The Giants making the playoffs after a four-year absence is a wonderful thing. The problem is, they are running into the worst possible first round matchup they could have drawn.
Yes, they have beaten Green Bay in Green Bay before in the playoffs. In fact, the last two Super Bowl victories went through Green Bay. And yes, in both of those seasons they lost to Green Bay in the regular season, just like they did this year. But tell me, what does that have to do with the 2016 Giants? There are five players still on the entire roster from the 2011 team, and one of them, JPP, is not playing Sunday. Eli Manning looks a lot more like the 2007 version of himself than the 2011 version and Green Bay is the hottest team in the league right now, winning six-straight to make the playoffs.
I’m not saying the Giants can’t win. They can, but they will need a lot of things to break their way. They will need to fluster Aaron Rodgers, no easy task. They will need to hold up in their protection of Manning, again no easy task. They will need to run the ball in very cold conditions, something they haven’t shown a consistent ability to do. Add it all up, and I don’t see the Giants walking away with a win on Sunday, no matter what “history” says will happen.
Hopefully, I am wrong.
Comments
Lots of angles to take on this and the other games. My wife is from Milwaukee so we have a house that roots for the Packers. I have memories that I wouldn’t mind the Giants making it past the Packers to provide a chance at redemption down the road. The Falcons are in the middle of all these thoughts with Seattle now heading here to play next week it leaves the Giant/Packers/Cowboys as the prize if they beat the Seahawks. Long way away still to hope the Patriots make the superbowl and that the Falcons/Giants/Packers are their opponent (my order of preference).
You had your shot at redemption five years ago.
hence the need again
i think redemption is the wrong word. It would be more like breaking the shutout or getting on the scoreboard at this point.
ouch, hard to break the shut out when the opposition only takes the field every 4-5 years
Nice comeback, solid burn.
thx. In that regard, the Bears and Packers continue to pitch their shutouts against the Patriots too…
One thing the NFL doesn’t get credit for but should is their method of seeding throughout the rounds. The top seed in each conference gets, on paper, the weakest opponent and the bracket is not pre-determined.
The NHL used to do it but dropped it two years ago when they realigned the divisions.
it makes sense, right? Keep providing the rewards for best record/seed. All sports should do it to reinvest teams into winning as many games as possible.
for most of the first half I thought the Giants had a chance, they hadn’t really done anything on offense and were leading somehow.
Predictions for this weekend?
Cowboys prevail, 31-29 over the Packers
Falcons thrash the Seahawks 37-22
Pittsburgh surprises KC 19-17
New England take care of business 36-16 over Houston
I disagree on Atlanta, I don’t think they are thrashing anyone. (Nice NHL reference by the way)
Houston won’t score 16. Their offense is pathetic. Pats win 24-3.
Agree on Pitt winning and not sure what to make of Dallas. Romo’s on the bench, and Green Bay is going to struggle on d. I think that game is a bit of a snooze.
Congrats, looks like you got the first part of your dream football night.
I hope you have money on these games.
I wish
You probably should pick some lottery numbers and play them this week.
yeah, despite not playing their best they beat Seattle, a team i cannot like at all.
You have a beef with Seattle? Why?
Both Falcons and Patriots have played them in important games in recent years. Their style, while better now, has always been dirty. Even when the Falcons went to take a knee yesterday, the Hawks line was pushing the o-line back, c’mon.
for today’s game, on this site I switched what I had put out there on FB for the Dallas game, not sure why. I think GB has a great shot at winning. I’d like to change my prediction above to GB 31 Dallas 29, gotta be consistent.
last game is toughest to predict, by a long shot IMO
Predictions for this Sunday:
AFC : Patriots unleash their frustration after less than perfect performance last week, win 36-28
NFC: Falcons can’t be stopped by Green Bay defense in shoot out, win 41-37
I hope for your sake that doesn’t happen. Having your your two teams face each other in the Super Bowl would irreparably harm your relationship with one of them.
half full my friend, either way there is happiness when a team wins
one down
If the Patriots win, you have to root for the Falcons if you claim to like both teams because the Falcons clearly need it more. Otherwise, you are just a Pats fan with an interest in the Falcons
not true, history is at stake if they make it, franchise history, GOAT history. I will enjoy it immensely if it happens.
So you are a Pats fan who has an interest in the Falcons.
Fan of both with a very rare intersection possible in 2 weeks if they take care of both
Yeah, we are not going to agree on this.
probably not, imagine it in baseball terms, you love the Yankees, maybe because of parents or something you like the Giants too and root for both and would be possible they would play a world series someday. Always wished for Braves (in their hey day) against the Sox, never happened.
That’s actually why your argument doesn’t sway me. I come from a family of Cubs fans. In 2003, a Yankees-Cubs World Series came pretty close to happening. If it had, I would have rooted for the Cubs because of their history in comparison to the Yankees history. I had watched the Yankees win six titles at that point. Patriots-Falcons is somewhat comparable. The Pats have had a great 16-year run, the Falcons have had a pretty miserable existence. Now is the time to root for Atlanta if you care for them.
I’ll tell you what . . . I’m gonna help you out . . . I’ll root for the Falcons. There. Problem solved.
Hah!
I’m going to root for Lady Gaga.
well, the disagreement goes deeper, much deeper. If you were a loyal follower of a player and team that was held to ridiculous penalties then you would maybe appreciate why I am rooting for the Patriots. I actually am fine with either winning, both outcomes will give me happiness. I just want Brady and Kraft to have their time on the podium.
I totally get rooting for the Patriots or Falcons, but not both!
Like I said before, I long have rooted for a Braves/RedSox matchup and would view that in a similar way.
When do pitchers and catchers report?
Less than three weeks! (2/14)
excellent redirect Greg