GREEN BAY, Wis. — After the Giants’ stunning NFC Divisional upset of the top-seeded Packers, Osi Umenyiora was asked to take a reporter through his strip sack and forced fumble of Aaron Rodgers last night.
“What do you want me to take you through?” the defensive end said. “It’s what I do, man.”
Umenyiora did it again last night, part of what was a huge game for the elite pass rushing defensive end.
PHOTOS: GIANTS BEAT PACKERS, 37-20
In the Giants’ 37-20 Divisional romp over the Packers at Lambeau Field, Umenyiora racked up two of the Giants’ four sacks and delivered his enormous strip sack/forced fumble on a key third-quarter drive.
The Giants were up 20-10 at halftime, but the Packers began driving to start the third quarter. With 10:36 to go in the third, Green Bay had a first and 10 at the Giants’ 30, preparing to start the ninth play of its drive.
But Umenyiora moved past tackle Chad Clifton, then knocked the ball out of Rodgers’ hand at the 37-yard line as the Packers star was preparing to throw.
Deon Grant recovered the fumble, capping the huge play.
“It took points off the board,” Umenyiora said. “Any time you’re able to do that, it’s a plus.”
Umenyiora had to miss the first game against the Packers on Dec. 4 at MetLife Stadium, thanks to a sprained ankle that kept him out four games until the regular season finale against the Cowboys. He racked up two sacks that night as the Giants clinched the NFC East, added another sack last week against the Falcons in the wild-card round and then chipped in two more last night.
Five sacks in three must-win games.
“I don’t know [where I am physically]. I’m just riding, man,” Umenyiora said. “Whatever this team needs me to do, I’m gonna go out there and do. I can’t put a percentage on it because when I’m out there, I don’t really feel anything. But I know I’m gonna feel it [today] for sure.”
Umenyiora’s performance also helped his defensive line mate, Jason Pierre-Paul, successfully make good on his guarantee of a victory over the Packers.
Pierre-Paul, though, declined to guarantee a win over the 49ers in next week’s NFC Championship.
“I’m gonna just keep it because the media blows stuff up,” he said, chuckling. “No guarantees. We’re gonna go up there and do our job and hopefully we come out with a win.”