GREEN BAY, Wis. — A simple ‘‘shake route’’ will be tough for Brett Favre to shake off.
On the second play of overtime in last night’s NFC Championship game, the Packers’ legendary quarterback threw his second interception against the Giants, and Corey Webster’s pick set up Lawrence Tynes’s winning 47-yard field goal.
‘‘I just didn’t throw it outside enough,’’ Favre said. ‘‘It was what we call a shake route. Donald [Driver] had slipped him more like an out route, which was fine. I just didn’t get it out far enough. It’s too bad.
‘‘It’s very disappointing. We had numerous opportunities [last night], numerous opportunities this year. Everything seemed to fall in line for us. I give the Giants a lot of credit. They played great, not only [last night] but the latter part of the year, going on the road and they won some games that no one gave them a chance.’’
Asked about retirement, Favre said: ‘‘I don’t know. Had we won this game and gone to the Super Bowl and whatever happens in that game, when it was over, I was going to go home and think about where I wanted to go from there. I don’t think that’s going to really change because we didn’t make it.
‘‘It’s been a great year. I’m very disappointed. I’m not going to rush to any quick decisions. It will probably be quicker than it has been in the past. I’m not going to let this game sway my decision one way or the other.’’
Favre fell to 12-10 all time in the playoffs. Green Bay was 13-5 in the postseason before Favre arrived in 1992.
Third time was charmed
Although Tynes already had misfired on two chances to win the game, including on the final play of regulation, Giants veteran defensive end Michael Strahan had a good feeling in overtime.
‘‘I felt confident,’’ Strahan said. ‘‘To be honest with you, the first one I didn’t feel as confident. The snap was a little high on the first one, too.
‘‘This is very satisfying. The most satisfying thing would be to win the big one, but this is great. I had a lot of guys coming up to me and telling me how much I deserve this but I am happier for them because they deserve it more.’’
Reflection, admiration
The Giants are looking forward to meeting the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. New York gave New England a handful in Week 17 at Giants Stadium, blowing a late lead in a 38-35 loss.
‘‘I can’t say enough good things about them,’’ running back Brandon Jacobs said. ‘‘But we bring it on, we go out and play hard.
‘‘We were playing in [cold] weather you don’t even hear about, but we’re road warriors. We win ugly but we get it done.’’
Chilling out
Dew points were more of a concern than extra points before the Giants’ 23-20 win over Green Bay. At kickoff, the temperature was minus-1 degree (minus-17 windchill factor).
It was the third-coldest playoff game in NFL history.
The 1967 NFL Championship game — better known as the Ice Bowl, against Dallas — was the Packers’ coldest home game, at minus-13 degrees with a windchill of minus-46.
Starr’s turn
Bart Starr, who quarterbacked five championship teams with the Packers, arrived from his Alabama home to act as honorary captain. Starr told the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel he considered the Patriots among the best-ever NFL teams, ‘‘because of their record. They deserve all the praise they receive because they’ve earned it. That has to be tough. Again, when you’re in that position everyone wants a little piece of you. Everyone is trying to knock you off.’’ . . . The loss was just the Packers’ third in 18 home playoff games. Only the Patriots (11-1) have a better winning percentage among teams with a minimum of 10 games played . . . Packers coach Mike McCarthy reportedly has agreed to a five-year contract extension that could be worth $4 million annually, doubling his current salary. Since succeeding Mike Sherman two years ago, McCarthy has a 22-12 record, including the playoffs . . . Veteran cornerback Sam Madison was in the Giants’ starting lineup after missing playoff wins over Tampa Bay and Dallas with an abdominal injury sustained in the regular-season finale . . . Former Boston College cornerback Will Blackmon (foot) was inactive for the Packers.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
