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Championship Games
Giants, Ravens show that defense does win championships
Posted: Monday January 15, 2001 1:07 AM
Updated: Monday January 15, 2001 1:32 AM
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Jim Fassel hopes to make the Giants 3-0 in Super Bowls at the site of the Giants' last championship 10 years ago. AP |
By Jon A. Dolezar, CNNSI.com
It's not the marquee matchup that most people hoped for, but fans of defense will have sugar plums dancing in their heads for the next two weeks.
The Baltimore Ravens won their first Lamar Hunt Trophy as AFC champs by holding the host Oakland Raiders to 191 yards of total offense and only three points. Baltimore has surrendered a mere 16 points in its three playoff games, while its "disappointing" offense actually has managed to tally 61 points.
In the NFC, the New York Giants won their third George Halas Trophy, and if the past is any indication, a Vince Lombardi Trophy won't be far behind. Both time the Giants have made it to the Super Bowl, they have won, beating the Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena, Calif., and the Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, Fla.
Here is the complete rundown of Championship Game weekend action:
| NFL Conference Championship Games Recap |
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| Giants 41 (14-4), Vikings 0 (12-6) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
404: Yards by which the Giants (518) outgained the Vikings (114). |
| Player of the Game |
| Kerry Collins, QB, New York: Picked a great time to have the game of his life, completing 28 of 39 for 381 yards and five touchdowns, tying Sid Luckman's 57-year old record for most touchdown passes in an NFC/NFL Championship Game. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The New York Giants stole the Minnesota Vikings' offense and their thunder. For a running team, the Giants sure threw the ball in impressive fashion. New York shocked Minnesota by coming out and passing the ball all over the field in the first half to open up a 34-0 halftime lead, holding on for the first shutout win against Dennis Green during his tenure in the Twin Cities. New York established the momentum quickly with two touchdown passes in the first 2:13, and didn't let their foot off Minnesota's neck until Collins' touchdown pass to Amani Toomer 2:54 into the second half put the Giants up 41-0. Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper was confused by Giants defensive coordinator John Fox's clever schemes, completing only 13 of 28 for 78 yards and three interceptions, in a poor ending to an otherwise spectacular season. The entire Giants defense deserves kudos, but linebackers Micheal Barrow and Jessie Armstead combined for 14 tackles and two sacks. |
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| Ravens 16 (15-4), Raiders 3 (13-5) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
24: Rushing yards by the Raiders, who came into the game averaging a league-best 154.4 yards per game on the ground. |
| Player of the Game |
| Jamie Sharper, LB, Baltimore: Playing in the shadow of more heralded teammates Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware, Sharper stepped up with nine tackles and two sacks to lead another dominating defensive performance by the Ravens. |
CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| A sloppy AFC Championship Game turned on basically one play, as Shannon Sharpe's record-setting 96-yard touchdown reception provided the boost the Ravens needed. The teams combined for 15 penalties, seven turnovers and six sacks. It was over for Oakland when quarterback Rich Gannon got squished by mammoth Ravens defensive tackle Tony Siragusa. Raiders backup Bobby Hoying was ineffective after replacing Gannon, completing only 8 of 16 for 107 and two interceptions. It also doesn't bode well that Hoying was the Raiders' leading rusher with 13 yards on three carries. Baltimore's aggressive defensive scheme held Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley to seven yards on 12 carries, and limited Oakland to an average of only 1.4 yards per carry. |
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