Last Updated on December 23, 2010 12:41 am by Anthony Rome
Giants vs. Packers Preview
GREEN BAY, WI (AP) – The New York Giants and Green Bay Packers endured disheartening losses last week that essentially ended each team’s chances of winning division titles. Going to the playoffs as a wild card, however, is well within the reach of both.
The Giants can clinch a playoff spot with a victory at Lambeau Field over the Packers, who would guarantee a berth by winning their last two games and will have Aaron Rodgers back Sunday.
According to latest NFL odds, oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Packers 3-point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against the Giants. Current NFL Public Betting Information shows that 54% of more than 351 bets for this game have been placed on the Giants +3.
New York (9-5) suffered a stunning collapse in blowing a 21-point lead with 7 1/2 minutes left in a 38-31 defeat to Philadelphia. The only scenario in which the Giants can win the NFC East now is with two victories and two losses by the Eagles.
“The feeling is that we lost the game, that’s over,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “It’s a new week, and we have to move on.”
Green Bay (8-6) had over 40 minutes of possession time and a 369-249 advantage in yardage Sunday, but lost 31-27 at New England. That defeat, coupled with Chicago’s win at Minnesota on Monday, eliminated the Packers from NFC North contention.
Matt Flynn threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns while filling in admirably for Rodgers, who was out with a concussion. Rodgers has passed all the necessary tests and will return with the Packers facing elimination.
“Obviously the Giants are coming off of a disappointing loss last week and we’re coming off of the same kind of deal – a loss late in the game when we had a chance to win,” Rodgers said. “So, it’s two teams that are fighting for the same goal – to get in the playoffs – and it’s an important game for both of us.”
Rodgers threw for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in a four-game span prior to suffering the concussion Dec. 12, when he failed to slide on a run and was hit hard in a 7-3 loss at Detroit. He insists he won’t change his approach.
“Yeah, I think it needs to continue to be a reactionary sport for me and I trust my instincts when I’m on the field and I trust my ability to react to the things I see and obviously I’m a guy who has made some plays outside the pocket,” Rodgers said. “I’ve been a guy who slides 95 percent of the time and I’m going to continue to be a guy who slides 95 percent of the time.”
The sight of Rodgers running around outside of the pocket could bring back bad memories from last week for the Giants. They allowed Michael Vick to rush for 130 yards on 10 carries and are certainly wary of Rodgers, who has 309 rushing yards and four TDs on the ground.
“Rodgers is the number two rusher on the team and averages a little more than four rushes per game,” Coughlin said. “He has four touchdowns running, and he will come out of the pocket and he will run. He does make plays with legs, he is athletic.”
This is the first meeting between these teams since New York won 23-20 in overtime at Lambeau three seasons ago in the NFC championship, Brett Favre’s final game with the Packers.
“That was then and this is now, it’s a new year,” Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said. “We have a new team and they have a new team. They have some different things that they do that we’re going to have to contend with, and vice versa.”
Jacobs and the Giants were limited to 100 yards rushing last week. New York ranks fifth in the league with 144.9 per game on the ground, but its two worst rushing efforts came against Philadelphia.
A return to normalcy for the rushing attack would help take the pressure off of Eli Manning, who threw for four touchdowns along with his league-leading 20th interception last week.
Manning gave the Giants short speech Monday, imploring them to focus on Green Bay.
“I like the way we’ve responded when our backs have been up against the wall this year,” Manning said. “We had two cases earlier in the season where we lost a few and responded well with win streaks. That’s what you like to see, a team that can get hot. We know we’re capable of that and we just have to go do it.”
Coughlin also voiced his support for rookie Matt Dodge, whose ill-advised punt was returned for the winning TD by DeSean Jackson on the game’s final play. Coughlin had instructed Dodge to kick the ball out of bounds.
These teams rank first and second in the NFC in sacks with 42 by New York and 40 by Green Bay. Packers linebacker Clay Matthews leads the conference with 12 1/2 while the Giants’ Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora are the only teammates with 10 apiece.
The Packers have won nine of their last 10 at home. All six of their losses have been by four points or fewer.
“We feel very confident since we are here at home,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “The Giants are a very good football team, but I think that, just stating the obvious, we need this win. We have to get to nine wins and it needs to happen this week.”
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