Lambeau Field will host a playoff game for the first time since the Packers lost to the New York Giants back in the 2007 NFC Championship game. Ironically that same opponent will be the New York Giants. Here are reasons why I love this matchup and hate it.
Reasons Why I love this matchup:
1) Revenge Factor: I guarantee the Packers who were on the team in 2007 have not forgotten when the Giants came into Green Bay in frigid conditions and knocked off the Packers on route to the Super Bowl. Greg Jennings tweeted this week that he has not forgotten and I am sure Mike McCarthy hasn’t also. By now, he knows what it takes to coach in the playoffs and he will have his team prepared and ready.
2) Aaron Rodgers vs. the Giants secondary: The Giants have a lot of high draft picks in their secondary including first rounders Aaron Ross, Kenny Phillips, Antrel Rolle, and Prince Amukumara. However, that doesn’t mean they are a great secondary by any means. Rodgers seemed a bit off in the first meeting especially early, while his receivers had a hard time hanging onto the football. If Rodgers doesn’t show any rust from his three week layoff (which I believe he will not) and the receivers catch the ball on key third downs unlike last game, the Packers should be able to move the ball through the air with success. The Giants simply do not have the secondary to cover Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones, and JerMichael Finley.
3) Health Factor: Finally, this Packers team is the healthiest it has been all season at just the right time. Tackle Chad Clifton returns and could be an upgrade over Marshall Newhouse who struggled in the first meeting against Giants end Jason Pierre-Paul. The Packers will also have both starting middle inside linebackers, AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop, who missed the December 4th matchup. Their absence led the Giants to run the ball with ease against rookie linebacker DJ Smith and the inexperience Robert Francois. Greg Jennings returns from a sprained knee that sidelined him since the Kansas City game. Jennings had a huge game against the Giants defense in the first meeting catching seven passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Reasons Why I hate this matchup:
1) The Giants defensive front four: Jason Pierre-Paul is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and was in Aaron Rodgers’ face the majority of the time during the first meeting. Pierre-Paul is a difference maker and can single handedly change a game by getting to the quarterback as we saw in their meeting with Dallas in week 14 on Sunday Night Football. Justin Tuck is also a feared pass rusher and finally looks to be at full health for the first time in a while. Chris Canty benefits in the middle as the offensive line focuses on the end rush. Osi Umenyiora may be aging but he will come in specifically on passing downs and be another asset that the Packers will have to worry about. If the front four can get to Aaron Rodgers and pressure him, then the Giants can drop extra guys back in coverage and limit the Green Bay passing attack.
2) Eli Manning: It depends on which Eli Manning shows up to Lambeau. If it is the one that came last December and threw four picks then the Packers will be in great shape. However, if it is the one that came into Lambeau on a late January night back in 07, then the Packers could be in trouble. The chances are that Manning will play like the latter based on his recent performances against Dallas and Atlanta. The Packers must not allow big plays in the passing game like in the first game or this one could be a shootout again.
3) Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw: I will never forget on the first play in 07 when Jacobs ran over Charles Woodson on a sweep right. The tempo was set from that point forward by the G-Men. The Packers are going to need to slow down the running game and force the Giants to pass. Despite having a shakier pass defense than run defense, if the Packers can limit the ground game, they can prevent the Giants from controlling the ball and clock, and limit the Packers possessions. If the Giants can limit the Packers to seven or eight possessions for the game, there is a strong chance that they can come back into Lambeau and do it again.
Overall: As a Packer fan this game really worries me because the Giants have the potential to use the same ingredients that the Chiefs used in the Packers only defeat. I see this game going back and forth with neither defense having an answer for the opposing team’s quarterback. In the end, I expect the Packers to prevail at home in a game that could in fact be
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