How to beat the Packers

The temperature will be about zero by kickoff Sunday night in Green Bay. The opposing quarterback is going to the Hall of Fame. The running back has emerged as an overnight star. The defense has one of the best pass rushers in the league and arguably the best set of bookend corners.

You bet the Packers will be a formidable opponent.

But certainly not an unbeatable one. Especially if the Giants handle the elements at Lambeau Field and continue the momentum they've built throughout the last part of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Even without the elements, this one will not be easy, especially with the way the Packers have played throughout the season, particularly in their rout of the Seahawks last Saturday. But if the Giants stick to the things that have worked for them during the last month, they have a legitimate chance to at least keep it close and maybe even win. Here's our five-step plan to make it work:

1. Much has been made of Eli Manning's struggles in bad weather, although he really doesn't have quite the body of work to make the definitive statement that he flat-out stinks when the temperature plummets. He has played only six NFL games when the temperature has been below 39 degrees at kickoff, and he has only four touchdown passes and seven interceptions in those games. Again, not great by any stretch, but certainly not conclusive evidence that he's a dud in cold weather.

So how to deal with the situation in the biggest game of his career? Come out throwing. At some point, Manning is going to have to put the ball in the air and take some chances. This defense can be thrown on underneath, and Manning has played the best football of his career the last three weeks, so give him an opportunity to get an immediate jolt of confidence. Be aggressive. Play to win, as opposed to playing not to lose.

A quick slant to Amani Toomer. A play-action swing pass to Brandon Jacobs. A 10-yard out to Plaxico Burress. Nothing fancy, but make a statement that you're ready to attack, that you believe in your quarterback and that you are willing to pull out all the stops in a big spot.

And make no mistake: To beat the Packers, you will have to throw. Key stat: Of the 31 touchdowns the Packers allowed in the regular season, 23 were via the pass. One player Manning should keep an eye on: strong safety Atari Bigby, who occasionally tries to jump routes and can get burned if he guesses wrong.

2. And then come out running

OK, now that you've established that Manning isn't afraid of the elements or the Green Bay defense, go to your bread and butter. Smashmouth with Jacobs, dance-and-dazzle with Ahmad Bradshaw. If you do get the Packers' defense on its heels, it makes it that much easier to establish the running game, especially if Manning can throw off the play-action fake. Create that split second of doubt, freeze the Packers' brilliant linebacking crew of Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk and Brady Poppinga, and the running lanes should be there. Green Bay has a very stout defensive line, especially on the left with end Aaron Kampman and tackle Ryan Pickett. But the Giants' strength is running left, and that matches up well with the Packers' less experienced linemen, Corey Williams and Cullen Jenkins on the Packers' defensive right.

Left tackle David Diehl and left guard Rich Seubert have been very effective in opening holes on their side, and if they can spring Jacobs and Bradshaw, it will create the opportunity for gains in the 4- to 8-yard range, which is plenty good enough to keep the chains moving.

3. Use zone blitzes liberally

There's no question the Giants need to get pressure on Brett Favre. He'll pick you apart when he has time, and generally speaking, he has had plenty of it this season. Using a lot of three-step drops that make it almost impossible to get a sustained rush, Favre likes to throw quick slants, hooks and out patterns, and of course he is lethal with the long ball.

The Giants need to bring their regular package of blitzes, sprinkling in some "dogs'' with linebackers and secondary blitzes with cornerbacks and safeties. But those might not be quite as effective as they have been because Favre gets rid of the ball so quickly. Key stat: Favre has been sacked only 19 times all season. The Seahawks sacked him twice.

How to respond? Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo needs to mix things up with his calls and have ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora drop back into coverage with zone blitzes, at least occasionally. In other words, if you have Strahan drop, bring linebacker Reggie Torbor from the left side as a pass rusher. And if Umenyiora drops, linebacker Kawika Mitchell can rush.

One of the benefits of the zone blitz is that Strahan and Umenyiora can interrupt the Packers' short passing routes, especially the slants. The slant is a generally fool-proof route, but the one danger is when a defense responds by clogging the lanes that the receivers run to. The zone blitz is a good way to do that.

4. Keep Ryan Grant from getting outside

The Giants' trade of running back Ryan Grant to the Packers on Sept. 1 turned out to be a godsend for Green Bay. Filling in because of injuries, Grant has blossomed into a terrific runner who gained a Packers-record 201 yards against the Seahawks. One of the keys to containing Grant is making sure he cannot get to the outside, where he is at his most dangerous with his breakaway speed. Containment responsibilities will be on ends Strahan and Umenyiora, as well as outside linebackers Mitchell and Torbor. And for middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, who often is vulnerable to the cutback run, it means guarding against Grant getting through the line and making the cutback attempt. Pierce must make sure he takes the proper angle while tackling Grant, lest the running back escape and get into the secondary. Missed tackles hurt the Giants early against the Cowboys, and they can't afford many more against the Packers, especially Grant.

5. Have the cornerbacks use press coverage

Because Favre loves the short timing routes, which can turn into big plays if the receiver breaks free from the cornerback covering him, the Giants can respond by having their corners play closer to the line. Not only can the corner jam the receiver within the legal 5-yard limit, but he can stay closer to the receiver on the short routes and be in position to knock down the pass or make the tackle shortly after the reception.

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