Giants football GAMEDAY Playoff Edition!

The temperature in Green Bay this morning is 0º. By the 4pm gametime it will be hovering around 13º with a wind chill of 4º. It's going to be a classic Lambeau Field freeze-fest.

In the Packers past history of the Bart Starr's and Brett Favre's playing in Lambeau Field, rarely if ever did the Green Bay Packers lose playoff games at home. Rarely if ever. Then the Falcons did it. Then the Giants and suddenly Lambeau wasn't a great bastion of security for the Packers in the cold.

Which brings us to today.

So goes Aaron Rodgers so go the Packers. The Giants learned this earlier this year and well, heck, everyone knows if Rodgers can run around and, keep plays alive, put pressure on DB's, and make amazing throws off-balance or hail mary's, he's devastating. If you can keep Rodgers bottled up in the pocket, well then, things change dramatically. The Giants have one of the few defensive lines with smart linebackers behind them who have gotten the G-men to 10 wins this year by not chasing plays and not making bonehead decisions, and that can contain Rodgers. The Packers are a team that even when the run isn't going well will stick with it to make hay later when the other team tires. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy knows what he wants to do and doesn't stray much from his gameplans, any changes will be made by Rodgers at the line of scrimmage. The Giants must stop the Green Bay run. They must also always know where the Packer's running backs coming out of the backfield are. Force Rodgers to hit big plays, contain and stop the shorties. RB's in the flats, and don't get killed by the Green Bay tight ends 7 yards over the middle. Lots of nickel today so again, the run has to be stopped by the front four. Contain and slow down the Packers. Sure they'll get yards and score but contain the damage, don't let a possible early 10-0 deficit turn into a 24-7 halftime debacle. Containment. Contest every inch and never stop working. The Packers win games late, the Giants have to build a lead.

Offensively, well the key to playoff success has long been running the football but since the Giants finished 29th in the league rushing either a miracle needs to happen or Eli has to put up about 24 points throwing the ball. Hey, would you look at that, Green Bay was 31st against the pass this year. That sure helps. Can the Giants get enough running to keep the Packers defense honest or do they have to go pass-heavy and this could possibly turn into an unexpected shootout? Johnny's guess is shootout. One team will get a lead and the other will give up running. The Giants wideouts give them a big advantage over the Packers really just having Jordy Nelson. Beckham and Cruz must have big games and feed off of each other. When the Giants hit big plays an aura comes over them and they, more than most teams, seem to really get on a roll. They'll need that aura a few times today.

These teams know each other and know what to expect. It'll come down to hard work, smart football and attention to detail. It'll be close is Johnny's best guess.

Fearless Forecast:
New Jersey Giants 23
Green Bay Packers 21

Giants football GAMEDAY!

The playoffs grow closer and boy howdy do the New Jersey Giants have a BIG game with the Lions from Johnny's hometown of Detroit in the rain today at  the new Meadowlands. Not often the Lions get out this way. Even less often leading a division by two games with three to play. The Lions last division title was back in 1993 when Scott Mitchell, Herman Moore, Barry Sanders and Johnny Morton led the Lions. Most Lions fans Johnny knows are expecting them to crash out and lose to the G-Men, Cowboys, and Packers at the end of the year and blow it. Somewhat new ground for the Motor City Kitties as they come east.

First off, if you had both the Lions and Giants and 9-4 when they played this game at the beginning of the year raise your hand.

Liarhead.

So, in the rain can the Lions running game, resurgent of late, move the ball on the ground and take pressure off Matthew Stafford's injured throwing hand? Despite what the Lions say it IS a big deal. The Bears only had a chance last week because Stafford got picked twice on throws into the flat that had nothing on them. With a wet ball can Stafford distribute it around like he wants and needs to, to the Lions better than average wideouts. There's your ballgame. Can the Giants force the Lions to pass. While neither team tears up the league in offense, (the Lions are 21st and the Giants at 27) both teams do hold onto the ball. Giants average 27 minutes a game while the Lions check in at just over 30 minutes a game with the football. Both QB's will take their shots downfield but a more conservative gameplan will be the order of the day in the rain.

This game will have a playoff feel to it no doubt. Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives, the Giants to keep pace with everyone in the NFC East and the Lions to keep ahead of Green Bay and realizing no wildcards are coming out of the NFC North. It should be a conservative game for the most part and yes, wet weather can make a quick hash out of a prediction. That being said this game smells like one played with a score in the teens or low 20's. If that's the case, and with the Lions seeming invincibility late when they need it AND the fact Matt Prater is the kind of kicker who can make long field goals when needed, here we go...

Fearless Forecast
Detroit Lions 19
New Jersey Giants 17

No tailgating at the Super Bowl

Because TERROR! Yep, security concerns have caused tailgating before a football game, the supposed biggest game of the year to be 86'd. From the article:

"...because space will be so tight in the parking lot thanks to all the security checkpoints and TV crews, even the lucky ticketed few might be banned from (literally) chilling in the parking lot pre-game."

So no tossing the football around in the parking lot before the game either. So no tailgating, no tossing the ball around the lot, no football-type actions of any kind.

"Children of Sombertown, your playing days are over!!"

Who the hell would want to go to this if your team wasn't playing? There's nothing football about this game. You do realize while you aren't allowed to grill a burger or eat a hot dog outside the stadium walls, inside the muckity-mucks will be enjoying the finest food and yes, some of it grilled on site. Again, you really want to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on this? If so you're not one of the fans sitting in snow and single digit wind-chills in Green Bay, Cleveland, the New Meadowlands, Buffalo, Baltimore and New England today. In essence, if you want to pay all that money for puffery and no real football feel, you're not a football fan Johnny wants at his tailgate.

Fog Bowl today at 4:25pm

The Jets are in Buffalo. This does not affect them. It could be snowing 15 inches in Buffalo right now, this is about fog.

Let's hope this thick fog hangs around for the 4pm ballgame at the New Meadowlands (When Snoopy wants to pay Johnny he'll call it the other name) and looks all cool on teevee when the Giants clash with the Packers. The Giants are on a winning streak. The Packers are now without Aaron (Dislocated double check) Rodgers. The Packers are always a tough team to beat but maybe, just maybe the Giants can get luck to be a lady in the fog today.

Fearless forecast:

It's not snowing in Buffalo. Wait, that's not it.

New Jersey Giants 27
Green Bay Gorgonzolas 23

Jets 16
Bills 14

Remember a long time ago when Johnny put up the video of the Giants fan crying?

Well Giants fans, here is your payback from that. A possibly inebriated Packers fan crying on her way home from the big game. This video has roughly 1200 views on YouTube. By the weekend we're guessing it'll be thousands upon thousands...

Don't say Johnny doesn't love you because he's a Browns fan.

Johnny can admit when he is wrong, and he was wrong

The Giants just put a red-assed beat down on the Packers. Now they're off to San Francisco for the NFC Championship game next Sunday. The Green Bay Packers scheme and perform poorly and give up a devastating Hail Mary at the end of the half to the Giants. Earlier this year the Wisconsin Badgers gave up two devastating Hail Mary touchdowns on consecutive weeks to Michigan State and Ohio State. You gotta think the Cheeseheads are going to be a little gunshy next year at the end of the half.

Remember the last time Big Blue played the 49ers at Candlestick in the playoffs?

Giants football gameday -- Playoff Edition!!!!

The temperature in Green Bay right now is 18 degrees. They are expecting a high of 26 with 10-20 mph winds and it wouldn't be Green Bay without freezing drizzle thrown in. Will the weather be much of a problem for the cold-weather Giants? Nah. Why bring it up? Johnny grew up in Detroit and picking against the Packers at Lambeau in January is folly. Yes, Johnny is well aware of the 2007 playoff game between the Giants and Packers. This is a much better Green Bay team than in 2007. Yes an upset CAN happen but is it likely? Let's break it down...

The Packers give up huge amounts of yards. Yes they have Woodson who seemingly is good for one turnover a game and they have that ferocious linebacker corps to get after Eli today. But still the Packers give up yards. We think time of possession will be key for the Giants today. They don't have to run for 150 yards (but it would be nice), just enough to make Green Bay feel pressure to perform with limited ball possession. Control the clock. Short passes. Make Rodgers sit. Green Bay isn't likely to run the ball much so if the Giants can take some air out of the ball, all the better.

The key today is Green Bay's offensive line vs the Giants front seven. Big Blue has been playing very very well up front the last few weeks. Can they control the line of scrimmage? Can they get pressure on Rodgers? By pressure we don't always mean sacks. Hit him, knock him down. Like former Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw once said, every time you get hit your eyes drop a little further from downfield. If you're hit a few times you stop looking downfield and start looking around you. This is what the Giants need today. Oh boy do they. One other task of note, Rodgers can kill with the scramble. There will be a time today the Packers have a third and six at a crucial part of the game, don't let Rodgers run for it, those are morale killers.

Win the special teams battle. There is no reason the Giants can't win this aspect of the game. In fact if you want to beat the defending Super Bowl champs on their hallowed field you MUST win this battle. Lawrence Tynes can't go two for four in field goals. You cannot leave points on the field today. Steve Weatherford must punt into corners. Long snappers must be spot on, even in freezing drizzle. Do not lose the game on special teams and you have a chance.

The Giants won't be intimidated nor scared. They have seen this Packers team this year and played them close at the New Meadowlands. They won't be cold or unable to function as say a southern or dome team might.

So, what does the crystal ball say? Johnny has picked the Giants all year....until today. It's Green Bay in January and the Packers are 13-3 all-time in the playoffs in January at Lambeau.

Green Bay 31
New Jersey Giants 20

Big big NFL weekend on tap

AND we get a New York team added to the mix in arguably the most attractive game of the weekend (which is why it's the late game on Sunday). So without further ado, Johnny's fearless football forecast:

Green Bay at Atlanta -- Atlanta, a dome team is at home throughout. They have a great young quarterback in Matt Ryan who has a spectacular record at home. Almost unbeaten. That great record however was built in the regular season. The playoffs are a different animal. Aaron Rodgers has been playing whip smart and he too needs to establish some playoff credentials. Consider this the monkey off your back win between Rodgers and Ryan. Atlanta runs the ball well. The Packers can shut down that run AND when they do and force Atlanta to pass, well they've got that covered too. Upset call Packers 27, Falcons 17

Baltimore at Pittsburgh -- As a Browns fan whose team is regularly decimated by both these division rivals Johnny would rather chew foil while getting a Brazilian wax than see either team win. There are some days these teams play and Johnny hopes for a Hindenburg moment where the blimp crashes on the field while they play. At least Johnny deep down respects all the Stoolers have achieved by being a smart franchise whereas the raves are basically still the Browns. A STOLEN team shall gather no win today. Pittsburgh 21, Baltimore 17

Seattle at Chicago -- Bear down Chicago Bears. Seattle will now have to give their souls to Satan on their way out of Soldier Field Sunday afternoon for their upset win over the Saints last weekend. Johnny thinks Jay Cutler can be brutal but it's January outside in Chicago and that's worth something. Chicago 16, Seattle 10

New York Jets at New England -- Jeebus Rex Ryan, just shut up. Your entire team is so worked up over trash talk and imagined trash talk (So much trash talk in fact the Ravens Terrell Suggs decided to weigh in with his own in a game he's not playing in). It'll be cold, it'll be snowy, it'll be in Tom Brady's house. Now, the Pats can be had at home, see the loss to Baltimore last season. Hard running and stout pass defense stopped New England cold. This is a much better Patriots side however. It boils down to this; Right now Johnny has more faith in Tom Brady to win a big game than Mark Sanchez. Belichick 30, Sexy Rexy 20.