Giants vs. Packers: New York Will Need Heroic Effort from Eli Manning to Win

Leave it to The New York Post to use humor and hyperbole to make a point.

The News Corp-owned publication pulled off some nifty Photoshop tricks to make Eli Manning look like Sylvester Stallone on the back page of its Friday edition, with the headline reading "Rambeau II."

The clever spread comes in reference to Eli's last trip to Lambeau Field for a playoff game, when he led the New York Giants to a thrilling 23-20 overtime victory over Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Of course, Manning was hardly Rambo-esque in that game, accounting for 254 yards and no touchdowns while leaning on Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw to carry the load.

Not to mention Favre slinging and flinging the Packers into and out of the lead at home.

Big Blue will need Eli to put on his baddest, most intimidating Sly face this time around if it's to move closer to a redux of its run to the Super Bowl in 2008. New York's success is still largely contingent on the play of its defensive line, with Jason Pierre-Paul taking over for Michael Strahan alongside Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

As for the defensive backfield...well, let's just say it hasn't exactly been a point of pride for the G-Men. Injuries and inconsistency among those healthy enough to play left New York with a group that surrendered the fourth-most passing yards of any defense in the NFL season.

And it's not as though Aaron Rodgers is about to do the Giants any favors. The A-Rod of right now is head and shoulders above the 38-year-old Favre of then. Rodgers has thrown 45 touchdowns against just six picks this season, whereas Favre tossed 28 scores and 15 interceptions in 2007, his last in Green Bay.

With Rodgers unlikely to make any Favre-esque mistakes to let the Giants back into the game, the onus will fall on Manning to play exceedingly well in the Frozen Tundra.

To be sure, Manning is eminently capable of keeping pace with Rodgers head-to-head. Eli accounted for 347 yards and three touchdowns in a tough 38-35 loss to the Pack at MetLife Stadium earlier this season, though his two turnovers—a pick and a fumble—didn't render the prospect of victory any easier to attain for New York.

The change of venue won't help, either.

That being said, Manning's track record of success against Green Bay, home or away, will come in handy for the underdog Giants against the defending Super Bowl champs on Sunday.

The only question is, will "first blood" be enough for Manning and the Giants to come away from Lambeau Field with the last laugh?

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