On Sunday, the New England Patriots scored a flawless 21-12 semi-final victory over the San Diego Chargers, that sent them to the final game of the National Football League (NFL) season.

The Patriots will meet the upstart New York Giants on February 3 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The New York Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers in overtime 23-20 on Sunday to reach the Super Bowl.

The Giants gave the mighty Patriots perhaps their biggest scare in the final game of the regular season. New England trailed by 12 points but roared back to win 38-35, becoming the first undefeated team since the NFL expanded to a 16-game season in 1978.

Since losing to New England on December 29, the Giants, a wild- card entry that could not even win their own NFC East division after starting the season 0-2, have stayed alive with three playoff victories.

Quarterback Eli Manning, the son and brother of NFL quarterbacks, was a pedigreed and highly sought after college player who was increasingly criticized in New York for inconsistent play in his fourth professional season. But his playoff leadership has been a breakthrough.

A year after his brother Peyton led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory, Eli Manning will have the chance to put a second consecutive piece of championship hardware in the family trophy case.

The Super Bowl hype for the next two weeks is sure to focus on the quarterbacks, with Manning facing comparisons with New England quarterback Tom Brady, field general of the record-setting Patriots offence.

Brady was not as sharp as usual Sunday against the San Diego defence, which kept the Chargers in the game until the fourth quarter.

"Tom Brady can't throw for 400 yards for each and every week,'' Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said, absolving New England's offense of its less-than-overwhelming showing. "For our defense to get the red zone finally corrected for once, it felt pretty good because that's a point of emphasis that's so important."

The Chargers came into Sunday's game beset by injuries, with their own quarterback Philip Rivers hobbled by a serious knee injury and his top receiving target, tight end Antonio Gates, struggling with a dislocated big toe. Most importantly, San Diego got only two plays from injured running back LaDainian Tomlinson, NFL's most dynamic offensive threat.

"I think there will be a time and a place to sit back and reflect on it, but right now I'm just proud of our team for winning this game and having a chance to go play for the NFL title," said Bill Belichick, New England Patriots’ coach.