You've no doubt heard how the Giants' surprising playoff run has been mostly credited to QB Eli Manning, who has been turnover-free in the postseason.
But cornerback Corey Webster might well be the biggest reason New York is in Super Bowl XLII to face the heavily favored New England Patriots - who are -12 (53.5) on WagerWeb.com.
Webster, a 2005 second-round pick out of LSU, began the season as a starter but was eventually demoted to nickel cornerback, then to the bench, then to watching in street clothes.
However, with starter Kevin Dockery hurt, Webster climbed back into the cornerback rotation against the Bills in Week 16. And all Webster did was return an interception for a touchdown in that 38-21 win over Buffalo, which clinched a playoff spot for New York.
Then, when cornerback Sam Madison was injured in Week 17 against the Patriots, Webster became a starter. And in the playoff opener in Tampa, he had an interception as well as a fumble recovery on special teams. He held Bucs No. 1 receiver Joey Galloway to one catch for 9 yards.
In the playoff win against Dallas, Webster helped slow Terrell Owens to four catches for 49 yards.
The capper came in the NFC title game, when Webster picked off Brett Favre on the second play of OT, setting up the game-winning field goal. That was his third pick in five games after having only one in his first 39 NFL games.
"What he's done in the last few weeks, after all he's gone through, it's amazing," Madison said. "All the things we've all worked on this season ... He's always had the talent. He just finally pulled it out.""It's a pretty great feeling, after all the ups and downs," Webster said after the Green Bay win. "Through the whole season, there were some tough times. But it feels great now."
Now Webster likely will get the primary task of covering Randy Moss, who only set the NFL record for touchdown catches in a season this year.
"It just takes confidence," linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "He got beat up for two years by our former defensive coordinator (Tim Lewis) and other people. He stayed strong. Everybody's been positive with him regardless of the circumstances. And I have to give my hat off to him."
GOOD TYNES: Apparently, it wasn't Giants coach Tom Coughlin's decision alone to attempt the game- inning field goal in overtime against the Packers in the NFC title game.
With the score tied Sunday night at Lambeau Field, Coughlin said he wasn't sure whether to go for it on fourth down at the Green Bay 29 or attempt to kick, so he looked to kicker Lawrence Tynes, who had missed two fourth-quarter field goals badly.
To Coughlin's surprise, he found Tynes not on the sideline but standing on the field, preparing for a 47- ard field-goal attempt. Tynes had not waited for Coughlin, or anyone else, to send him into the game.
He just ran onto the field. And when Coughlin saw that, he knew what to do.
"We don't do a lot of talking, anyway. But you could tell that he was very confident that he was going to make that kick. And when he started out on the field and that was the very strong impression that he made upon us, there was no question - OK, let's go make it," Coughlin said.
Tynes had acted so swiftly he left holder Jeff Feagles in the bench area, too."I saw Lawrence out there, and I was like, 'O.K., let's go,' " Feagles said. "You could see he was ready."
The rest, of course, is history.
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