Mid-season grudge match: How the Giants can beat the Packers

Double check Rodgers

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having another impressive season. He’s thrown 27 touchdowns and just six interceptions, and his offensive line has protected him well, when they win at the least. In the Packers’ three defeats, Rodgers has been sacked 17 times compared with 15 in the team’s seven victories. Defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck know what they have to do.

Get Manning going

As well as Rodgers has played of late, his Giants counterpart Eli Manning has been equally bad. In the team’s past three games, Manning is completing just 55% of his passes. He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in that span, but he’s thrown four picks. Manning said earlier in the week that he felt “lively” after the bye week. The Giants better hope he still feels that way on Sunday night.

Focus, focus, focus

Tuck told ESPNNewYork.com on Tuesday that the team became “borderline cocky” recently. If that’s true, they ought to feel humbled by two straight losses entering a matchup with a league power. Expect a Giants team with better perspective to play well on Sunday regardless of the outcome now that they’re aware of their lack of focus.