Key Battles for Packers vs. Giants
The Green Bay Packers welcome the New York Giants to Lambeau on Sunday and Andrew Garda is breaking down the key matchup for the game.
By andrewgarda
The Green Bay Packers get back to business this weekend by welcoming the New York Giants to Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon. Coming out of the bye week with some momentum is critical for the Packers, but they are going to see a desperate New York Giants team, trying to correct a two game skid involving the Minnesota Vikings and Washington.
There is plenty to examine here, but the key battle the Packers have to focus on is their secondary against the Giants’ receivers.
Odell Beckham Jr will get all the ink because that’s what he does, but he’s only the tip of the iceberg. If you focus on him, you cannot afford to forget Victor Cruz (back from a long-term leg injury) and rookie Sterling Shepard. Both have had some good production over the course of the first four weeks, at least until they hit the buzzsaw that is the Vikings defense.
This is a tall order for any group, much less one which has been burned for a few big plays over the last few games. This week looks like it will feature the return of safety Morgan Burnett, but Sam Shields remains out so second-year corners Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins will likely rotate in his stead, with a little help from LaDarius Gunter.
The best way to get Beckham off his game is to play him close and physical, so whoever gets that task has to be on him early and often. The Packers don’t field a ton of trash talkers, which means they’ll lose the added advantage that a Josh Norman or Xavier Rhodes brings to the table, but it wouldn’t shock anyone to see them jaw a little.
The book is out on Beckham and it reads that he can be forced out of his zone with some physical play and mean words. He needs to prove to anyone he can control his emotions. Until then, it’s open season.
Most likely, Randall will draw Beckham but whether he follows Beckham or not remains to be seen, so any number of defensive backs could get a shot at the Giants receiver.
Cruz is a problem out of the slot, though Shepard can also line up there. They aren’t an easy matchup for the linebackers, so expect a safety to crawl up on occasion to occupy whoever is there.
The Giants offense has been off-track the last few weeks, and is close to desperate for a win within the conference. The Packers can expect a focused group, incentivized to wash the bad taste of their performances against Washington and Minnesota out of their mouths.
The Packers secondary is going to feature a lot of inexperienced players. If Green Bay wants to get off to a fast start coming off the bye week, those players are going to have to really step up against these receivers.
Comments (27)
NickPerry
October 07, 2016 at 06:51 am
The way the Packers are going to win this game is by way of the 2011 season...Out Score them!!! This will be a good ole fashioned who has the ball last type of game. I hope it's the Packers.
I'm anxious to see what the front 7 on defense does this game. The Giants OL isn't the best and the Packers are getting Matthews back. The way Perry is playing with Daniels in the middle, hopefully the Packers CB'S can hold down the Giants receivers for just a few seconds so the pass rush can get to Eli. If the Packers CB'S are lined up 10 yards off, it's going to be a long night. Eli WILL take the short 5 yard passes, all night long.
Thegreatreynoldo
October 07, 2016 at 08:29 am
The Giants have the 3rd best OL, according to PFF. Main reasons per the article is that Ereck Flowers made the 2nd year jump, and Pugh at LG is really good. GB is ranked 2nd by PFF. I'd say this is too early to rely upon, but fwiw, here's the link.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-nfl-offensive-lines-...
NickPerry
October 07, 2016 at 08:10 pm
There also pretty banged up from what I've read. PPF doesn't count Eli throws the ball in about 1.5 seconds.
Savage57
October 07, 2016 at 06:41 am
Opponent in a slide needing to turn things around? Check.
Their star player being questioned and hammered in the press? Check.
Prime time game? Check.
Expect Eli and the Giants to set a few franchise, personal or league records on the way to blowing out the Pack at home in embarrassing fashion.
Hate to say it, but it's been the trend lately.
marpag1
October 07, 2016 at 07:48 am
Just out of curiosity, what other prime time, record-setting, turnaround games are a part of this "trend" you're seeing?
RCPackerFan
October 07, 2016 at 07:49 am
Well Packers got blown out by the Vikings in their last prime time game.
Blown out by 3 points....
rdent
October 09, 2016 at 10:45 am
I wouldn't call it a trend or blowouts but going back to the Favre days (NFC championship game) the Giants have beat GB in some big games,thats what we're talking about here right? Giants,Packers
MarkinMadison
October 07, 2016 at 10:42 am
That's pretty weak sauce.
RCPackerFan
October 07, 2016 at 06:43 am
Right now I would probably put Gunter up against Beckham. He is the most physical CB the Packers have at the LOS. He would be the guy who could disrupt Beckham the most at the LOS and throw his timing off.
Packers DB's against Giants WR's will probably be the mostly watched contest.
But another one to watch closely is the Packers pass rush vs Giants OL. To help the DB's out the front 6 has to get pressure on Eli.
On the other side of the ball, the Packers WR's vs Giants DB's. Giants DB's are banged up so this could be a perfect game for the Packers to use a lot more of 4 and 5 WR sets.
dobber
October 07, 2016 at 08:30 am
I think you can bet the Packers will be cheating safety help to wherever Beckham is, also. Other teams have been doing that recently, and it's effective.
Finwiz
October 07, 2016 at 11:42 am
Gunter covering Beckham? Are you out of your flippin mind? Beckham will go off for 225 with that guy on him. Waaaay too slow. People think just because a guy is physical he can get a jam at LOS, and cover a quick guy, the problem is the foot speed. One juke move and Little Blondie is gone down the sidelines for 75 yd TD. That is the LAST guy they want on Beckham.
Dr.Rodgers
October 07, 2016 at 07:21 am
Packers pass rush plus stout run defense. I pick the Packers by 10. Prime time win at Lambeau. Go Pack go!
RCPackerFan
October 07, 2016 at 07:28 am
Like it!
rdent
October 07, 2016 at 08:11 am
Sam Shields will not play vs Giants +
D Randall nursing groin injury =oh sh*t
pacman
October 07, 2016 at 08:27 am
Is it improbable to turn a WR into a SS or CB? We need more speed and we have speedsters Janis, Montgomery and Davis who aren't being utilized much.
If we lose anybody else, anybody think any of these guys are the emergency backups?
Colin_C
October 07, 2016 at 11:01 am
In a few weeks, yes. CB and WR are two very different positions with different skill sets. I could see a CB transitioning to WR with relative ease, but the other way around could take years. As fun as the thought is, I don't think we'll see JJ on defense anytime soon :-)
rdent
October 09, 2016 at 10:52 am
Apparently JJ hasn't mastered WR well enough for the coaching staff,switching him to CB would be out of the question
SpudRapids
October 07, 2016 at 09:18 am
Bold prediction: the defense is the highlight of the game for us.
The key is to pressure chuck and duck Manning. Watch him play... He never steps into throws when he is going to get hit. With the return of Clay and the dominance of Daniels I think they'll get to him causing him to float some balls resulting in INTs.
That's my prediction. 31-17 Pack
Thegreatreynoldo
October 07, 2016 at 10:10 am
Not much about match-ups in this article.
Giants' RT Bobby Hart (or Beatty) vs. GB rushers. Will move guys around to take advantage of Hart? Clark should have opportunities against Richburg as well.
Cobb vs. Trevin Wade? Nelson should be seeing CBs who will get questionable help from NY's back-up safeties.]
Does anybody know if NY has Jenkins take the #1 WR or do the CBs stay on their own side of the field?
lebowski
October 08, 2016 at 10:35 am
That was my thought, clicked on the article for some under the radar matchups and read the same stuff about our DBs versus the G-men receivers I've been seeing all week.
PaulRosik
October 07, 2016 at 11:14 am
All the emphasis in the comments and articles is on the defensive matchups. And with a thin DB against three good receivers it is right to be worried about how the Pack is going to stop the Giants. Gunter, Rollins, and Hawkins covering Cruz, Shepard, and Beckam is indeed scary.
But that makes the offensive matchup all the more important. The Giants defensive backfield is also very beat up and the Packers offense will need to dictate pace and control the ball. Rodgers can't throw for 190 yards in this one as the Packers need to keep the defense off the field and move the ball and score points.
Tundraboy
October 08, 2016 at 01:51 am
"Rodgers can't throw for 190 yards in this one as the Packers need to keep the defense off the field and move the ball and score points."
That's for sure. This week especially.
NickPerry
October 08, 2016 at 06:51 am
I agree TB, unless McCarthy actually runs Lacy...A LOT. Then again even when Eddie seems to have it going MM seems to take the ball out of his hands most games.
marpag1
October 07, 2016 at 04:11 pm
What seems to be lost in this discussion about "how are we ever going to stop the Giants" is that after 4 games the Giants are one of the LOWEST scoring teams in the entire league (27th, at 18 ppg). And this is despite the fact that one of NY's games was against a horrible defense from WAS (25th in points allowed at 28 ppg, and 29th in yards allowed) and another against an utterly abysmal defense from NO (dead last in points allowed at 32.5 ppg, and 31st in yards allowed).
NYG also played a a middling defense (DAL), and one very good defense (MIN).
Tundraboy
October 08, 2016 at 01:56 am
And thats what worries me most. They are so due and we can be the perfect cure for them. They have a QB who is quick to throw and doesn't mind going short. And we love to play off from the WRs.
marpag1
October 08, 2016 at 04:49 am
It's always possible that a team could catch fire. But if teams did well because they are "due" then Cleveland would have been awesome a long time ago.
stockholder
October 08, 2016 at 07:43 am
The key to this game is Time management! Short passes and hit the Te s. I want to see Montgomery more out of the backfield. Better blocking for the runners. And yes, even Adams with his bread catches behind the line. (But only behind the line!) Nelson on slants. Forget about Davis and Janis this game. (Decoys deep) Use Janis on Kick offs. After the short stuff is established, go to Cobb deep. The Giants are just as banged up as the packers. The more plays defended, the more they'll hurt!