BIG BLUE WINS TRIP TO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Manning & Co. out-fought, out-lasted and out-thought the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Irving.

Eli Manning hasn't looked this good his entire career. Meanwhile, I could have swore this Michael Strahan is the Michael Strahan of old during yesterday's game. Hey, the whole team showed up and put on an outstanding performance against the NFC's No. 1 seed. At the beginning of the season, the talk was if Head Coach Tom Coughlin was going to have a job at the end of the season, and here he is on centerstage.

Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers are having a remarkable year. Future Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre has alluded to the fact that they just find a way to win, during the regular season. Well, he's being a bit shy aboutt he fact that any team that has a Brett Favre is going to have a chance at greatness.

Personally, I have been a New England Patriots fan since 1975, when my Aunt Sue (who lived in Brunswick, Maine) used to tell me that being a Pats fan was a burden: "Do like me and just appreciate the hard work they put in during the week and enjoy going to the game." Well, Pats fans have learned to appreciate mroe than just a moral victory in recent years.

Is San Diego a good team -- absolutely. It's a great team with injured star quarterback, running back and wide receiver. The Bolts are going to face a relatively healthy undefeated Patriots team that isn't going to give it an inch. I expect a great fight from San Diego, but believe their season ends in Gillette Stadium this coming weekend.

My pick for the NFC match-up is more of a prayer than a prediction: The Giants beat the Pack in a sterling moment for Big Blue's D: 21-14 at Green Bay. Meanwhile, after a fierce physical game the Pats beat the Chargers, 35-28.

Click on the headline and go there.