LiveBlog: Giants-Packers, third quarter

Chris Littmann breaks down the ongoing action of the Giants-Packers NFC Championship Game:
Refresh for latest updates
End of the third quarter
Brett Favre makes a play that was foolish but ended harmlessly. His ill-advised deep ball into triple coverage goes past everyone, and Green Bay will start the fourth quarter with a third-and-10 from their own 49-yard line.
1:27
Ryan Grant breaks out for his longest run of the day -- 13 yards -- and the Packers are near midfield on what resembles their first sustained drive of the day, even if it is only two first downs.
And while we wait
AP moved a picture of some old, middle-aged shirtless men. Don’t worry, I won’t abuse our loyal readers with a picture like that.
The ruling on the field stands
And they celebrate it with another grab by Toomer that sets up a quick touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw. Make it one TD for each back today from the Giants. With the PAT, the Giants go ahead 20-17.
3:01
We have an Ahmad Bradshaw sighting, making back-to-back carries count for a first down. The run sets up a nice pass to Amani Toomer, but the Packers are challenging the play. Looks like a catch to me. We’ll wait and see, but really there ought to be some rule about challenges when we’re dealing with sub-zero temperatures.
5:00
Donald Lee made it close, but one play after the penalty, the Green Bay tight end narrowly gets his feet in bounds for a touchdown that gives the Packers the lead once again, 17-13. Sam Madison is doing his best to explain himself to his teammates, but he just cost them four points at the least.
5:15
Just a total lack of composure by Sam Madison. The personal foul after the whistle converts Green Bay’s fourth-and-short into a first down in the red zone.
7:43
Corey Webster stops Tramon Williams, saving a touchdown, but the Packers’ big kick return puts the ball at New York’s 39-yard line. Not a bad job by Williams, who is back there because Will Blackmon couldn’t go again today. Lucky for the Packers, the short field means they won’t have to put together much of a drive to put points on the board.
7:56
Back-to-back penalties have the Giants at the 1/4-yard line. Brandon Jacobs finishes the job by running through the middle and putting New York ahead, 13-10. By doing what the Chargers failed to do all day, the Giants take a lead on the road. The story of that drive is the four penalties committed by the Packers.
8:50
Near disaster for the Giants as Jacobs fumbles on third down, but Boss recovers the fumble and the Giants get a first-and-goal.
[img=http://i.tsn.com/i/photos/20080120/85864.jpg]
10:05
Al Harris, on most days, can really lock down his man, but Burress is abusing him. Burress has nine catches for 132 yards on the day. That’s in just a little more than a half of football. The timing that Manning has with Burress right now is splendid.
11:12
How about a little self-control from Nick Collins? The ball had already been deflected by the lineman and he absolutely drilled Eli Manning. That 15-yard penalty puts it at the Green Bay 32-yard line.
12:43
Once again, my guess was four flags between Harris and Burress. To be honest, I can’t believe there have only been two to this point. Just an absolute body slam before the interception. The illegal contact penalty gives the Giants a first down.
12:51 remaining
The second half starts the way the first end -- Plaxico Burress making another catch. The Giants’ receivers have a chance to make big plays in the second half, provided they can shake free of jams at the line of scrimmage. If not for a pass that comes up short, Steve Smith would’ve had six.
[img=http://i.tsn.com/i/photos/20080120/85863.jpg]
Weather update
Still cold. In other news, the lead story on the local broadcast here in Charlotte is the weather that is about 30 degrees warmer.↵