PJ is 100% correct; the weather will not be a huge advantage for the
Packers, the way some people perceive it to be. It's not like the
Giants play their home games in Miami or something. The wintry weather in New Jersey is just as crappy and cold as it is in Wisconsin. True, Brett Favre is a beast in the cold, going 43-5 in games played below 34 degrees. But he won't be the difference in this game. Instead, I think the red-hot play of running back Ryan Grant will be. The
Giants are 9-1 on the road this year and the
Packers have won 8 of their last 9 (losing only a meaningless game to the Bears), so both teams have been playing great of late. But the New York rush defense seemed vulnerable to me last week versus Dallas. Marion Barber piled up 101 yards on the ground in the first half, then Dallas abandoned the run in the second. Romo and the
Cowboys seemed to be pressing in the second half, when they should have been feeding the ball to Barber and keeping Eli and the
Giants off the field. Grant, of course, exploded for 201 yards last week versus Seattle, and Green Bay averaged 6.7 yards per rush. If they can continue to run the ball well, eating up huge chunks of yardage and clock, they'll win this game. The New York secondary is battered as well, and the
Packers have a great, explosive receiver in Greg Jennings who could cause Ross, Madison, and the other
Giants DBs problems down the field. The worst possible scenario for the
Giants would be the
Packers getting a big lead early. They have to keep it close in the first half to have a shot at winning this one. I think they'll be able to do that, but the
Packers will inevitably pull away. Eli has looked great in his first two playoff games, but he has never been in an environment as high-pressure as Lambeau Field, on Sunday Night, for the NFC Championship game. Because nobody really cares about kickers, the excellent season of Green Bay rookie Mason Crosby (he lead the NFL in points) has gone virtually unnoticed. Tonight, he gets his chance to shine. I think Crosby knocks down the game winner for the
Packers, 24-21.