NFL Playoffs 2012: How the Green Bay Packers Can Thwart the New York Giants

Much of the talk this week has been about the New York Giants' confidence about knocking off the 15-1 Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Maybe that confidence is real; maybe it's false bravado.

But for the Packers to hold off the Giants on Sunday, they need to do the follow two things on both offense and defense:

OFFENSE

1. Slow the wave

The Giants have found a groove on defense, and it is no coincidence that their transformation has coincided with an improved pass rush.

Priority No. 1 for the Packers on Sunday is keeping the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora off the back of Aaron Rodgers, as only a consistent, heavy pass rush from the Giants front four can keep the Packers from scoring 30 or more. 

2. Increase the tempo

If there is the one way to slow a good pass rush, it's increasing the tempo of the offense. The Packers have shown a capacity to use the no-huddle offense, and I wouldn't be surprised if they broke it out at times on Sunday. Not only can the no-huddle inject the offense with rhythm, but it also wears down pass rushers. 

DEFENSE

1. It all starts...

...and ends with turnovers. The only game in which the Packers didn't get a turnover this season was a loss in Kansas City. Their last loss before that was a zero-turnover effort against the New England Patriots in 2010.

The Packers defense has given up plenty of yards this season, especially in the passing game. That shouldn't change Sunday. But a turnover or two against New York is imperative for the Packers to advance to the NFC Championship game. 

2. Backs in check

With Eli Manning, Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham in the Giants' passing game, yards shouldn't be hard to come by through the air. But where the Packers can't allow leaks is on the ground, an area where the Giants struggled in the regular season but have come alive in recent weeks.

Dealing with an offensive attack on a singular front is one thing; asking a struggling defense to stop the Giants on two is a whole different animal.