Jordan Love was asked how the Green Bay Packers should approach a stretch of football where the teams aren’t as good as them. His response was the type you want to hear from your leader. He responded by saying, “We approach it the same way.” Later, he said something the Packers organization needs to live by, “every game is like a playoff game for us.” Let’s look at the three keys to beat the New York Giants and get this “playoff” stretch of football started right.
The Green Bay Packers Can’t Overlook the Giants
This will be a common theme for the remaining five games. That theme is, “Don’t overlook anyone”. It happens every week in the NFL. Teams considered “the best” in the league sleep on teams they should beat and get hit. Look at this week in the NFL, for example. The Lions were three-point point favorites on the road and lost to the Bears. The Texans were 3.5-point favorites on the road and lost to the Jets.
The Packers are a six-point favorite on the road against the Giants, and that feels like a trap. If Green Bay is going to win, they need to prepare like they are playing the Chiefs.
Dominate the Trenches
You could say that is the formula to win any game in the NFL. However, the Giants have the worst-ranked ranked offensive line in the NFL. PFF has them graded as the 32nd-ranked pass-blocking unit and the 30th run-blocking unit. They currently lead the NFL in sacks allowed with 69. That is eleven more sacks than second place with 58.
They also have the league’s 8th worst yards per carry at 3.9 yards per attempt. Just for clarity, the Raiders, who are in dead last, only average 3.5 yards per carry. The Packers will have their hand fulls with Andrew Thomas. Thomas is graded 8th-best best tackle in the NFL. According to reports, he will be playing through injury, but either way, he is a good player, and the Packers should have a plan to attack him.
Defensively, the Giants have the league’s best interior lineman, Dexter Lawrence. PFF gives him an overall grade of 92.8. That is two points higher than the second-ranked player Quinnen Williams at 90.8. Outside of Lawrence, the Packers don’t have much to fear. Lawrence is listed as questionable and may not play.
Kayvon Thibodeaux has had a bit of a sophomore slump against the run and has been good rushing the passer. The rest of the defensive line isn’t doing well. They don’t have a single other defensive lineman that ranks in the top 70 in their respective position.
Win the Turnover Battle
It’s been a simple formula for the Giants since Tommy DeVito took over. Against the Raiders and Cowboys, the Giants lost the turnover battle and lost. Against the Commanders and Patriots, they won the turnover battle and won. Whoever wins the turnover battle will probably win the game. Everyone knows Jordan Love has been on a heater these last few games.
The same can be said for Tommy “C.” DeVito, who has thrown for 437 yards and four touchdowns in the previous two games with no interceptions. It’s up to the Packers to end that streak and send Tommy back to his mom’s couch for a second helping of chicken cutlets.
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