Lawrence Tynes hit a 31-yard field goal with 7:10 remaining in overtime to send the New York Giants to their fifth Super Bowl with a 20-17 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday evening at Candlestick Park. The Giants will face a familiar foe, the New England Patriots in the 2012 Super Bowl Feb. 5 in Indianapolis. The Giants and Patriots met four years ago with the Giants winning 17-14, the last time either franchise reached the Super Bowl.
The Giants winning score was set up when Jacquian Williams of the Giants stripped San Francisco punt returner Kyle Williams and Devin Thomas recovered the ball at the San Francisco 24. The Giants moved the ball to the San Francisco eight-yard line, then a delay of game penalty moved the ball back to the 13 before Tynes winning kick.
The Giants took advantage of two critical mistakes by Kyle Williams. The San Francisco punt returner also had a punt bounce off his knee that was also recovered by Thomas, setting up a fourth-quarter touchdown pass of 17 yards from Eli Manning to Mario Manningham.
"We just kept plugging away," said Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. "This team has the most perseverance of any team I've ever been on."
Manning finished 32-of-58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
— See Big Blue View to celebrate with Giants fans