By Tom Silverstein, Journal Sentinel
Green Bay – It was a workmanlike effort Sunday that allowed the New York Giants to grind out a 24-2 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in a wild-card game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
And the Green Bay Packers can expect the exact same thing when the Giants come to Lambeau Field next Sunday as 10-point underdogs.
The Giants ground out 172 yards rushing against the Falcons behind the two-headed attack of Brandon Jacobs (14 for 92) and Ahmad Bradshaw (13 for 60) and on defense limited the Falcons to 247 yards, stopping them on two fourth-and-1 quarterback sneaks inside Giants territory that changed the complexion of the game.
When the Packers and Giants met on Dec. 4, it was a shootout.
The two teams gained nearly the same amount of yards (Giants 449, Packers 447), most of which was through the air (Giants 360, Packers 347), and it came down to a five-play, 68-yard field-goal drive in the final 58 seconds for the Packers to come away with a 38-35 victory.
On that day, the Giants were without starting C David Baas, WR Mario Manningham and DE Osi Umenyiora due to injury. Also, RB Ahmad Bradshaw was making his first appearance since injuring his foot and was limited in his playing time.
The Giants still rushed 20 times for 100 yards.
The Packers were not at full strength either.
Inside linebackers Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk both were out with calf injuries. Rookie D.J. Smith and Robert Francois started in the middle.
Also, right guardJosh Sitton was out with a knee injury and was replaced by Evan Dietrich-Smith.
The line did a nice job protecting QB Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked twice and completed 28 of 46 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
No receiver had 100 yards, but WRs Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson each had 94 yards and TE Jermichael Finley had six catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.
One player who could present huge problems for the Packers is WR Hakeem Nicks, who despite not being 100%, had seven catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns against them. Against the Falcons, he had six catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
One player who might not be available for the Giants is starting CB Aaron Ross, who was knocked out of the Atlanta game with a concussion. He did not return and his status will be closely watched all week long.
The Packers will have all of their receivers available Sunday and against the Giants, they created a lot of pressure in the secondary even with Ross there. Rookie Prince Amukamara had to cover Nelson and when he couldn’t do the job, former Packers CB Will Blackmon had to take over.
Nelson made his big 27-yard catch on the final drive on Blackmon.
Whatever, the case, the Packers know their opponent and they will have to beat a Giants team that just four years ago marched into Lambeau Field and beat the favored Packers in the NFC Championship game. The Packers have won twice against the Giants in a little over a year and will have a chance to make it three times Sunday.
