Rather than just break everything down again, I’m going to link up a Giants-Packers NFC Title Preview I wrote over at Giants Bits.

One of the themes covered in it was the continued lack of respect the Giants are getting. When people at ESPN Sports Nation are voting a higher percentage for Brett Favre and the Packers to prevail (whopping 81 percent) than Tom Brady and the Patriots over the Chargers (76 percent), it speaks to how little due Tom Coughlin’s gritty resilient bunch are receiving.

I could care less who picks against them at this point. All I know is this team is playing as well as it has all season and have plenty of inspiration (Week Two) to get the job done in icy cold conditions at Lambeau Field.

Isn’t everyone else a little sick of hearing about the cold weather? Like linebacker Antonio Pierce pointed out during the week, it’s going to be the same conditions for both teams.

The game will come down to who executes better. Obviously, the Giants want to continue to establish Brandon Jacobs and mix in speedy rookie Ahmad Bradshaw as much as possible. Eli Manning must continue to make smart precise decisions with the ball. If it’s not there, don’t force it because this Packer secondary isn’t Dallas and has the ability to make plays.

The front four led by Osi Umenyiora, veteran Michael Strahan and recently re-signed Justin Tuck must get pressure on Favre. Force the 38 year-old veteran gunslinger into mistakes. You know he’s not afraid to fit balls in to his receivers. With the dangerous tandem of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, it’s vital to throw off his rhythm.

The Giant secondary must do a solid job tackling after the catch. They’ll get Sam Madison back. It will be interesting to see how they utilize the veteran corner with both Corey Webster and rookie Aaron Ross playing well.

There’s also the prospect of facing former practice squad player Ryan Grant. Now the Packer starting back, he sliced and diced the Seahawks for 201 yards and three scores after losing two fumbles early in Green Bay’s blowout win last week. He’s a big strong runner who’s hard to tackle in the open field and makes good use of his blocks. The Giant line can’t allow him to dictate the game.

The offense will need more from top deep threat Plaxico Burress. He had just one catch in last week’s 21-17 NFC Divisional upset of the top seeded Cowboys. The first time in NFL history that’s happened since the league went to a six team format in 1990.

The Giants have been making history lately. The nine straight road wins. The huge upset of the bitter rival Cowboys last week. Why not make a little more?

They’ll need veteran wideout Amani Toomer (11 catches, three TDs in postseason) to continue making big plays as he has in wins over Tampa Bay and Dallas. They’ll also need more contributions from rookies Steve Smith (4 catches) and Kevin Boss (1 rec, 19 yds). Both have proven to be reliable in big spots. Keep spreading the ball around.

The line must win the battles up front against Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. If they can give Eli enough time and open up holes for the two-headed ground attack, then the Giants should have a decent chance of pulling another upset.

We’ll see how it shakes out later tonight.

 

As for the AFC title game, it’s hard not to like the Patriots in this one over the Chargers who could be without starting QB Philip Rivers. LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates are also banged up. Figure both will suit up and give it a go. It’s a chance for them to exact some revenge for last year and the stakes are pretty high.

Billy Volek played well in relief of Rivers last week leading his team down field before scoring the winner with a QB keeper. He’s a solid passing QB who if you give time can pick you apart. So it’s not exactly like Volek’s incapable. He had some huge games when he played for the Titans a few years ago.

If Tomlinson isn’t effective against the Pats, the Chargers will again call on Michael Turner to get the carries. Last week, the backup did an admirable job rushing for 71 yards on 17 carries.

The Bolts will spread the ball out with veteran Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson and Gates if he can go. Keep a close eye on back Darren Sproles, who caught a quick screen and broke it for a 56-yard score last week.

The Pats are led by regular season league MVP Tom Brady and Randy Moss. Don’t expect Moss to have another quiet showing like last week. Figure Brady and the Pats to get the deep target involved even though he’s going up against All-Pro Antonio Cromartie.

This should be a fun match-up to watch. The great receiver against the great shutdown corner who has a dangerous ability to make plays and take it the other way for six. He should’ve had a TD last week if not for a hideous call by the stripes which nullified an unreal Int return before the half.

Brady is great at spreading the ball around. If Moss is covered tight, he’ll take what the defense gives him and use leading receiver Wes Welker underneath as well as overlooked tight end Ben Watson.

There’s also other options such as Donte Stallworth, who had a huge catch in their win over the Jags last week which put that one away. Jabar Gaffney is decent and there’s always special third down back Kevin Faulk. Whenever the Pats need a big first down, Brady usually will put the ball in Faulk’s hands. He has an uncanny ability to make guys miss and knows what to do to get to the marker.

This is precisely the problem when going up against the Patriots’ offense. We haven’t even gotten to back Laurence Mauroney. He’s not really anything great but had a big game last week with 162 total yards including 122 on the ground with a TD.

Can San Diego’s D stop them enough to stay in this one? That means limiting the Pats’ big play offense to a couple of field goals instead of touchdowns. A tall order on any given Sunday let alone AFC title weekend at Gilette Stadium.

The Charger D is not the biggest but are very fast. Shawne Merriman is a beast. Quentin Jammer is a solid corner and safety Clinton Hart can make plays if Brady forces the issue. We’ve already documented Cromartie who paced the NFL with 10 picks.

It will be up to the San Diego frontline to limit Mauroney on the ground and get to Brady. Problem is blitzing the New England QB doesn’t faze him one bit. He can still burn ya due and take advantage of man-to-man coverage.

It just seems like too much to ask Norv Turner’s club. Unless Tomlinson comes back healthy and has a huge day which is possible against the slow aging New England D which includes Teddy Bruschi and Junior Seau, it’s going to be very difficult for his team to stop the undefeated Pats.

Brady would also have to make huge mistakes which lead to Charger points. Peyton Manning did it a week ago.

The Pats are a better team though. I’ll go on the safe side and take the Pats by 10.

Chargers 21   Patriots 31

 

Enjoy both games.