Giants send Green Bay packing

The New York Giants have stunned reigning Super Bowl champions the Green Bay Packers 37-20 in their NFL divisional playoff on Sunday.

Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes as the Giants sent the champions packing to set up an NFC Championship match with the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.

Manning, who threw 21/33 for 330 yards, hit Hakeem Nicks twice in the first half for touchdowns against a Green Bay side that could not rally in cold and blustery conditions at Lambeau Field, despite losing just once all season.

The Giants also avenged their home loss to the Packers this season and went into the half up 20-10, the first time Green Bay had trailed at half time at home all season.

Mason Crosby kicked a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter to haul the Packers within seven points but the Giants responded early in the fourth quarter with a 35-yard Lawrence Tynes’s field goal.

New York put the game beyond Green Bay’s reach with Manning’s four-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham, setting up an unassailable 30-13 lead, which sparked wild celebrations for the travelling Giants’ fans.

Last season’s Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers failed to inspire his team, completing 26 of 46 passes for 264 yards, and including a late interception which helped set up the Giants final touchdown.

Elsewhere, the Baltimore Ravens earned a date with the top-seeded New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game after a fine defensive display saw them defeat the Houston Texans 20-13.

The match was dominated by defence with neither quarterback – Baltimore’s Joe Flacco (14/27, 176yds) and Houston’s TJ Yates (17/35, 187yds) – able to get the passing games going.

Linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed came up with four turnovers and the Ravens were composed at the death in clinging to their 17-13 lead.

Baltimore had led 17-3 in the first quarter but a 33-yard field goal by Neil Rackers and a one-yard score off right tackle by Arian Foster late in the second period cut the Ravens’ lead to four points at the interval.

Late interceptions by Lardarius Webb and Reed in the final eight minutes preserved the home side’s advantage and their undefeated sequence at home, which included nine wins during the regular season.

Baltimore will now face New England for a place in the Super Bowl in Indianapolis on February 5.