The Giants engineer the biggest rout in NFC championship history.
Kerry Collins ties an NFL championship game record with 5 touchdown passes.
Ike Hilliard caught 10 passes for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Daunte Culpepper was sacked a total of 4 times and intercepted 3 times.
Giants held the Vikings to 54 yards rushing.
Randy Moss had just 2 catches for 24 yards.
Cris Carter didn't make a catch until the 4th quarter.
Giants are on a seven-game winning streak.
The Giants are on their way to the Super Bowl.

The Giants gave the Vikings a lesson in football today.
"They sure did. It was an amazing game, and I'll never forget it. I still can't believe the score, and you can't imagine how it feels to see Lawrence Taylor on the field, even if he's just on the sidelines with our players. I guess they felt the same way, because they sure put out some effort."

You're talking really fast. I guess you had a great time.
"The effects of the game and the whole experience haven't worn off. The first quarter felt like an entire game. The Giants were awesome on offense, and Kerry Collins didn't have to run around like a Culpepper or McNabb. He used the great blocking they gave him, and his super arm instead, and he threw to everybody today. The opening drive ended with a touchdown pass to Hilliard, and on the kickoff, they fought the ball away from the Vikings. Before you knew it, Comella was coming down with a touchdown pass. It looked like he got one foot down and then his butt. We were laughing about it and now score was 14-0 just like that, and the game had just started. Everyone was loving it"

At that point the Vikings offense hadn't even stepped on the field.
"Right, we didn't know what to expect. The way all the press was going on about the Vikings, they would be expecting them to throw up some quick points, but our defense hadn't stepped on the field yet either. Culpepper started off right away with a first down pass to Moss with Sehorn covering, and I admit that didn't inspire much confidence. Smith ran for about six on the next play, but then our defense toughened. Smith got nothing on his next carry, the Vikings drew flags, and Moss got hurt on the play. He was quiet for the rest of the game. Jason played great on him, and Moss couldn't get open".

Carter didn't do much either.
"The defense totally shut down Moss and Carter. They gave Smith some yardage here and there, but that's all the Vikings got. Meanwhile they couldn't stop us. Collins was so hot they had to pull him out. Who would have thought that if Jason Garrett made an appearance in the playoff game, it would be a good thing. It was the best playing on offense and defense all season, and you know, it's great to be able to say that going into the Super Bowl."

Anything else?
"Yes, Wellington Mara's speech after the game was inspiring. Everyone went wild after he spoke. It's too bad they can't play the Super Bowl at Giants Stadium. All the fans deserve it, and today I feel like I love them all."

So the offense that couldn't score a touchdown last Sunday gets 5 today.
"I know. The offense was outscored by the defense and the special teams, and they turned four drives inside the Eagles 30-yard line into two fumbles and two field goals. They more than made up for it this week wouldn't you say?"

The Giants got no respect going into this game.
"Well they went out and took it and made some football history while doing so, showing Dennis Green his first shutout since becoming head coach of the Vikings. The Vikings must have felt ambushed. They never knew what hit them. They came to the sacred grounds of the Meadowlands and had to fight off not only the tough group of budding young players, but their ancestors as well.
It was truly inspirational of Fassel to have them come out to the Saturday practice and the game. It would seem that meeting the "elders" of the Giants did in fact have a great effect on the players, who really enjoyed the experience of having them there.

All the players, even the lesser known ones, seemed inspired.
"Yes, and here's a quick mention of some of the notables from today's game: Kerry Collins 28-39 for 381 yards, 5 TDs.
Ike Hilliard - 2 TDs. Greg Comella - TD, Amani Toomer - TD, Joe Jurevicius - TD.
Jason Sehorn, Emmanuel McDaniel, Sam Garnes - all had interceptions.
Shaun Williams caused a fumble. Lyle West, Cornelius Griffin - recovered fumbles.

So what did we learn today?
"The whole world learned that the Giants are a good team worthy of respect. Also that good defense stops good offense. Of course that's something everyone says they know, but tend to forget from time to time. The Ravens proved it once again when they won their AFC championship game over Oakland later on."

Any thoughts on the Super Bowl?
"Why not just wrap up with what Wellington Mara had to say after the game for now, which was:
'This team was referred to as the worst team ever to win the home-field advantage in the National Football League, and today, on our field of mud, we proved we're the worst team ever to win the NFC championship. In two weeks, we're going to try to become the worst team ever to win the Super Bowl.'.''

Stats

Passing
Giants - Kerry Collins 28-39 for 381 yards, 2 INT, 5 TD, Jason Garrett 1-1 for 4 yards, 0 INT, 0 TD.
Vikings - Daunte Culpepper 13-28 for 78 yards, 3 INT, 0 TD.

Rushing
Giants - Tiki Barber 12-69, Joe Montgomery 16-43, Ron Dayne 10-29, Jason Garrett 3-minus 3.
Vikings - Robert Smith 7-44, Daunte Culpepper 2-10.

Receiving
Giants - Ike Hilliard 10-155, Amani Toomer 6-88, Greg Comella 4-36, Tiki Barber 4-21, Ron Dixon 2-62, Joe Jurevicius 2-15, Ron Dayne 1-8.
Vikings - Cris Carter 3-24, Chris Walsh 3-23, Randy Moss 2-18, Robert Smith 2-minus 2, Johnny Mcwilliams 1-9, Andrew Jordan 1-4, Matthew Hatchette 1-2.

Kickoff Returns
N.Y. Giants - Damon Washington 1 for 16.
Vikings - Moe Williams 1 for 15, Troy Walters 7 for 116.

Punt Returns
Giants - Ike Hilliard 2 for 10.

Missed field goals
Giants - Brad Daluiso 43.

Interceptions
Giants - Jason Sehorn 1 for 0, Emmanuel McDaniel 1 for 0, Sam Garnes 1 for 13.
Vikings - Robert Tate 1 for 4, Don Morgan 1 for 0.

Fumbles lost
Vikings - Daunte Culpepper 1, Troy Walters 1.

Opponent's fumbles recovered
Giants - Lyle West, Cornelius Griffin.

Tackles-assists-sacks (unofficial)
Giants - Jessie Armstead 5-2-1, Michael Barrow 4-3-1, Sam Garnes 3-1-0, Keith Hamilton 2-1-0, Emmanuel Mcdaniel 2-0-0, Jason Sehorn 2-0-0, Michael Strahan 2-0-1, Dave Thomas 2-0-0, Shaun Williams 1-1-1, Ramos Mcdonald 1-1-0, Christian Peter 1-0-0.
Vikings - Robert Griffith 10-5-0, Kailee Wong 8-5-0, Ed Mcdaniel 6-4-0, Tyrone Carter 7-1-0, Fernando Smith 5-2-0, Robert Tate 5-1-0, Dwayne Rudd 4-2-0, Tony Williams 3-3-0, Roy Barker 3-3-0, Chris Hovan 3-3-0, Wasswa Serwanga 2-3-0, John Randle 3-0-0, John Burrough 2-0-0, Bryce Paup 1-0-1, Don Morgan 1-0-0.

Net yards rushing
Giants - 138
Vikings - 54

Net yards passing
Giants - 380
Vikings - 60

Time of Possession
Giants - 42:22
Vikings - 17:38

Scoring:

1ST QUARTER:
NYG - Ike Hilliard 46 Yard TD Pass from Kerry Collins (Brad Daluiso Extra Point), 13:03. N.Y. Giants 7-0.
NYG - Greg Comella 18 Yard TD Pass from Kerry Collins (Brad Daluiso Extra Point), 12:47. N.Y. Giants 14-0.
2ND QUARTER:
NYG - Brad Daluiso 21 Yard Field Goal, 14:56. N.Y. Giants 17-0.
NYG - Joe Jurevicius 8 Yard TD Pass from Kerry Collins (Brad Daluiso Extra Point), 10:24. N.Y. Giants 24-0.
NYG - Brad Daluiso 22 Yard Field Goal, 5:22. N.Y. Giants 27-0.
NYG - Ike Hilliard 7 Yard TD Pass from Kerry Collins (Brad Daluiso Extra Point), 0:12. N.Y. Giants 34-0.
3RD QUARTER:
NYG - Amani Toomer 7 Yard TD Pass from Kerry Collins (Brad Daluiso Extra Point), 12:06. N.Y. Giants 41-0.
4TH QUARTER:
NONE.

Notes

TEAM PLAYOFF RECORDS
34 first half points (tied) 518 total yards.
31 first downs.
19 first downs passing.
381 yards passing by Kerry Collins.
28 completions by Collins.
10 receptions by Ike Hilliard.
2 touchdown catches by Hilliard (tied).

Kerry Collins became the first quarterback since Sid Luckman in 1943 to throw 5 touchdowns in a championship game.

Randy Moss, who had 77 catches and led the league with 15 touchdown catches, this game had just 2 catches on 7 throws for 18 yards.

Last week the Vikings didn't allow a sack against the Saints, who led the league in sacks. This week, they gave up four.

This was the Vikings first shutout loss since Dennis Green became coach in 1992.

It was the Giants 7th straight victory since coach Fassel promised the team would make the playoffs.

Giants were the last team to post a shutout in a conference championship game, against the Washington Redskins, 17-0 in January 1987.

Giants have hosted the NFC championship game twice at Giants Stadium and posted shutouts each time. Last was a 17-0 shutout over the Redskins in the ‘86 season to reach the Super Bowl.

The 41-0 score was the second-largest margin of victory in Giants' postseason history, second only to the 49-3 victory over the 49ers in the ‘86 divisional round.

The Giants have gone to the Super Bowl twice before and won both times, 1987 and 1991.

The 79,310 announced attendance represented the largest crowd ever to see a Giants game at Giants Stadium.

Next Game
The Giants will play the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV on Jan 28, 6:00 p.m. CBS.

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