NFC Championship Preview Giants vs Packers

NFC Championship game Giants vs Packers 6:42 pm ET at Lambeau Field.

In my lifetime, the Giants are 3-0 in NFC Championship games. On Sunday, I hope they can increase this number to four.

Giants on offense:

Generally speaking, Eli Manning does not play well in cold weather games. Take for example, games this year versus the Bears, Bills, Redskins.

According to the latest weather forecast, the game time temperature is going to be 1 degree Fahrenheit. With the wind, the field temperature may feel like -14 below F with winds at 11 mph.

Earlier in the week, I stated weather will not be a factor unless there is wind gusts.

Giants on Offense:

I think the Giants need to continue their mistake free football.
Eli: I want to see no turnovers. I also want to see penalties kept to a minimum.

The Giants will I think again continue to run the football. The offensive line has to continue to open up holes for Jacobs and Bradshaw. The Packers have a formidable defensive line. Their defensive tackles Ryan Pickett and Corey Williams are very good at stopping the run. Giants center Shaun O'Hara and Guards Chris Snee and Rich Seubert will have to move these guys out of the way to get to the second level of linebacker Nick Barnett. I believe Barnett is the best linebacker on the Packers. It will be Madison Hedgecock's job to neutralize Barnett. I think the Giants will use two tight ends. This means an injured Michael Matthews may play. We have to block Barnett.
The Packers have good pass rushers. Aaron Kampman led the Packers with 12 sacks. KBJ (Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila) had 9.5 sacks. In addition, Corey Williams had 7 sacks.
I am concerned with our right tackle Kareem Mckenzie. Kareem is playing with an injured ankle. Last week, Demarcus Ware blew right by Mckenzie. As a result, Ware sacked Manning. On that possession, the Giants had good field position. Because of the sack, the Giants were forced to punt. Kampman will match up against Mckenzie on passing downs. KJB will match up with Diehl. I think Diehl will be able to do a good job against KJB. The Packers rotate their lineman. This keeps them fresh.

The Packers have excellent cover corners in Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Harris will match up against Plax. Although the Giants have won both playoff games, their best play maker has been a non factor. I think Plax is hurting badly. Harris will be physical with him. On the other side, Amani Toomer will go up against Woodson. Like Harris, Woodson also plays physical. Both guys play man to man very well. This helps Green Bay to use blitzes on known third and long passing plays. Safety Atari Bigby plays real physical. He is effective against the run and in pass coverage. The other safety is Nick Collins. He like Bigby plays physical. I think the Giants can exploit Tramon Williams the Packers nickel back. I think Gilbride will have Steve Smith in the slot. I think Manning will look for Smith on crucial 3rd down conversions.
I miss Shockey in this game as well. I expect Manning to hit TE Kevin Boss on seam routes. I think the Giants will use a lot of play action pass. I think one of our wide outs has to make a catch for a long gain in this game.

Giants on Defense:
Stop the Run.

Put plenty of pressure on Favre.

I stated earlier this week. I think the Giants tackles have to play better in this game. Robbins and Cofield have to control the line of scrimmage versus the interior of Green Bay's line. The Packers have two good tackles. Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton are excellent. Tauscher will go up against Strahan and Clifton will try to contain Osi. Both Osi and Stray have to bring their A game against these two quality tackles. I want to see them pressure Favre. This year Favre has been sacked only 15 times. I think Justin Tuck will be a difference maker in this game. I think Spags will have him lined up at DT on passing downs. We need him to get a good interior push.

If we can contain Ryan Grant, I think this gives us a good chance to win this game. Grant has been fantastic. He gained 201 yards rushing against Seattle. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield.
The Packers use four and five wide out formations. Greg Jennings is the Packers play maker. He scored 12 touchdowns in the regular season and averaged 17 yards per catch.
Donald Driver is their best receiver. He is a possession type guy. He had over 1,000 yards receiving. Favre looks for him in crucial 3rd down conversions.
Both Packer tight ends Donald Lee and Bubba Franks are good pass catchers. The Giants have to do a good job covering these guys. I think the Giants should play Gerris Wilkinson in this game. I think he can guard either tight end.
Right now, the Giants secondary is a mash unit. As I am writing this post, Giants nickel back, Kevin Dockery is out. I think Sam Madison will play in a limited role. Recall, he played with the Dolphins for most of his career. His Dolphins teams never got this deep in the playoffs. He may not have many seasons left. I think he will suit up and play. Aaron Ross will play with a brace on his shoulder. I think the Packers, at the start of this game, will run to his side in order to test his shoulder. The Giants are going to need a big game out of RW McQuarters. He will be counted on to be the nickel back. Safety James Butler cannot get sloppy and let guys get by him. Remember in the playoffs: Nothing cheap and nothing deep. Gibril Wilson will have to play strong against the run as well as the pass. Expect rookie Michael Johnson to get playing time. He is an excellent open field tackler.

Captain Antonio Pierce has to play better than he did in the Dallas game. Grant is not a Marion Barber. He has to play better in pass coverage. Kawika Mitchell has to continue to play well too.

Special teams:

The Giants have to continue their strong performance on special teams. I think they won the game against Dallas because they won the special teams battle. I want to see a big return from Hixon. He has been a find.

The Packers have a good kicking game. Mason Crosby is a rookie. We will see how he handles the pressure in the playoffs. On the other hand, I do not have much confidence in Tynes in bad weather. Last week, he almost missed an extra point.
I think Feagles will have a good game. If the Giants lose, this may be his last game.
Punter Jon Ryan for the Packers averaged 44 yards per punt.

I hope Tyree and gang will continue the excellent kickoff and punt return coverage. I do not want Green Bay to begin drives with a short field.

Again, Let us win the turnover battle.




Prediction:
Giants 27 Packers 24.


GO Giants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!