A summary of Boxing Day English football picks is available HERE.
WITH just over 7 minutes to play in last Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants were thinking about a division title. By the end of this Sunday’s game, the Giants may be facing up to the prospect of not making the playoffs at all.
New York’s implosion last week against the Eagles at home will live long in the memory of anyone who witnessed it, as the Giants blew a 21-point lead to lose 38-31 on a late DeSean Jackson punt return touchdown. That loss leaves the Giants at 9-5, just a game ahead of their opponents at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon, and a loss against the Packers would take the Giants playoff destiny out of their own hands with just one week of the regular season remaining.
However, anyone who believes that the Giants will lose this game as a result of a hangover from last week is quite wrong. The Giants are a veteran team, with a veteran coach, and having won a Superbowl they will know that all is not lost. Tom Coughlin, Brandon Jacobs and Eli Manning have all faced up to the media this week, and there is no question over the Giants resiliency and stomach for the fight. The problem for the Giants on Sunday will not be their mental state, it will be the team facing them from across the field.
The Packers will welcome back Aaron Rodgers on Sunday after he missed last weekend’s battling loss at New England, and was forced to leave the game against Detroit the week previous – a game that the Packers lost 7-3. However, while their two game losing streak has put Green Bay on the edge of oblivion, this is a team with too much talent to be counted out – especially with the return of Rodgers. All six of the Packers losses have been by less than five points, while Lambeau Field has remained a fortress with Green Bay winning nine of their last ten home games.
At 4-2, the Giants are no mugs on the road, but wins over Dallas, Houston, Minnesota and Seattle hardly compare to this game (defeats have been @ Indianapolis way back in week two, and then in Philadelphia). The Giants rushing attack is the key to their success, they average nearly 145 yards a game, which is good enough for 5th best in the league, and it could be the deciding factor or Sunday. The Packers pass defence is the third best in the league, and Eli Manning has thrown a league leading 20 interceptions. If the Packers can force the Giants away from the ground game and make them play from behind, it could be a touch day for New York.
With the season pretty much on the line for both of these teams, this is a virtual playoff game. With that in mind, the Packers should be trusted to make the most use of their home field advantage for a crucial win. The return of Aaron Rodgers is key for a Green Bay team that has played far above its 8-6 record, and while there will be no mental hangover from last week for the Giants, they may ultimately look back upon this week and last week as the time period where it all went wrong. Take the Packers to put a dent in New York’s playoff aspirations.
SUGGESTION:
Green Bay WIN (11/17 @ bwin)
Green Bay should also be backed for a small stake to win the Superbowl at impressive value. Clearly, defeat today would end their hopes, but the Packers talent could carry them deep into the playoffs, especially if results over the next two weeks vault them into the 5th seed in the NFC and provide a road game against the winners of the NFC West in the first round of the playoffs. They are good trading material.
SUGGESTION (2):
Green Bay SUPERBOWL WINNERS (37/1 @ Betfair)
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