We figured a battle between the Packers and Cowboys would settle the NFC argument. The New York Giants dump both teams in successive weeks. In one that supposes they know everything, the Wild Card case often confirms the very nature of doubt. Go to warm Tampa Bay, weird-hole-in-dome Dallas and then -135 degree Green Bay and you're rewarded with a Super Bowl that has the New England Patriots winning by 65. None of this was expected. Each week, a majority thought the Giants opponents would win. And why not? More is promoted about this team's vulnerabilities than their strengths. Welcome to "Sports Talk."

The intriguing story is the Giants and Patriots re-match from week 17. The Patriots needed 15 fourth-quarter points just to win by three. The Giants were winning at half-time, 21-16. They were winning after the third quarter, 28-23. In the fourth quarter, the Giants went three-and-out. Eli Manning threw a pick to Ellis Hobbs. After Lawrence Maroney scored on a five-yard touchdown, the Patriots' led 38-28 with over four minutes to go. To his credit, Eli Manning took the Giants 68 yards completing a three-yard touchdown to Plaxico Burress for his fourth touchdown pass of the night. The on-side failed and Tom Brady took three knees. It wasn't like the luck-saved-our-ass Baltimore Ravens game. The win over the Giants was well worth the cost of admission.

It's good to know that the Giants nearly had their number forcing a successful conclusion that the Super Bowl will be just as entertaining. That is, if you believe in such things, that the Giants already showed their hand and the Meglo-Super-Genius Bill Belichick hasn't already devised a plan that will shatter every known Physics theory ever. The contemporary religious argument is that he'll find ample evidence that God (a.k.a., Brian Billick) doesn't exist.

I've already figured that most people don't want a Giants-Patriots game. Because what people want really matters in the scope in all things football, the argument is laid out. What's the point? There isn't any. It's fodder for a city that's long lost their playoff ambition (i.e., Bengals). And you knew that the Kelley Washington sighting would have everyone wondering if letting him go was the right move. Or wondering why the Bengals didn't have Washington become the best dag-um special teams player ever. Other than dancing, the guy was never worth the argument. Sunday's slap of the ball at the one-yard line included.