I feel like were all getting a little cocky here, the pack are not invincible (despite what we all may wish) I think this is a very good giants team and will put up a good fight. As a packer fan I think we'll win however I dont think it will be 35-13 as it was in week 2. I'm expecting a closer outcome (as my 35-24 prediction would show)
I agree, this is certainly a 'watch your step' type of pick right here
I said GB 37 Seattle 20...with GB pulling away
...the only difference is I thought Seattle themselves would make a game of it...one can argue without Ryan Grant fumbling it couldve been 42-6 or worse. Seattle did NOTHING when given a full field to drive.
I've been running the outcomes thru my head
The Giants are the "hotter" now than Seattle was going into last week, playing their best football in a losing effort to New England and two road playoff wins
...however Dallas simply gave the Giants that game, dropped passes, not putting the weaker road team away; something that the Packers have proven able to do this season
The Giants offense differs, and is the same as Seattle's.
The Packers historic troubles guarding the tight end's will hopefully be minimally exposed, Marcus Pollard was a vet but couldn't catch a pass Saturday. The Giant's tight end, Who's the Boss, is a solid target but I dont think he can separate from our linebackers.
The Giants passing attack is more vertical than Seattle's. I think the Giants will try more downfield passes than Seattle's total of ZERO last week. Given the Packers' corners play, and Atari Bigby trying to jar loose a football which will be hard to hold onto, this will be tough for the Giants. ALSO after owning Burress in fantasy all season (my fantasy MVP after both of my starting backs went down...). He hasn't practiced ALL SEASON due to a recurring ankle injury, and has been a gametime decision all year. I will question his effectiveness with tough footing much like Deion Branch this past week.
The Giants will need to take downfield shots; If Eli "manages" the game, the Packers will run away with this one. Matt Hasslebeck didn't have a BAD game, per se, no turnovers, but a lot of low-risk passes and no taking chances got Seattle squashed.
The Giants backfield combo of Bradshaw and Jacobs is better than Seattle's of what's left of Shaun Alexander and the over-hyped Maurice Morris, who saw very little action. After drafting Brandon Jacobs in fantasy (too high...) and following his season, he is a threat to get injured at any time. The Giants running game could be effective if they're not playing catch up all game, which I think it will turn into. However if the Giants get a lead it will be tougher stopping Jacobs than Seattle's running backs.
This game will be won or lost (I'm going with 'won') when the Packers have the ball. Dallas had a better time passing the ball than statistics indicate. Patrick Crayton dropped the ball several times. Tony Romo couldn't distribute the ball one bit. Dallas had no threat out of the backfield to catch the ball, etc. etc. Sam Madison is hurting, Aaron Ross is banged up, IF he plays sunday he'll be in bad shape. The Giants struggled to hold Marion Barber, I see a pretty big day for Ryan Grant.
Prediction: Packers 38, Giants 20
What I see happening is the Packers being able to get a quick lead and the Giants never getting settled on offense, taking the ball out of the backs' hands, and forcing Eli Manning to win the game. The Packers defense is playing too well, the Packers offense is playing too well. Like last week, this game seems "too easy" to pick.
A veteran Seattle team, coaching staff coming to Lambeau, and for a lot of the Packers it was their first time in the playoffs. Still I was confident a better Packers team would prevail. This week, the Giants have been winning football games. That's it. Hardly overwhelmingly, the Giants have been winning football games. That's something to be wary of. On the other hand, again, I think the Packers are the better team.