Giants vs. Packers: Non-Existent Green Bay Ground Attack Needs to Step Up

The Green Bay Packers are playing against the team that gave them the toughest test of the season in the New York Giants. It was that Week 13 matchup that showed the rest of the NFL that the Packers have glaring weaknesses that could be exploited.

That makes it fitting that the team with the best chance of depriving the Packers a chance at the NFC Championship Game would be that very same Giants team.

The only way the Packers will be able to walk away from this meeting with a victory will be if the non-existent run game plays better than they did in the first meeting.

Who was the leading rusher during the 38-35 win for the Packers, you ask?

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers led the team in rushing yards with just 32 yards. That was more than Ryan Grant got on 13 rushing attempts during the same game. Not good.

With the Giants pass rush playing at its best right now, this is the most important time of the year for the Packers running backs to gash the defensive line and force them to respect the run. Just like Green Bay needed James Starks last season to step up and get the 315 yards through the postseason, they need the same from him this year, but he will have help.

Believe it or not, former 1,000-yard rusher Ryan Grant is still on the team and has been running better. Add Starks and Grant running well to the Packers third-ranked pass offense and you have a group that can not only score enough to win the game, but control the clock enough to keep Eli Manning and the Giants offense off the field.

While the Giants defense is widely considered one of the best in the NFL, statistically it couldn’t be much worse. If the Packers pass offense can help thin out the already 19th-ranked run defense, Starks and Grant should have more than enough room to work.

As long as Rodgers is slinging the ball and his backs can help out with a yards per carry average of at least four yards, Green Bay should have no problem beating down New York.

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