|
Giants (6-5) vs Packers (11-0)
On Thanksgiving day, Green Bay's quarterback Aaron
Rodgers took some hits and the Detroit Lions took even more penalties. The result
was a 27-15 win for the Packers once they figured out how to control the Lions
in the second half.
The
Giants didn't put up much of a defense and came no where near where they needed
to stop a two-game skid. The 49-24 loss to the Saints has that number up to three
now with the undefeated and well rested Packers coming their way. Green
Bay Packers.
Not long ago you couldn't
mention football and the Green Bay Packers without uttering the words "Brett
Favre". Who on earth could possibly replace Brett Favre? Well that was before
his understudy Aaron Rodgers took over. Rodgers was Ted Thompson’s very first
draft choice as general manager of the Packers in 2005. The fans loved Favre and
there was controversy. There were signs, "Rodgers
Sucks", "We want Brett" and "Death to Ted Thompson" and
reports of people spitting at Rodgers as he entered and left the field. Now Rodgers
just was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. By the way,
he also won it in September and October and if you go back to December last season,
it was his also.
That sounds like something Brett Favre could pull off, but
he didn't. In fact, Roger's is the first player to be named player of the month
four months in a row since the award came about in 1986. Seriously, you can't
ever knock Brett Favre and all his accomplishments in Green Bay, but it's now
much more obvious as to why Ted Thompson wanted Favre to move along to somewhere
like the NFL Hall Of Fame and get Aaron Rodgers off the bench and playing. If
Rodgers continues at this pace, he would finish with 5,055 yards, 48 touchdowns
and a 127.7 NFL passer rating, which would be the best of all-time, and he has
a shot at leading his Green Bay team to a perfect 16-0 record. Packers
offense.
It all starts with Aaron Rodgers
who leads all the quarterbacks in the league in completion percentage (71.8),
yards per attempt (9.6), passing touchdowns (33) and low interception percentage
(1.1). The Lions knocked Aaron Rodgers out of a game with a concussion last year.
They won it 7-3, and were eager for a repeat performance on Rodgers last week,
but were unable to do so. The offense is hot and they lead the NFL in scoring,
averaging 34.7 points a game.
Lots of that comes off of Rodgers arm as the
unit's running game has been just hit and miss all year. That was their weakest
link last year and this season they rank worse - 28th in the league, averaging
98.2 yards per game. Running back James Starks leads the Packers with 560 rushing
yards. Ryan Grant was traded from the Giants to Green Bay before the 2007 season.
He has 287 yards and he will be playing for the first time against his former
team in New Jersey. Packers
defense.
This unit leads the NFL with 22
interceptions and 383 return yards off of those interceptions. This is something
they've done well at for the past bunch of years. Last year they picked off Eli
Manning four times and that's the win that started them on their 17 game long
streak. They rank next to last in the league in giving up passing yards, but are
a bit better than average against the run.
This defense does give up a lot
of yards and sometimes big plays gambling to make key turnovers, but their undefeated
record shows that overall it works for them. Linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerbacks
Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams know how to play this game Giants
offense
How bad are the Giants at running
the ball lately? So bad that even with Ahmad Bradshaw missing the last four games,
he still leads the team in rushing with his 440 yards. The Giants have lacked
balance over the course of this year with the offensive line being much better
at pass protection than run blocking. Bradshaw is anxious to play even with his
foot injury and he'll likely get his chance. The Giants could use a spark and
Bradshaw's more likely to provide it compared to Brandon Jacobs who needs better
blocking to get him rolling.
Last week Eli Manning ran a nice string of completions
in the second half when the Saints were in "don't care" mode, so the
stats looked overly impressive despite the score. One stat that is not, is that
In the last four games, the Giants have failed to score a single touchdown in
the first half. Still over the season, Manning ranks number 6 with his passer
rating (95.6 points), sixth in touchdown passes (20) and has a 62.9 completion
percentage. Mario Manningham looks to be out for this game, but Hakeem Nicks,
who was knocked around in last week's game, should play. Victor Cruz leads the
Giants with 957 receiving yards. Giants
defense.
Is this unit better or worse than
they were last year at this time? Before you answer, remember that last year in
December the Giants lost to the Packers 45-17. Osi Umenyiora, with a bad ankle,
will be out for this game and maybe a few more. Rookie Mark Herzlich will also
be out, and so Greg Jones will see more action. It's likely that linebacker Michael
Boley will be back from a hamstring injury that held him out the past two weeks.
Pass coverage against tight ends would improve. Chase Blackburn was a free agent
in the offseason, and he was just this week brought back into the fold since he
knows the defensive system very well.
Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell ripped
his unit for the way they played last week, recording no sacks and giving up 577
yards, but he did exclude Jason Pierre-Paul from his criticisms. Pierre-Paul led
the team in tackles and alertly stopped a Saints fake field goal pass on the first
drive of the game. Can any defense halt an offense driven by Aaron Rodgers (33
touchdown passes only four interceptions)? The Lions allowed only 86 total yards
and 7 points in the first two quarters against the Packers offense, so it can
be done - at least for half a game. Overall.
The Giants have five games left. They need
to overtake the Cowboys to win the division. Can the Giants do it? They saw the
Lions hold the Packers at bay for the first half of their game with a big pass
rush. That's an area of strength the Giants once had, but it has since faded.
Perry Fewell tried to fire up his defense this week and some players vowed they
will be bringing the pressure. The Giants started the Packers off on their current
17 game long win streak. Can they end it as well? NFC
East.
The Cowboys lead in the NFC
East and three of the final five games of the season have them playing teams with
records of 4-7 (Cards), 4-7 (Bucs) and 4-8 (Eagles). The other two games will
be against the Giants. The Eagles (4-8) played on Thanksgiving and lost their
game in Seattle 31-14. The Redskins (4-7) host the Jets (6-5) on Sunday at 1pm.
The Cowboys (7-4) play at Arizona against the Cardinals (4-7) at 4:15pm, the same
time the Giants play their game with the Packers. The Cowboys are favored to win
their game. The Giants and Redskins are not. Giants
Announce Class of 2011, Ring of Honor.
The
year's group to be honored is: running back Alex Webster, linebackers Brad Van
Pelt and Carl Banks, tight end Mark Bavaro and punter Dave Jennings. They will
be formally inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime Sunday in MetLife Stadium.
Check
out.
The
Team Giants Store, and
see some of the really unique items we put together.
There are some items
you certainly haven't seen elsewhere, and each sale helps out our site.
Giants DVDs and
Posters. Going to be at this game?
Don't miss out - "What’s
happening on the Plaza at MetLife Stadium". 
TeamGiants on Twitter.
Notes.
Giants once stopped New England's undefeated
18-0 game season - their 2007 Super Bowl victory. Giants
would have clinched a playoff spot and eliminated Green Bay last year if they
had won. Giants have scored 112 points
in the first halves of games compared to 140 in the second halves.
Giants
have scored 42 points in the second halves of their last four games. Giants
Chase Blackburn led the Giants in special teams tackles in each of the last six
seasons. Giants Jason Pierre-Paul ranks
third in the league with 10 1/2 sacks. Giants
former player Michael Strahan, whose 15-year career ended with a victory in Super
Bowl XLII, visited and spoke with the defensive players during the week. Packers
Aaron Rodgers has not been below 100 in passer rating in any game this season. Packers
are 11-0 for the first time in franchise history. Packers
have won a team-record 17 straight, including the playoffs. Packers
have allowed 19 touchdown passes - the Giants 16.
Next Games
Dec 11 - Giants at Cowboys.
Giants Tickets
- Buy
or Sell
Dec 18 - Redskins at
Giants.
Giants Tickets - Buy
or Sell
| 
