WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Next to the famous "Ice Bowl," this figures to be the second-coldest playoff game in the 50-year history of Lambeau Field. When the game starts and the sun goes down, it could be below zero. The Packers have heating coils under the field and had a tarp over it this week, but you have wonder if there will be any traction for the New York pass rushers, who led the league with 53 sacks during the season. They must get to Brett Favre, who actually practiced with a frozen football during the week in order to get acclimated to the game's horrible chill.
Michael Strahan and the Giants D-line needs a strong pass rush.
The best match-up is RT Mark Tauscher versus Giants DE Michael Strahan, although the Packers won the regular-season battle when Favre didn't have a running game, namely ex-Giant Ryan Grant. The first game swung on a costly fourth-quarter lost fumble by rookie Ahmad Bradshaw, who has developed into a nifty weapon opposite the powerful Brandon Jacobs for the Giants.
New York's pass rush could be key because the secondary will be minus CB Kevin Dockery (hip flexor). Veteran CB Sam Madison (abdominal strain) will be a game-time decision, while talented rookie CB Aaron Ross will play with a shoulder brace, protecting his dislocated shoulder. The critical state of the New York secondary is a huge factor if Favre can throw to his talented young receivers like Greg Jennings, Donald Lee, James Jones and Koren Robinson to go along with veteran Donald Driver.
On the flip side, Packers center Scott Wells missed some practice time and he will have to deal with Justin Tuck, who had 10 sacks on the season. Also, LB Nick Barnett has a very sore hamstring that should slow him down. If Wells struggles, look for RG Jason Spitz to start at center and Tony Moll to replace him at guard. Giants QB Eli Manning has played with plenty of poise, especially against the blitz down the stretch. The story earlier in the season was that if you got his face and knocked him down early in the game, Eli would throw interceptions (20 on the season). He will have to continue to play smart and within himself for New York to have a chance.
CZAR'S SCOOP: Many fans don't know him, but Packers long-snapper Rob Davis, who has been with the team since it lost the Super Bowl to Denver, is considered one of the strongest leaders on the team by many of the young Packers. Unlike Favre, Davis is approachable.
There is definitely some bad blood between these two teams. There is video evidence that Giants center Shaun O'Hara delivered a forearm to the back of Aaron Kampman's head while he was on the ground in the first game. Kampman called the incident "real dirty," and it was noticed by Patriots safety Rodney Harrison when his team played the Giants. Granted, Harrison isn't considered a saint on the field, either.
Aaron Kampman has a little extra motivation vs. the Giants. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
"It's no secret," Harrison said. "(The Giants) push and they hit late. They come at you and try to take you out. That's the way they play."
O'Hara said there wasn't a penalty flag on the play, so it must have been OK. In the first game, Plaxico Burress hit Packers LB A.J. Hawk from behind after the second play of the game and teammate Brady Poppinga was flagged for a personal foul for retaliating against Burress.
"This is going to be the most physical game that any of us have ever played to this point," Burress said. "It is going to be physical even when guys are lying on the ground with guys taking cheap shots and things like that."
Mike McCarthy has fined CB Charles Woodson more than any other player on the team the past two seasons for being late to meetings, etc.
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