NFL

Giants offensive line looking to rebound

Going over tape of a game that propelled your team into a Super Bowl is supposed to be easy on the eyes, but Chris Snee and his Giants offensive linemates did not like much of what they saw in the 20-17 overtime victory against the 49ers in the NFC Championship.

The line broke down more often than it had all season. Eli Manning was sacked six times and hit another 12 by a defensive front that got meaner and tougher as the game wore on.

“Not good,’’ said Snee, the starting right guard. “First thing I made sure he was OK after the game and then celebrated an NFC championship. It’s one of those things you’re happy you won but certainly not happy he got hit.’’

UPDATES FROM OUR GIANTS BLOG

COMPLETE GIANTS COVERAGE

Manning kept dragging himself to his feet after each assault but never got in the face of his linemen to insist they protect him so he could do his job.

“No, that’s not his style,’’ Snee said. “That’s just not the way Eli does it, which you can appreciate, because he could have easily gotten frustrated with us last week and looked for somebody to yell at. He just goes to the sidelines, checks out what they did and leaves the coaching to [offensive line coach] Pat Flaherty.

“He’s a tough guy. He’s taken some shots throughout the course of his career and I wish I could say he won’t take any more, but I’m sure he’ll take some more shots in the future years. He kept getting up. He never got discouraged with us … was very positive about the situation. I don’t know if I would have been if I got hit that much.’’

Manning afterward admitted he was glad he had extra time to rest up before hitting the field, but downplayed the beating he took.

“That’s the job of a quarterback,’’ he said. “When it’s a game, where first off, you’re going to throw it 58 times you’re going to take some more hits. That’s just part of the deal. Our guys protected well and did some good things. They had some coverage sacks and different things going on. As the quarterback, you have to stand in there. I didn’t feel like I was taking many big hits.”

You can bet the Patriots will study what the 49ers did and try to duplicate the pressure Manning had to endure.

“We watched that game tape and examined what they did to us with the movement up front,’’ Snee said, “and I’m sure New England will try to copy some of that stuff, so it’s something we have to correct going into this game.’’