Packers at Giants
THE STORY: The Green Bay Packers took the long road toward a Super Bowl title last January, and it began with a Week 16 rout of the New York Giants. Things couldn’t be more different for the Packers heading into the latest meeting. As for the Giants, there is an all-too-familiar feel about this game. Aaron Rodgers and the unbeaten Packers continue their pursuit of perfection on the road Sunday against the fading Giants, who have lost three straight. Green Bay rolled to a 45-17 home win over New York last December. It was essentially a play-in game for the NFC’s final wild card spot and the rest, as they say, is history. The defeat capped another second-half swoon for the Giants, who missed the playoffs despite a 10-6 record. New York, which started 6-2 for a second straight year, seems headed down the same path. Green Bay, meanwhile, can clinch the NFC North with a win and a Detroit loss.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: Packers -7, O/U 52. 5
ABOUT THE PACKERS (11-0): The Packers improved to 11-0 for the first time in team history with a 27-15 victory over Detroit on Thanksgiving. They have won 17 straight, beginning with the win over the Giants. Rodgers (3,475 yards, 33 TDs, 4 INTs) threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions and has now posted a quarterback rating of over 110 in an NFL-record 11 straight games. WR Jordy Nelson leads the team with nine touchdowns while Greg Jennings is tops in receptions (58) and yards (835). The one area that has been a problem is pass protection (27 sacks, fifth most in NFL), and Rodgers will likely be without LT Kyle Clifton (back) and RG Josh Sitton (knee). Meanwhile, the defense continues to bend (30th, 393.4 ypg) but not break. Green Bay has a NFL-high 22 interceptions and the second-most takeaways in the league with 25.
ABOUT THE GIANTS (6-5): The Giants’ recent lack of a pass rush is a huge concern. New York is sixth in the league with 31 sacks, but it has just five in the last four games after failing to reach Drew Brees in an embarrassing 49-24 loss to New Orleans on Monday night. The Giants are ranked 27th in scoring defense (25.2 ppg). Eli Manning (3,358 yards, 21 TDs, 10 INTs), who completed 21 straight passes in Monday’s loss, is having his best season. The problem is the rushing attack has dropped to last in the league (82.3 ypg) without RB Ahmad Bradshaw (broken foot), who has missed the last four games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Giants have experience against undefeated teams and red-hot quarterbacks, having knocked off Tom Brady and the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
2. The Packers’ last loss came the week before their victory over the Giants, when Rodgers was sidelined with a concussion and Matt Flynn guided the team in a 31-27 defeat at New England.
3. "We won't shy away from the (undefeated) talk if we get to that, but it's a hypothetical situation. We're focused on winning our division right now.” – Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy.