Let's face it, practically no one is picking the Giants to win this weekend's championship game against the Packers at Lambeau. Last time these two teams met, the Packers beat them, 35-13. So, why on earth would anyone pick the Giants to beat the Packers this time around?
The Giants started this year off an abysmal 0-2. Then they heated up and won six games straight. And then the red-hot Giants got a bucket of ice water dumped on them and lost to the Cowboys, yet again. And now the G-men have heated up again. They almost beat the Patriots in the regular season finale, only losing by three points and almost pulling off a huge upset. Eli Manning had one of the better performances of his career.
Then, in the wild card round of the playoffs, Eli and company were listed as the underdogs. They came through and beat the Buccaneers. Still, no one took them seriously. Only they believed in themselves.
Next, in the divisional round, the G-men were again underdogs. And guess what? They shocked everyone again by beating the heavily favored Cowboys at home. Now they take on Brett Favre and the Packers.
Now, for a few listed reasons of why the Giants can pull of the upset:
1. Their win record on the road is an impressive 9-1. The only road game they lost was the season opener against Dallas.
2. The running back tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Sure, the Giants gave away running back Ryan Grant to the Packers, and yes, it may seem stupid that they did that before the discovery of Ahmad Bradshaw. But New York has since discovered how good of a back Bradshaw is. He is the new Tiki Barber for the Giants. He's small and quick on his feet. Which is a good for when they need to change things up after using Jacobs, who is huge and break through tackles.
3. The defensive line. Anchored by Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, these front four can get in any quarterbacks face better than anyone else in the game. They got all over Tony Romo and Jeff Garcia and managed to put some pressure on Tom Brady, so, why should this be any different with Brett Favre?
4. Eli Manning is becoming a top tier quarterback. He threw zero interceptions against a number-one rated defense against the Buc's. He commanded a 46-second, 71-yard
drive to tie the divisional game up at 14-14 right before halftime.
5. Last, but not least, they are the underdogs yet again. And they love being underdogs. It is going to give them the motivation they need to beat the Packers this Sunday, when the windchill at Lambeau field makes it feel like -8 degrees.
Being not believed in can be a teams greatest weapon.
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8 months ago
the Giants definetly have a good chance, but with a bruised secondary and Favre's record breaking arm, it will be tough. Plus they are coming to Lambeau after a game in Tampa and Dallas with nice warm weather. I just don't think they will be ready for the Packers come Sunday.
8 months ago
I completely agree with you. I'm just trying to stay positive and look at the reasons why they could win.
8 months ago
1) I think that a road record changes in the playoffs. It's much easier to win an away game in the regular season, the fans go nuts for a playoff game, especially a conference championship. This is also Lambeau field in January you're talking about here, historically Green Bay has defended it very well. Favre is 15-2 at Lambeau in the post season.
2) Eli is a good quarterback, I don't think he's a top tier quarterback though. If there are 32 teams, there would only be at most 8 quarterbacks in the top tier. Brady, Peyton, Favre, Romo, McNabb, Brees, Carson Palmer, and Bulger all have stake to those positions. Eli had the 25th highest QB rating this year, with Bowler and Rosenfels both having a higher QB rating.
Your other points are very good, I think it will be a great game.
from 8 months ago
I'm not sayin Eli is a top tier quarterback. He is on his way to becoming one. If he plays well Sunday and wins, plays well at the Superbowl, and continues that level of play into next season, then maybe he could be considered a top tier quarterback. Bowler and Rosenfels only played in a couple of games this season, so they cannot be compared. As for Romo, I wouldn't lump him into that category just yet. I think it takes more than one full season of good play to call someone an elite quarterback, though Romo may very well be on his way to being one.
8 months ago
those are all good points, however, I think you'd be crazy to favor anyone playing the Pack in January in Lambeau (including the Pats--that's how much Lambeau Field means to the Pack in the playoffs). That being said, the G-men are not without a chance, and won't be blown out if they lose--they are playing with confidence, have limited their mistakes, and if any team can shake off the mystique of Lambeau field in January, it's the Giants, who have proven that they thrive in hostile environments.
8 months ago
I'll give the Giants credit that their pressure on Romo worked. Romo couldn't handle it. However, Romo is no Brett Favre. Period.
8 months ago
the man said it right there, romo is no brett favre. and neither is eli.
8 months ago
I must say it too: If the Giants win at Lambeau in January, something extraordinary happened, and they'll probably beat the Pats too, but I don't think so.
8 months ago
Didn't you watch the Green Bay-Seattle game on Saturday? That was the most dominating game thus far in the playoffs. How could anybody predict an upset over a team after such a dominating performance? Tampa Bay doesn't hold a candle to Green Bay. The Cowboys were slipping towards the end of the season. This Green Bay team is very solid and dangerous. Romo doesn't hold a candle to Favre. Ryan Grant ran for 201 yards and 3 TD. The Packers scored TDs on 6 straight offensive drives in absolutely horrible conditions. While I respect what the Giants have done the Packers are extremely dangerous right now. I even predicted that they would pull an upset over the dismal Cowboys about this time last week. I saw it coming.
The Cowboys were entering the playoffs with no momentum. The Packers don't have this problem. They absolutely man-handled Seattle and played strong towards the end of the year. They can run, they can pass. They can defend the rush and defend the pass. The battered Giants secondary are going to have a much tougher time containing the well-rested and healthy Green Bay receivers. Donald Driver and Greg Jennings are completely healthy. The Packers have two solid tight ends that are both dangerous. Favre is very experienced and very hard to pressure. Patrick Kerney is the most feared DE in the NFC and was completely shut out against Green Bay. He didn't have a sack or tackle all game long. The Green Bay Packers are a very balanced team with solid depth at nearly every position.
8 months ago
uhh, bring the popcorn
8 months ago
Man, I appreciate all the hard work and effort everyone from both sides of the football have put into this post, with all the statistics and intellectual thought and all, but being a loyal Pack fan from ‘65 (that’s nineteen-hundred-sixty-five) and still with my 1965 GB helmet in hand, all I wish for is for the Pack to go all the way! Mike g. from Gray, Georgia.
8 months ago
Does anyone think the natural turf at Lambeau hurt the Giants pass rush? I think the Giant's pass rush is their best hope, but I think the natural (a frozen solid) turf will take away some of their quickness.
8 months ago
mike chin is on crack. packers win 35-17.
8 months ago
How dare anonymous besmirch the good name of Mike Chin by alleging a crack addiction.
That being said, I'm a Giants fans and I think the injuries in the secondary and Eli's inability to play in cold/bad weather make it an uphill climb for the G-Men.
8 months ago
The G-Men's run is over...they live and die with Eli...now that Peyton is no longer under the media cross hairs. I don't think Eli can take the pressure of a Championship game...he largely flew under the radar, and calmly played pretty good.
Lambeau, Freezing weather, plus the heat from the media glare, brings Eli back to earth and disappointing but perhaps learning experience..but ultimately a loss to the Pack.
31 - 20 Pack
8 months ago
ya know as a giants fan since berth I must say my excitement level rises everytime i see comments like these posted and everyone around picking the packers to win. Every week over and over again the giants are picked to be blown out by these so called elite QB's and teams. Lets all not forget that these are the same giants that took a 12 point lead into the 4th quarter against the patriots then with no rest spanked the bucs and immediatly after gave the cowboys enough room and field to hand themselves. Brett Favre is a tremendous QB and I have always loved to watch him play but he is by no means perfect, he can be razzled and he can be shaken up. He has been known to throw 3 or even 4 interceptions in games. I believe this is going to be a close close game with the winner being decided by no more than 7 points and the game being great right to the very end. But I think that all this hype will give the pack swelled enough heads and fire up the g-men enough that they will pull off the upset Giants win 27-24.
Dont forget there was another championship game in which the g-men were huge underdogs and being raged on back in 2000 and that turned into a vikings spanking 42-0 with a QB twice as bad as eli manning
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