Giants defense much healthier, much better

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Giants' defense received a fair share of faint praise for the way it hung in against the Packers in a 38-35 loss Dec. 4 at MetLife Stadium.

After all, Green Bay is an offensive powerhouse and several Giants defenders were out or playing hurt that day -- or, in the case of linebacker Chase Blackburn, recently signed off his living-room couch. The defense also was coming off an embarrassing blowout loss in New Orleans.

But when defensive end Justin Tuck was asked last week what he took out of that first Packers game that encouraged him, he flatly said, "Nothing. We gave up 38 points.''

Truth was the defense was waiting for another shot at Aaron Rodgers and friends, this time at much closer to full strength. Sure enough, there would be no need for a moral victory after the Giants secured a real one, 37-20, in a divisional playoff game Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Osi Umenyiora missed the December game with an ankle injury. On Sunday, he had two sacks, including a forced Rodgers fumble.

Michael Boley, who said he was only 70 percent recovered from a hamstring injury in the December game, had two sacks and a team-high nine tackles.

Blackburn returned a fumble 40 yards to the Packers' 4-yard line to set up the clinching score. Oh, and Kenny Phillips forced that fumble. He missed much of the Dec. 4 game because of an injury.

The defensive key against the Packers, coach Tom Coughlin said, was "getting pressure from a limited number of rushers.'' That in turn allowed extra defenders to remain in coverage, mostly man-to-man.

It all worked beautifully.

Did Tuck sense Rodgers was getting frustrated? "A little bit,'' he said. "It was tough sledding for them."

For most of the game, Rodgers hurt the Giants more with his scrambling -- he gained 66 yards on seven carries -- than with his throwing.

The Packers pointed to their uncharacteristic turnovers as the biggest cause of the loss. Rodgers also said the Giants effectively used their man-to-man scheme, which opened up escape routes for him to run but didn't allow many good passing opportunities. Eight drops by his receivers didn't help, either.

"They had a good plan, but we had a lot of chances to execute and didn't do it," Rodgers said.

The Giants' defense was a wreck at times during the regular season but now has allowed only two touchdowns in two playoff games, and suddenly seems to have no glaring weaknesses.

Said Tuck: "The versatility of this defense is awesome.''