New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers: One Team's Playoff Dreams Will Disappear
Eli Manning and the New York Giants head to Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday in Week 15 of the 2010 NFL season.
The Giants are led by a tenacious, attacking defense and the two-headed monster at running back of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.
The Packers calling card is also defense, but Rodgers is the one who makes their offense work.
This NFC East-NFC North battle likely won't mean anything in the teams' respective division races, but both are in the hunt for a wild-card berth in the playoffs.
Here's a breakdown of Sunday's big game.
Giants' Playoff Picture
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The scenario is pretty simple for the Giants.
Win and they're in.
If not, they'll need to beat the Redskins in Week 17 and the Packers would have to lose to the Bears.
And note that this is all for a wild-card spot—the Giants can only win the division if they win both of their remaining games and the Eagles lose both of theirs.
Packers' Playoff Picture
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The Bears have already clinched the NFC North, so the Packers are only playing for a wild-card spot.
If they beat the Giants this week and then the Bears in Week 17, they're in.
That's their only scenario.
Aaron Rodgers Vs. Giants Secondary
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The Packers have the league's eighth-ranked passing offense (250.3 ypg), and the Giants are second in pass-defense (188.4 ypg).
But don't let the numbers fool you.
The Giants have played a QB-lite schedule, and they've had quite a few poor performances.
Michael Vick threw for 500 yards in his two games, Peyton Manning torched them in a blowout, and even Jon Kitna topped 300 yards in a win over the G-Men.
While Rodgers may not be himself coming off of his second concussion, he's still a good bet to top 250 yards against an overrated Giants secondary.
Advantage: Rodgers
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Packers Running Game Vs. Giants Defense
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The Giants "weakness" on D is their 10th-ranked rush defense, which allows 102.4 ypg.
But the Packers have really struggled to run the ball effectively since Ryan Grant went down. So whether it's Brandon Jackson, James Starks, Dimitri Nance or John Kuhn running the ball for Green Bay, it shouldn't matter.
The Packers won't find much running room against the Giants.
Advantage: Giants
Eli Manning Vs. Giants Secondary
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Eli Manning has been his usual mercurial self, alternating flawless performances with multi-turnover stinkbombs.
He's thrown 20 interceptions on the year, but a lot have come off of his receiver's hands.
The Packers are right behind the Giants in pass defense, at third in the NFL (192.4).
But lately, their secondary has been much better than the Giants. They held Tom Brady to just 163 yards last week, despite dropping two sure interceptions.
And a few weeks earlier, they held Matt Ryan under 200 yards.
If Eli's at his best he could have success, but the numbers clearly point in Green Bay's direction.
Advantage: Green Bay
Giants Running Backs Vs. Packers Defense
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The Packers have a mediocre rush defense, at 19th in the NFL.
The Giants are great on the ground with Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, averaging 144.9 ypg (5th in the NFL).
Advantage: Giants
Giants Pass Rush Vs. Packers Offensive Line
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Everyone knows about the Giants' ferocious pass-rush, led by Justin Tuck's 10 sacks.
They are third in the NFL in sacks, taking down opposing quarterbacks 42 times.
Green Bay has a below-average offensive line and Rodgers often holds on to the ball too long, the reason for their 34 sacks allowed (22nd in the NFL).
And when you factor in his recent concussions, Rodgers is going to be feeling nervous in the pocket.
Advantage: Giants
Packers Pass Rush Vs. Giants Offensive Line
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The Packers are right behind the Giants for third in the NFL in sacks, with 40.
They also have the NFL's second-leading sack-artist, Clay Matthews, who has 12.5.
But the Giants offensive line is much better than the Packers', so this isn't as big of an advantage as you'd think.
New York leads the league in fewest sacks allowed with 15.
Advantage: Even
Injury Report
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GIANTS
OUT
CB Will Blackmon (knee, DNP)
DE Dave Tollefson (knee, DNP)
PROBABLE
T Shawn Andrews (back, FP)
T David Diehl (illness, FP)
WR Mario Manningham (heel, FP)
C Shaun O'Hara (foot, FP)
DE Osi Umenyoira (knee, FP)
PACKERS
OUT
DE Cullen Jenkins (calf, DNP)
G Marshall Newhouse (back, DNP)
DOUBTFUL
LB Frank Zombo (knee, LP)
QUESTIONABLE
LB Diyral Briggs (ankle, LP)
S Nick Collins (ribs, LP)
LB Erik Walden (quadricep, LP)
PROBABLE
T Chad Clifton (knees, LP)
CB Pat Lee (ankle, FP)
LB Clay Matthews (shin, LP)
DE Ryan Pickett (ankle, FP)
QB Aaron Rodgers (concussion, FP)
C Scott Wells (back, FP)
CB Charles Woodson (toe, FP)
X-Factor: How Will The Giants Respond to Last Week's Debacle?
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After the Giants embarrassingly blew a 21-point lead with under eight minutes to play last week against the Eagles, they'll have to prove their mentally tough enough to respond.
If the Giants want to make the playoffs and be taken seriously, they'll have to come out and prove that was just an aberration.
Eli Manning reportedly addressed the team by himself after the game, and all word from New Jersey is that the team is fired up and ready to prove the doubters wrong.
This all sounds well and good, and it's an impressive sign of leadership from Manning, but it means nothing until they prove it on the field.
How the Giants bounce back mentally could be the difference.
Will the embarrassment lift them up, or bog them down?
Prediction
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If Rodgers can get the ball out quickly and neutralize the Giants pass rush, the Packers should have the edge.
But if the Giants get to Rodgers and Eli doesn't turn the ball over, the Giants should control the clock with the running game and they'll have the edge.
This one could go either way, but I see the Giants dominant running game being the difference.
Giants 27, Packers 23
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud
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