Packers-Giants Preview

Packers-Giants Preview

Take a look at the preseason odds of either the Green Bay Packers or New York Giants winning the Super Bowl. Experts gave the Bengals, Panthers, Bears, Ravens, Cowboys, Colts, Broncos, Saints, Eagles, Steelers, Seahawks and 49ers a better chance. Of course, the Patriots and Chargers were also among the favorites, but they're still alive. In the case of the Packers, add the Jets and Cardinals to those who had a better chance of winning the Lombardi Trophy. So much for experts and odds. For Green Bay, Brett Favre found the fountain of youth, Ryan Grant found a team to give him a chance to shine, and the young Packer's defense came of age. In New York it took some time but Eli Manning stopped making critical errors, Brandon Jacobs became the bulldozer many thought he would be, and the defense stepped up and led the NFL in sacks. Both clubs had to overcome different obstacles to get to the title game, but now that they've gotten there, neither will go down without a fight and that should make for a good one.

When the Packers have the ball--Quarterback Brett Favre has done more this season than anyone expected him to do. He also showed he had some of the old Favre in him against Seattle when was flushed from the pocket, stumbled and appeared destined to eat the Lambeau turf when he flung the ball underhand to his receiver for a first down. While the Giants led the NFL in sacks, Favre is well known for his ability to make plays on the run. So just bringing pressure may not be enough for the Giants, but containing Favre would. But stopping Favre the entire game is a tall task and that brings up the second problem for New York. The Packers, with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Ruvell Martin and Koren Robinson, will severely test a banged up Giants secondary. The Packers lead the NFL in yards after catch and with New York cornerbacks Sam Madison, Aaron Ross and Kevin Dockery all hurting, the job of stopping Favre and Company becomes all the more difficult. That brings us back to the issue of pressure. The Giants, led by Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, will have to keep Favre off balance and make him force his throws. Justin Tuck, who had 10 sacks in the regular season, will also play a key role for the Giants as well. Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher will have to slow down the New York ends if the Packers want Favre to have any time at all to work his magic. Also, if the Giants can get a good push up the middle with Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins, there will be no room for Favre to step up and make plays, and escaping Strahan and Umenyiora is easier said than done. The battle up front should be fierce and have a huge impact on the outcome of the game.

Ryan Grant had possibly the worst start any player can have in their first playoff game. Grant fumbled twice against Seattle and both miscues resulted in Seattle touchdowns. Then Grant did what he has been doing since being named the starter at running back for Green Bay. He ran hard and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. When the smoke cleared, he had rushed for 201 yards and scored three touchdowns against Seattle. Grant hits the hole quick and runs hard. Look for the Packers to run at Giants linebacker Reggie Torbor. Antonio Pierce is a stud in the middle, and the Packers are likely to work away from him to start. They also will attack the left side because the Giants are thinner there. If either Gibril Wilson or James Butler cheat up to help in run support, Favre will make the Giants pay.

When the Giants have the ball--It is no secret that when Eli Manning plays mistake free football, the Giants have a good chance of winning. But on the downside, if he makes critical errors. they have a good chance of losing. So when Manning drops back to pass, keep a close eye on the battle between defensive end Aaron Kampman of the Packers and offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie of the Giants. Kampman led the Packers with 12 sacks and is on his way to the Pro Bowl. He has a non-stop motor and McKenzie will have to slow him down or he will be on top of Manning all day. On the other side, David Diehl will have to contain Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and at other times, Cullen Jenkins. KGB has become more of the pass rush specialist for the Packers. Jenkins is a bit more versatile playing both end and tackle, and while he is more of an asset against the run, Jenkins has also shown some flashes bringing pressure. In the middle, the Giants interior line, led by center Shaun O'Hara and guard Chris Snee, have to stop defensive tackles Corey Williams and Ryan Pickett. Williams has had a stellar season and notched seven sacks for Green Bay.

The New York receivers could be facing one of the best, if not the best, pair of corners in the NFL in Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer will have their hands full with two corners who play tighter than any other pair of corners on opposing receivers. Burress and Toomer will have to find a way to make their own space to work because Woodson and Harris won't be giving them any at all. The sleeper here for the Giants is tight end Kevin Boss. Boss has stepped in and played well for the injured Jeremy Shockey. Boss is a big kid but he has very soft hands and Manning is beginning to target him as his go-to-guy. Boss will have a size advantage but we can't underestimate the coverage skills of the Packers either.

The one way the Giants can keep heat off Eli Manning is to get Brandon Jacobs rolling. Jacobs is almost a throwback type running back. He is big and powerful and while he doesn't put up huge numbers in terms of yardage, Jacobs just moves the chains and helps keep the other offense on the sidelines. When the Giants have the ball, look for the Giants to lead with Jacobs. And when Jacobs gets the ball, look for Green Bay linebackers Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk and safety Atari Bigby. Barnett is the leading tackler for Green Bay and plays from sideline to sideline. Hawk is much the same and Bigby is like a heat-seeking missile. New York will plow the road for Jacobs with Madison Hedgecock, a 260-pound fullback. But the Packers have quick linebackers and the task of blowing them out of the way may be difficult. Jacobs, as dominant as he can be at times, does not have the speed to exploit the perimeter. Ahmad Bradshaw provides the speed option for New York if they need it.

Final Analysis--The weather forecast for Green Bay this weekend is not what one would call pleasant. And Eli Manning has made comments about how he is aware of his less than spectacular play in colder weather. Whether or not that is a mental block remains to be seen. At any rate, the Packers thrive in terrible weather. They stumbled a week ago against Seattle and the more it snowed, the better they seemed to play. Brett Favre may not have a career day, but the Giants have too many problems in the secondary to dodge bullets the entire day. And Manning will have his hands full. He won't have a lot of time to throw or space to fit the ball into his receivers. The Giants will not go down without a fight but the Packers should prevail.

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