Packers vs. Giants: 10 Reasons This Is the Week the Pack Finally Lose

The New York Giants are on a free fall with a three-game losing streak and desperately need a win. The only problem is that they are facing the hottest team in the league in the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

As the Giants host the Packers, they will be motivated and inspired to take down this juggernaut. 

There are many key factors as to how this Giants team can win, and here are the 10 reasons as to why the Packers will finally lose.

Hakeem Nicks Needs To Step Up

Eli Manning’s only weapon on offense is Victor Cruz, and he needs the other players to step up this week if they want to beat the overly aggressive Packers defense. 

Nicks is the player that has had his ups and downs this season, hampered by injuries all season long. But he has all the talent in the world and is able to take over games.

His size and end-zone threat allows him to dominate the shorter cornerbacks. When Hicks is on, he frees up Cruz and the other receivers. He's also a security blanket for Eli when he's flushed out of the pocket.  

The Giants need Hakeem Nicks to play at a high level with at least five catches for 80 yards and one touchdown.

Ahmad Bradshaw Will Run Wild

Bradshaw is back from his fractured foot injury and ready to run wild. The Giants have struggled since he went down with injury.  

Bradshaw is a threat to run for big yards on every carry and can do so against a Packers defense that focuses on getting to the quarterback. His abilities allow Brandon Jacobs to be more effective pounding the ball and putting pressure on Raji and Matthews.  

Bradshaw needs to run for over 100 yards to set up the play-action for Eli and give the Giants a rushing game that they have been lacking the last three games.

Eli Will Not Have a Turnover

Eli Manning has thrown four interceptions in their three-game skid, and he must not give the Packers any extra opportunities on offense.  

Eli has stated that he believes that he belongs in the discussion as one of the elite quarterbacks in this league, but most feel as though he's in the second tier of quarterbacks. If he wants to be in the discussion with Aaron Rodgers, he must beat him and not have any turnovers.  

This has to be an all-world game for Eli, and he's very capable. He must make the right reads and take the chances down the field with the Packers’ weak coverage.  

Manning will throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in a shootout against the Pack.

The Pass Rush Will Get to Rodgers

The pass rush has been horrendous in the previous three games with zero sacks. The Giants defense is predicated on generating sacks, and this is a big reason why they have been free falling in the loss column.  

The injury to Osi Umenyiora really have hurt this defense, but they still have Tuck, Pierre-Paul and Canty to wreak havoc on Rodgers. These guys rarely laid a hand on Drew Brees in their previous game, and he demolished them. This cannot happen against Rodgers as he is a similar quarterback who can sling the ball.  

Expect four sacks from the pass rush, and Rodgers feeling the pressure from Tuck and the rest of the guys. 

Victor Cruz Will Have at Least One Big Play

Victor Cruz makes unbelievable grabs in the air every game, but he also makes bonehead plays on occasion. He tends to not finish routes or does a completely different route than what Eli expected.  

What he does well is making the big, deep plays. The Giants need at least one big play over the top of the Packers defense to open the field up for the other receivers and running backs. This big play must come in the first half to give Eli an open field to work with. 

Cruz has had five games where he completely burned the opposing teams' secondary for deep-play touchdowns, and he's capable of doing it against the 31st-ranked Packers’ pass defense.

All the Giants need is one big play from Cruz.

Special Teams

The Giants’ special teams is suspect at best and have been torched by opposing teams return specialist including DeSean Jackson.  

The Packers also have a big-time return guy in rookie Randall Cobb. He's one of the top punt and kick returners in the game and continues to give Rodgers great field position each week.  

The Giants must avoid giving Cobb any opportunity of touching the ball. If Cobb runs wild, then the Giants will have a tough time winning this game as Rodgers will likely score on every possession with good field position.  

Look for the Giants to do a lot of angled kicks to avoid giving Cobb the ball.

Giants Desperately Need a Win

The Giants are only a game behind the NFC East leading Cowboys. They have lost the last three games and desperately need a win.  

The win against an 11-0 Packers team would rejuvenate this Giants' team, catapulting them into a playoff run. Keeping pace with the Cowboys and the wild-card spot with this win is what this team needs.  

It's difficult to see a well-coached team lose a fourth game in a row, and so, the Giants will play inspiring football and pull out a win.

Home-Field Advantage

The Giants host the undefeated Packers at Metlife Stadium. The weather will be cold and the winds will be swirling in that erratic stadium.  

The Giants defense plays well at home and when it's cold, so expect them to be ready to get at Rodgers.  

Eli loves playing at home and will prove to the hometown that he's the man. 

The crowd should be ready to uplift the Giants from their three-game losing streak and expect it to be really loud in there.

The crowd will make so much noise that Rodgers will have a rough time getting the plays out and changing to audibles.

Offensive Line Needs to Protect Eli

It is very simple, the Giants offensive line is horrible, and have had a lot of injuries this season. The offensive line coach has been mix matching the line all season long, and it has hurt Eli Manning and the running game.  

The offensive line needs to get their stuff together as the Packers love to blitz, and Clay Matthews is ready to cause pain on Manning.  

It doesn’t help that the running game has been average the previous three games, but with Bradshaw back, it should allow the Packers’ defense to be unbalanced and blitz a lot less. 

David Diehl is a nine year pro, and needs to be a man and protect Eli’s blind-side. Pass protection is key to a win for the Giants. If Eli has time, then he will carve up the Packers' secondary who blitz’s and is overly aggressive.

Force Turnovers

The Giants were hot in the beginning of the season causing takeaways which led to wins for this team. As the season progressed and the injuries piled up, the teams seemed to lack the spark of trying to cause turnovers.  

The turnovers for the Giants start with the front four getting to the quarterback and getting sacks. If Rodgers is consistently running for his life and looking over his back shoulder, then it will allow the Giants' secondary and linebackers to get picks.  

The Giants will force two interceptions on Rodgers and three fumbles on the Pack, which will be the biggest reason why the Packers will finally lose, and the Giants’ season will turn their season around.