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| The Packers outlasted the Giants in a week 13 tilt in New York. |
The Green Bay Packers walked into New York in week 13 boasting a league best 11 - 0 record and beginning to hear the realistic chatter of a perfect season. The Giants had sputtered in recent weeks losing 3 straight and getting absolutely embarrassed on MNF against the Saints the previous week. This one looked like it was setting up to be a route. Enter reality.
Eli Manning threw a 2 yard TD pass with 58 seconds left and DJ Ware ran in a 2-point convert to tie the mighty Packers at 35. With the home crowd in a frenzy the GMen sent there vaunted defense onto the field to try and send the game into OT. Enter Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers led a drive that consumed the last 58 seconds and ended with a Mason Crosby 31 yard field goal to give the Packers a 38 - 35 victory and continue the undefeated season. The drive looked effortless, like flipping a switch. No problem, the Giants have seen this story before. Tom Coughlin and company used this game as motivation and reeled off 3 of 4 wins to end the season, including taking both with division rival Dallas to win the NFC East. They suffocated Matt Ryan and the Falcons last week throwing up a goose egg on the defensive side of the ball. Remind anyone of a certain Super Bowl run a few years ago?
Only a few years ago the GMen faced a similar situation when on the last day of the season Tom Brady and one of the greatest offenses in pro football history came into New York 15 - 0 looking to re-write the history books. The Giants put a scare into the Patriots until they eventually fell and completed the Pats perfect season by a score of, yes, 38 - 35. The Giants, however, would get there revenge as their magical playoff run that season saw them take on and defeat those same Patriots in the Super Bowl to capture the Lombardi trophy.
The football Gods have blessed us with another classic rematch in January. What more can we ask then 2 teams playing at the top of there game with everything on the line. We'll take a look at who may have the edge this week in Lambeau now.
OFFENSE
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| Manning will try to match Rodgers throw for throw. |
Rodgers threw for 45 touchdowns this season and had a 122.5 passer rating. He was essentially flawless until a late season blip against KC. Rodgers was in the hunt for Dan Marino's passing record all season as well, but the fact that the Packers clinched the Conference so early worked against him in this case.
However you look at it, the Packers offense is going to get there's on any given day. Give them an inch and they'll take, oh, about 100 yards to pay dirt. The question isn't how good are the Packers, it's how good are the Giants?
The Giants may be one of the biggest offensive enigmas in the NFL. Are they among the league's elite, or just a wannabe who plays with big brother from time-to-time? New York ranks in the top 10 in points scored at 24.6, 5th in total passing yards, 8th in total yards per game and, wait, dead last in rushing attack? That can't be right, can it? Yes, the dynamic duo of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have struggled mightily this season putting even more pressure on Eli Manning. Manning responded by throwing just shy of 5,000 yards and keeping this offense afloat.
If the Giants are to keep up with the Packers then Manning is going to have to be at his best. The question is will we see the Manning that gutted the Dallas secondary in week 17 for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns, or the one who looked awful against the Redskins just 2 weeks prior throwing 3 interceptions and no touchdowns? That will depend on the duo coming out of the backfield. Jacobs and Bradshaw showed up in a big way last week against Atlanta and there ability to run the ball and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field will be the key to a Giants victory. The Giants need to force the Packers to crowd the box and take away the run so Manning can expose a mediocre Packers secondary.
Advantage: Packers (but not by as much as you would think)
DEFENSE
Mean Machine. Mean Machine. Mean Machine. You know that scene from 'The Longest Yard' when all the misfits from the convict's team start the Mean Machine chant, that's what I think happens before every Giants game lately. These guys are on some kind of magical cloud right now where they can do no wrong. There throwin' up shutouts in the playoffs, blocking last second field goals to save games and generally making life very difficult for anyone not wearing a Giants uniform.
Led by the likes of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora, the Giants ranked 25th in total defense this season. A proud group, these guys cannot have been happy with that number. Don't let the numbers fool you, there mean, angry and they know how to win. Tied for second in the NFL in sacks and ranking in the top 10 in interceptions and fumble recoveries, this defense is hitting it's stride at the right time. The Giants are going to need every bit of that anger and intensity on Sunday to slow down Rodgers and give there offense a chance to stay close.
The Packers on the other hand went from one of the league's best defenses last year to one that ranks dead last in total yards against and passing yards against per game. The key to this stat is how much of that yardage is 4th quarter garbage yards because Mike McCarthy is in a prevent defense and the Packers are up 3 scores. Either way, the stat to look at is interceptions. The Pack far and away led the league in picks with 31 and returned 4 of them to the house. This team has a bunch of ball hawks in there secondary led by Charles Woodson and salivate when passers drop back in the pocket. They'll need to stop New York's running game, however, or that will put a lot of pressure on play action on a secondary that has looked vulnerable at times.
Advantage: Giants
INTANGIBLES
Well this game is loaded with storylines on and off the field. We'll start with the obvious, Lambeau field in January. Now, I realize the Giants are from New York so I want to make it clear I'm not talking about the weather. Both these teams have the ability to play outside in the sleet, snow or whatever other garbage mother nature throws at them. What I'm talking about is Lambeau field in January. Breathe it in, look around you, feel the ghosts of the greats and Super Bowls of the past. There is an aura surrounding this field and the Packers take full advantage of it. A team owned by it's people, a people owned by it's team, Lambeau field is as much a part of Green Bay as any player wearing it's uniform. Don't get caught staring Giants.
Secondly, how will Aaron Rodgers be affected not having played a meaningful snap in several weeks and not having taken a snap in a game at all in 3 weeks. Rodgers sat out the final game of the season versus the Lions and had the bye last week. Greg Jennings is just returning from an injury and Rodgers needs to flip a switch, will the bye actually help a Giants team getting hungrier and more confident with each passing week?
Finally, I think one of the most underrated angles in sports, and especially football, is the revenge factor. This is a game laden with emotion, intensity and animosity. The Giants have not forgotten the crushing defeat at home in week 13 and you can be sure they will have game planned accordingly. The Packers as well cannot forget how close the Giants came to ending there perfect season. The team that is able to channel that energy on Sunday will ultimately make it's way to the NFC Championship game. Here's my upset special for the week boys and girls and it's a shocker!
Prediction: Giants 34 - Packers 31
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