7 New York Giants Who Must Play Huge to Advance Out of Lambeau

Everyone remembers Tom Coughlin's red face on January 20th, 2008 during the NFC Championship. Everyone remembers Lawrence Tynes going from the most hated man by Giants fans to the most celebrated when he kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime. And everyone remembers Plaxico Burress mouthing on TV, "He can't cover me," to Al Harris.

Well, we're back. But, wow, are the teams different.

Eli has an entirely new receiving core and no one will be rooting for Brett Favre. Michael Strahan is gone, but JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul) is in. And Aaron Rodgers, the fantasy football God who won a lot of people a lot of money this year with his incredible 45 touchdowns and only six interceptions, will be leading his charge at the field that he made his own.

His thunder may have been stolen by Drew Brees breaking Dan Marino's record with 5,476 passing yards, but Rodgers had a remarkable 122.5 passer rating for the 2011 regular season.

So, which Giants players will need to step their game up to have an outcome similar to '07?

Jason Pierre-Paul

Jason Pierre-Paul has been a beast for the Giants in 2011. In his second year out of South Florida, JPP has amounted a team-leading 16.5 sacks and a safety.

With Green Bay making adjustments for him, he'll have to be on his A-game to get after the mobile Aaron Rodgers and knock him to his feet if Big Blue wants to give Eli a chance to shine.

He claimed victory already—time to make it happen again.

Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Jacobs took a youth pill or something last week because he ran better than we've seen in a while—trucking up 92 yards on 14 attempts. That's a 6.6 average.

When was the last time we saw his average that high?

Green Bay, Week 13. He averaged 7.4 yards per carry and punched in a score.

He'll need to fire up that squad and back up his words with that vicious, head down, "I'm gunna roll you over" running approach.

Antrel Rolle

The free safety Antrel Rolle, acquired before the 2010 season from Arizona, will need to be on his toes if defensive coordinator Perry Fewell follows the same plan as the first matchup by sticking the safety on whatever side of the field Jermichael Finley was on.

The athletic tight end is having the best season of his young career with 767 yards and eight touchdowns. He's entirely too quick for any of the Giants linebackers, so when he gets out of their zone, it's all eyes on Rolle.

Aaron Ross and Corey Webster

I put these two together because the Packers have plenty of options with Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and the aging Donald Driver. The cornerback duo will have their hands filled.

Their ability was a big question mark in the beginning of the season, but they proved last week they can shut down Roddy White and Julio Jones.

David Baas

The 30-year-old, seven-year veteran out of Michigan has had his ups and downs this season in his first year in blue.

No one can blame him; the offensive line has been shifted around numerous times and he's had to gel with Eli on the run. But when he snaps the ball this weekend, Clay Matthews and his obnoxious hair will be flying through the gap on either side. He'll have to be paying attention and making his reads appropriately.

Lawrence Tynes

He hit the game winner back in '07, and hit a 50-yarder the last time these teams met.

If he's called on for a late-game FG, he better be warm.

Steve Weatherford

He's been playing pretty well by keeping the ball away from the return guy and averaging 45.7 yards per punt.

He'll need to keep up the good work because the Giants can't afford to give good field position to Rodgers.

Eli Manning

He finally had a better year than his brother.

Eli Manning has proven time and time again that he is an elite quarterback. Many people were unsure going into the season and no one can question it now. He threw for 4,933 yards this year. Let me repeat that, 4,933 yards. That's almost 300 more than Rodgers.

It'll be a gun-slinging, high scoring, basketball-like shootout.

So, Eli better bring the big guns.