Giants' Tynes remembers knocking Packers out with big kick

Published: Jan 13, 2012 at 05:01 AM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The last time Lawrence Tynes stepped onto the Lambeau Field tundra in a playoff game, he made the biggest kick of his life.

He wouldn't mind a reprise.

New York's placekicker hit a 47-yard field goal in overtime, lifting the wild-card Giants past the Green Bay Packers 23-20 for the NFC championship four years ago. Despite missing two field goals in the fourth quarter, including one from 36 yards on the final play of regulation, Tynes was so confident about the OT kick that he headed onto the field before coach Tom Coughlin called on him.

As the Giants prepare for Sunday's divisional-round playoff game with the Packers, Tynes chuckled while recalling the momentous kick.

"I had to make amends for two pretty poor kicks in the fourth quarter," he said, "so the fact that I wanted to keep my job, the fact that I wanted to continue playing in this league, I mean all of those things, I knew I had to go out there and make that kick."

He did, and made another in the Super Bowl, when New York stunned undefeated New England for the title. Even with some subsequent ups and downs, Tynes has remained the Giants' kicker, this season going 19 for 24 on field goals -- four of eight from beyond 40 yards -- and improving on kickoffs enough that four of his five went deep into the end zone in last week's wild-card win over Atlanta.

But it's that frozen football he sailed through the uprights on that frigid Sunday in January 2008 that people remember. Ahead of another visit to Green Bay, highlights of that field goal are making the rounds again.

Considering how prolific Green Bay's offense has been in a 15-1 season, the Giants figure to need lots of extra points, not field goals. Tynes made five PATS on Dec. 4, but the Packers won 38-35 at the Meadowlands.

The Giants will have to score points in key spots. Knowing they have a kicker who has done it for them should inspire some confidence.

"When you play this position, you have to have a short memory," said Tynes, an eight-year veteran, "and I just think that make or miss, you have to throw it away. I had made two earlier in the game, the conditions were miserable. Everything has to be perfect when you are playing in those types of conditions and the last snap was great, the hold was great and we made the kick.

"Well, if I can make a 47-yarder when it's minus-25, then we will be all right."

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