Giants fans went into a frenzy as their team beat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in overtime to reach Super Bowl XLVI — setting up an epic championship encore with the hated New England Patriots.
“Super Bowl, baby!” cheered Drew Miller, 33, of Manhattan, who was surrounded by hundreds of fellow fanatics at Legends Sports Bar on West 33rd Street.
Miller, whose pals were decked out in quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Victor Cruz jerseys, said history will repeat itself against the Patriots, whose perfect season was ruined when Big Blue beat them in Super Bowl XLII in 2008.
The Giants won the NFC title game when kicker Lawrence Tynes made a 31-yard field goal — just like he did in 2008, when Big Blue defeated the Packers to reach the Super Bowl.
“It was the same feeling in 2008 except now it’s even more euphoric,” said Mike Quinn, 40, from Connecticut.
Sunday’s massive victory was essentially clinched after San Francisco 49er Kyle Williams made a costly fumble on a punt.
“That fumble was a game changer,” said Pierre Watiez, of Manhattan. “We’re gonna win the Super Bowl because of that!”
The crowd at Legends, which packed all three levels with seas of blue jerseys, was clinking beers after every Giants first down and broke out of chants of “Let’s Go Giants!” after every big play of the drama-filled seesaw game.
They also roared “Cruuuuzz” after every one of the star receiver’s 10 catches.
“Cruz is unstoppable!” said Liz Deveny, 28, of Williamsburg.
And for fans who made the trek out west to see the game in California, even the miserable weather conditions couldn’t ruin the game’s perfect ending.
“I got soaked out here, but its worth it,” said Jenny Salcido, 20, from Plainfield, NJ.
“I needed to be here to see us win this one on the way to another championship,” Salcido said.
The crowd at Candlestick Park was packed with Giants faithful who braved the constant rain, howling winds and chilly temperatures in the 40s.
“This is just a beautiful thing,” said Brian Smythe, 43, of Forest Hills. “This trip was worth every penny. There’s something special about this crew, and Eli is going to bring home another one.”
Rob Cohen, who traveled from Albany, said, “This was just an epic game. We never game up and just gritted it out.”
Michael Fitzmaurice, 51, from Riverhead, LI, boasted,“Big Blue can’t be stopped.”
“We’re the road warriors baby! We did it in Lambeau, We did it in San Fran, and we’re going to do it in Indianapolis,” he cheered.
Any fans looking to make the trip to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, will have to dig deep in their pockets.
The average ticket price is $3,679, with the cheapest ducat coming in at $2,247.
The most expensive seat is $17,048, while a suite is still available for over $1.1 million.
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