http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/story/2008/1/17/13117/2861
Preview: Giants at Green Bay
...The Giants have no business playing in the NFC Championship game. They arguably entered the NFC playoffs with the worst defense and the worst quarterback. Their defense ranked 17th overall and allowed 21.9 points/game, lower than Dallas (13th, 20.3/game) and Tampa Bay (3rd, 16.9/game), while QB Eli Manning was ranked 30th by Football Outsiders and his NFL passer rating was 25th, which was significantly worse than the regular season stats compiled by QB Tony Romo and QB Jeff Garcia. Statistically the Giants should have not gotten this far, but obviously they have not been playing their opponents on paper. What have they been doing right in the playoffs? First, they haven't committed any turnovers in two playoff games. Second, although they've failed to generate over 300 yards on offense in either playoff game, when they get near the red zone, they've scored a touchdown on 6 of their 7 scoring drives. Third, their defense has held both of their opponents under 20 points (Tampa scored 14, Dallas scored 17).
The Packers would do better if they could force turnovers, but they aren't the most opportunistic defense and they only forced one turnover by Seattle last Saturday. Obviously they can force the Giants to settle for a field goal when they get in the red zone, but again that is easier said than done. However, the Giants will have a hard time holding the Packers under 20 points in the game. Since the bye week, when RB Ryan Grant became the starting running back, the Packers have scored more than 30 points in 8 of their last 11 games, and scored more than 30 points in their last 6 home games. They haven't scored under 30 points at Lambeau in 6 games with Grant as the starting running back.
One big difference between the Packers and the Giants prior opponents is health. For Dallas, QB Tony Romo and WR Terrell Owens, and for Tampa Bay, QB Jeff Garcia and WR Joey Galloway, all played through injuries during their playoff losses. None of those players were at 100%, while the Packers are probably in the best health they've been all season and QB Brett Favre hasn't shown any lingering signs of the arm injury he suffered in Dallas back in November. I doubt the Packers will bring out any special defensive game plan for the Giants since the standard game plan has worked pretty well this season. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders never plays too aggressive, but he has been willing to have one of his linebackers blitz more often over the last several games to get pressure on the quarterback. The safeties will play deep and the cornerbacks will press at the line of scrimmage.
A big key is to stop the Giants running game because it is the best part of their offense and it will turn them into a one dimensional offense. Tampa Bay's run defense is about as good as the Packers according to Football Outsiders, Tampa's ranked 7th and the Packers 6th during the regular season, and Tampa held the Giants to 3.3 yards/carry two weeks ago. The Packers run defense also plays much better at home, having allowed 4.35 yards/carry on the road while only 3.23 at home against some pretty good run offenses such as Minnesota and Philadelphia. The big sin for Tampa's defense was they didn't get enough pressure on Manning, recording only one sack in the playoff game, which allowed him to complete 74% of his passes at Tampa, well above his season completion percentage of 56.1%.
The Packers offense is playing their best football of the season after racking up 408 yards and 42 points against a very good Seattle defense last week. The veteran tackles controlled Seattle's great pass rushing defensive ends and will have to do the same against DE Osi Umenyiora and DE Michael Strahan who are arguably the two best defensive players on their team. Although CB Aaron Ross will play after dislocating his shoulder twice last week in Dallas, CBs Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery are unlikely to play and the Packers' four and five receiver sets, along with Favre's quick release, should cause them a lot of problems. The Giants have a good run defense, but Grant just shredded Seattle's even better run defense last week and the officials have overall shown an unwillingness to call any offensive holding penalties. Anything short of a chop block or tackling the defensive player should be permitted.
The Giants have no business making it this far in the playoffs which makes them dangerous as one of those teams like Carolina in 2003 and Pittsburgh in 2005 that played way above their regular season performance once the playoffs started. However the Packers are rolling and betting against them is not a good idea with the way their offense has played over the last several home games. Packers 31, Giants 16.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09...te=without-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0005
Giants need Pierce to step up if they are to stop Grant: Key matchups for Sunday's NFC Championship Game
1. Antonio Pierce, LB, N.Y. Giants vs Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay
You can probably make up an all-star team of unrestricted free agents from this weekend's games, and these two are near the top of the list. In Week 2, Grant was still a third-stringer and he had no rushing attempts and one reception for 21 yards in the game. In his first six games, he rushed for a total of 27 yards. In the next 10 regular-season games, he rushed for 929 yards -- and added 201 in last week's playoff win. Grant has the strength to run inside and the speed to run outside and has shown the ability to avoid tacklers in the open field. He is also a good receiver coming out of the backfield and will flank out as a wide receiver when the Packers try to create matchup problems. Pierce came into the NFL as an unrestricted free agent in 2001 as an outside linebacker, and he was signed by the Giants in 2005 as a restricted free agent. He has started at middle linebacker the last three seasons for the Giants and has been their leading tackler. He leads by example and is very vocal. He's a smart player who is very competitive. He had 12 tackles and one pass defended in the Week 2 meeting. Pierce should be a big factor in the Giants' run defense if they are to win this game -- though he did not play all that well against the run in Dallas last week.
2. Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants vs Al Harris, CB, Green Bay
For the Giants to win, Manning needs to manage the game. He will most likely throw about 25 times, unless they fall behind and are trying to catch up. Manning has played well the past three games. He has the arm strength and the ability to find open receivers. Inclement weather should not bother him because he's used to the tough winds of the Meadowlands. Harris plays right corner in most all of their defenses. Rarely does he get into the slot. He likes to get his hands on you and play bump-and-run. He has very good hands playing the ball, but his game is won in the line of scrimmage. He has problems with speed receivers, but should do a good job with Giants receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, who are not burners.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-01-15-giants-packers-preview_N.htm
When the Giants pass Edge GB
Eli Manning has been effective because he's been efficient and error-free in the playoffs. But the Giants don't have the playmakers to consistently hurt lockdown corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson.
When the Packers pass Edge GB
Brett Favre has seven bona fide targets, and the Packers aren't afraid to empty the backfield and line up with five receivers. The Giants simply don't have the personnel to match up, and this could ultimately be their undoing.
When the Giants run Edge EVEN
Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw bring speed and power to the table, but they have yet to make a major impact in the postseason. They'll have to do it against a deep and talented Green Bay front seven.
When the Packers run Edge GB
Ryan Grant has been on fire over the second half of the season and becomes even more effective when Green Bay spreads out the opposition. He should come back to haunt the team that dealt him away just four months ago.
Special teams Edge NY {In GB?}
With punter Jeff Feagles and kicker Lawrence Tynes, the Giants own an experience edge in the kicking game. Return men Domenik Hixon and R.W. McQuarters have also stepped up lately.
Coaching Edge GB
Tom Coughlin has coached in title games before; he has just never won. On the other side, Mike McCarthy's play-calling has been excellent all season and must stay hot on a frigid day.
FIVE KEYS TO VICTORY: Packers:
Dictate tempo. The Packers lacked an established running game in their first meeting at the Meadowlands. Weather permitting, they can now pound the ball at a banged-up Giants defense or spread them out using multiple-receiver sets. Either way, they can keep the Giants on their heels.
Get pressure up front against Eli Manning. The Packers got 31½ of their 36 sacks from their line. If Aaron Kampman, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Co. can provide more of the same Sunday, the Green Bay linebackers can lay back and make it harder for Eli Manning to find passing lanes.
Press coverage. CBs Al Harris and Charles Woodson are excellent bump-and-run practitioners and aren't likely to get burned deep by Plaxico Burress or Amani Toomer, giving them an opportunity to stifle the Giants passing attack.
Happy returns. In Koren Robinson, Tramon Williams and even Woodson, the Packers have playmaking kick returners. Any of them could break open the game at any time.
Pass. Pass. Pass. YAC The Packers rack up yards after the catch (YAC) better than anybody, largely because Brett Favre likes to hit receivers on short slants that become big gainers.
Stop the big run plays. In the cold weather, if the Pack stop the run, it will make Giants one-dimensional with more pressure on EM.
Be cool. The Packers are young, and Brett Favre has been known to lay the occasional playoff egg. But after spotting Seattle 14 points, they showed the maturity to overcome adversity. Composure is key.
Prediction: Packers 30, Giants 24 Considering the state of their beaten and battered secondary, the Giants have to get constant pressure on Packers QB Brett Favre from the get-go, and they have the ability do it with defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan. But with RB Ryan Grant running so well and the Packers fleet of receivers tough to match up with defensively, Green Bay can keep the New York defense off balance and score with regularity while using the Giants' overpursuing pass rushers against them.
MORE ABOUT THE GAME: The Packers would be more than happy to host another subfreezing, snow-filled game at Lambeau Field. However, the Giants' set of running backs, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, gives New York a good chance to compete in any weather. Giants QB Eli Manning isn't putting up intimidating passing numbers, but he is managing the offense extremely well. Avoiding turnovers will be crucial for New York, considering the confidence with which Green Bay's offense is playing. The Packers scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions against the Seattle Seahawks as RB Ryan Grant's 201 rushing yards set up QB Brett Favre to play pitch and catch. The key could be who is able to return for the Giants secondary. CBs Sam Madison, Aaron Ross and Kevin Dockery have injuries that severely threaten the team's ability to cover the Packers' deep and talented receiving corps.
Key matchup: Giants RT Kareem McKenzie vs. Packers DE Aaron Kampman. McKenzie described his play in the wild-card victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as "lousy." He also had admitted struggles against the Dallas Cowboys, particularly when they moved OLB DeMarcus Ware to his side. Kampman is a different beast than Ware but an equally dangerous pass-rushing threat. As dominant as Green Bay was against Seattle, it got little production out of its best defensive player as Kampman didn't record a tackle — though he did have two quarterback hits and a fumble recovery. He should be motivated to have a bigger impact against the Giants, who no doubt will spend the week devising various ways to provide help for McKenzie in the form of double teams, chips and tight end help.
:USA:
mg: mg: :agree: :yeah: mg: mg: :USA:
Preview: Giants at Green Bay
...The Giants have no business playing in the NFC Championship game. They arguably entered the NFC playoffs with the worst defense and the worst quarterback. Their defense ranked 17th overall and allowed 21.9 points/game, lower than Dallas (13th, 20.3/game) and Tampa Bay (3rd, 16.9/game), while QB Eli Manning was ranked 30th by Football Outsiders and his NFL passer rating was 25th, which was significantly worse than the regular season stats compiled by QB Tony Romo and QB Jeff Garcia. Statistically the Giants should have not gotten this far, but obviously they have not been playing their opponents on paper. What have they been doing right in the playoffs? First, they haven't committed any turnovers in two playoff games. Second, although they've failed to generate over 300 yards on offense in either playoff game, when they get near the red zone, they've scored a touchdown on 6 of their 7 scoring drives. Third, their defense has held both of their opponents under 20 points (Tampa scored 14, Dallas scored 17).
The Packers would do better if they could force turnovers, but they aren't the most opportunistic defense and they only forced one turnover by Seattle last Saturday. Obviously they can force the Giants to settle for a field goal when they get in the red zone, but again that is easier said than done. However, the Giants will have a hard time holding the Packers under 20 points in the game. Since the bye week, when RB Ryan Grant became the starting running back, the Packers have scored more than 30 points in 8 of their last 11 games, and scored more than 30 points in their last 6 home games. They haven't scored under 30 points at Lambeau in 6 games with Grant as the starting running back.
One big difference between the Packers and the Giants prior opponents is health. For Dallas, QB Tony Romo and WR Terrell Owens, and for Tampa Bay, QB Jeff Garcia and WR Joey Galloway, all played through injuries during their playoff losses. None of those players were at 100%, while the Packers are probably in the best health they've been all season and QB Brett Favre hasn't shown any lingering signs of the arm injury he suffered in Dallas back in November. I doubt the Packers will bring out any special defensive game plan for the Giants since the standard game plan has worked pretty well this season. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders never plays too aggressive, but he has been willing to have one of his linebackers blitz more often over the last several games to get pressure on the quarterback. The safeties will play deep and the cornerbacks will press at the line of scrimmage.
A big key is to stop the Giants running game because it is the best part of their offense and it will turn them into a one dimensional offense. Tampa Bay's run defense is about as good as the Packers according to Football Outsiders, Tampa's ranked 7th and the Packers 6th during the regular season, and Tampa held the Giants to 3.3 yards/carry two weeks ago. The Packers run defense also plays much better at home, having allowed 4.35 yards/carry on the road while only 3.23 at home against some pretty good run offenses such as Minnesota and Philadelphia. The big sin for Tampa's defense was they didn't get enough pressure on Manning, recording only one sack in the playoff game, which allowed him to complete 74% of his passes at Tampa, well above his season completion percentage of 56.1%.
The Packers offense is playing their best football of the season after racking up 408 yards and 42 points against a very good Seattle defense last week. The veteran tackles controlled Seattle's great pass rushing defensive ends and will have to do the same against DE Osi Umenyiora and DE Michael Strahan who are arguably the two best defensive players on their team. Although CB Aaron Ross will play after dislocating his shoulder twice last week in Dallas, CBs Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery are unlikely to play and the Packers' four and five receiver sets, along with Favre's quick release, should cause them a lot of problems. The Giants have a good run defense, but Grant just shredded Seattle's even better run defense last week and the officials have overall shown an unwillingness to call any offensive holding penalties. Anything short of a chop block or tackling the defensive player should be permitted.
The Giants have no business making it this far in the playoffs which makes them dangerous as one of those teams like Carolina in 2003 and Pittsburgh in 2005 that played way above their regular season performance once the playoffs started. However the Packers are rolling and betting against them is not a good idea with the way their offense has played over the last several home games. Packers 31, Giants 16.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09...te=without-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0005
Giants need Pierce to step up if they are to stop Grant: Key matchups for Sunday's NFC Championship Game
1. Antonio Pierce, LB, N.Y. Giants vs Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay
You can probably make up an all-star team of unrestricted free agents from this weekend's games, and these two are near the top of the list. In Week 2, Grant was still a third-stringer and he had no rushing attempts and one reception for 21 yards in the game. In his first six games, he rushed for a total of 27 yards. In the next 10 regular-season games, he rushed for 929 yards -- and added 201 in last week's playoff win. Grant has the strength to run inside and the speed to run outside and has shown the ability to avoid tacklers in the open field. He is also a good receiver coming out of the backfield and will flank out as a wide receiver when the Packers try to create matchup problems. Pierce came into the NFL as an unrestricted free agent in 2001 as an outside linebacker, and he was signed by the Giants in 2005 as a restricted free agent. He has started at middle linebacker the last three seasons for the Giants and has been their leading tackler. He leads by example and is very vocal. He's a smart player who is very competitive. He had 12 tackles and one pass defended in the Week 2 meeting. Pierce should be a big factor in the Giants' run defense if they are to win this game -- though he did not play all that well against the run in Dallas last week.
2. Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants vs Al Harris, CB, Green Bay
For the Giants to win, Manning needs to manage the game. He will most likely throw about 25 times, unless they fall behind and are trying to catch up. Manning has played well the past three games. He has the arm strength and the ability to find open receivers. Inclement weather should not bother him because he's used to the tough winds of the Meadowlands. Harris plays right corner in most all of their defenses. Rarely does he get into the slot. He likes to get his hands on you and play bump-and-run. He has very good hands playing the ball, but his game is won in the line of scrimmage. He has problems with speed receivers, but should do a good job with Giants receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, who are not burners.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-01-15-giants-packers-preview_N.htm
When the Giants pass Edge GB
Eli Manning has been effective because he's been efficient and error-free in the playoffs. But the Giants don't have the playmakers to consistently hurt lockdown corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson.
When the Packers pass Edge GB
Brett Favre has seven bona fide targets, and the Packers aren't afraid to empty the backfield and line up with five receivers. The Giants simply don't have the personnel to match up, and this could ultimately be their undoing.
When the Giants run Edge EVEN
Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw bring speed and power to the table, but they have yet to make a major impact in the postseason. They'll have to do it against a deep and talented Green Bay front seven.
When the Packers run Edge GB
Ryan Grant has been on fire over the second half of the season and becomes even more effective when Green Bay spreads out the opposition. He should come back to haunt the team that dealt him away just four months ago.
Special teams Edge NY {In GB?}
With punter Jeff Feagles and kicker Lawrence Tynes, the Giants own an experience edge in the kicking game. Return men Domenik Hixon and R.W. McQuarters have also stepped up lately.
Coaching Edge GB
Tom Coughlin has coached in title games before; he has just never won. On the other side, Mike McCarthy's play-calling has been excellent all season and must stay hot on a frigid day.
FIVE KEYS TO VICTORY: Packers:
Dictate tempo. The Packers lacked an established running game in their first meeting at the Meadowlands. Weather permitting, they can now pound the ball at a banged-up Giants defense or spread them out using multiple-receiver sets. Either way, they can keep the Giants on their heels.
Get pressure up front against Eli Manning. The Packers got 31½ of their 36 sacks from their line. If Aaron Kampman, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Co. can provide more of the same Sunday, the Green Bay linebackers can lay back and make it harder for Eli Manning to find passing lanes.
Press coverage. CBs Al Harris and Charles Woodson are excellent bump-and-run practitioners and aren't likely to get burned deep by Plaxico Burress or Amani Toomer, giving them an opportunity to stifle the Giants passing attack.
Happy returns. In Koren Robinson, Tramon Williams and even Woodson, the Packers have playmaking kick returners. Any of them could break open the game at any time.
Pass. Pass. Pass. YAC The Packers rack up yards after the catch (YAC) better than anybody, largely because Brett Favre likes to hit receivers on short slants that become big gainers.
Stop the big run plays. In the cold weather, if the Pack stop the run, it will make Giants one-dimensional with more pressure on EM.
Be cool. The Packers are young, and Brett Favre has been known to lay the occasional playoff egg. But after spotting Seattle 14 points, they showed the maturity to overcome adversity. Composure is key.
Prediction: Packers 30, Giants 24 Considering the state of their beaten and battered secondary, the Giants have to get constant pressure on Packers QB Brett Favre from the get-go, and they have the ability do it with defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan. But with RB Ryan Grant running so well and the Packers fleet of receivers tough to match up with defensively, Green Bay can keep the New York defense off balance and score with regularity while using the Giants' overpursuing pass rushers against them.
MORE ABOUT THE GAME: The Packers would be more than happy to host another subfreezing, snow-filled game at Lambeau Field. However, the Giants' set of running backs, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, gives New York a good chance to compete in any weather. Giants QB Eli Manning isn't putting up intimidating passing numbers, but he is managing the offense extremely well. Avoiding turnovers will be crucial for New York, considering the confidence with which Green Bay's offense is playing. The Packers scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions against the Seattle Seahawks as RB Ryan Grant's 201 rushing yards set up QB Brett Favre to play pitch and catch. The key could be who is able to return for the Giants secondary. CBs Sam Madison, Aaron Ross and Kevin Dockery have injuries that severely threaten the team's ability to cover the Packers' deep and talented receiving corps.
Key matchup: Giants RT Kareem McKenzie vs. Packers DE Aaron Kampman. McKenzie described his play in the wild-card victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as "lousy." He also had admitted struggles against the Dallas Cowboys, particularly when they moved OLB DeMarcus Ware to his side. Kampman is a different beast than Ware but an equally dangerous pass-rushing threat. As dominant as Green Bay was against Seattle, it got little production out of its best defensive player as Kampman didn't record a tackle — though he did have two quarterback hits and a fumble recovery. He should be motivated to have a bigger impact against the Giants, who no doubt will spend the week devising various ways to provide help for McKenzie in the form of double teams, chips and tight end help.
:USA:
mg: mg: :agree: :yeah: mg: mg: :USA:
