Rainman Suite

The Giants definitely have the ability to beat the Packers but in case they need a little help, here are five ways to make it out of the tundra with their Title dreams in tact.

1. Run, baby, run – It’s going to be cold and hard to throw the ball, so Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs need to run the ball effectively. The Giants offense always works better when it’s balanced. Bradshaw and especially Jacobs need to run straight ahead and get as many yards as possible so the Giants don’t get stuck in third-and-long situations. If the Giants get involved in a shootout, their chances of winning go down significantly. There’s simply no way to match Green Bay’s scoring possession-by-possession. Even if Bradshaw and Jacobs aren’t able to pick up large chunks of yardage, by being physical and pounding the Packers up front, it will soften them up for later in the game. The big hits hurt twice as much in the cold.

2. Get off to a good start – The Giants have had a tendency to start slow and play conservatively, as evidenced in last week’s game against the Falcons. They’re not going to be able to do that this time. With the emotion of their offensive coordinator’s son’s death, the Packers are probably going to come out SUPER SUPER fired up. The Giants can’t let them get into a groove. If the Packers take an early double-digit lead, it’s going to be really hard to come back on the road.

3. Control the big plays – The Packers are going to score points. We all know that. The trick is going to be stopping them from getting easy points. The Packers can’t score any touchdowns on busted coverages, sloppy tackling, or off turnovers. On the other hand, big plays from Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks have propelled the Giants in the past three games. If they can get one against Green Bay, it will go a long way to help their chances.

4. Don’t let Aaron Rodgers escape – With the reconstituted Hydra healthier than ever and coming after the Packers’ QB, Aaron Rodgers is going to be on the run at some point during the game. He killed the Giants in their regular season matchup with his legs. He can’t do it again. It is imperative that the Giants don’t allow the Packers second chances if the coverage is good and Rodgers scrambles for first downs. It’s going to be important to pressure Rodgers but the Giants can’t whiff on any sacks. The best way to stop the Packers’ explosive receivers is by going after the master of the Discount Double Check. Simply containing Rodgers in the pocket may be more effective than going for the sack. A 20-yard run is just as bad as a 20-yard pass.

5. Play like champions – Like Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VI, this is a Champion vs. Champion affair. A lesser team would be intimidated by Lambeau, but the Giants won here only four years ago. Many of the important players in that game are still around while new guys like Hakeem Nicks and Jason Pierre-Paul don’t appear to be fazed by the rising stakes. When you have unflappable veterans like Eli Manning and Justin Tuck at the helm, it’s hard to believe this team isn’t supremely confident. Remember, the Giants’ 2008 Title defense was derailed by the Plaxico Burress incident. After spending two years building back up, this is the best they’ve looked since then. This team has something left to prove. If they go out and play that way, they’ll win.