New York to Arizona for a showdown with the New England Patriots on Feb. 3.