Packers' McCarthy OK with JPP's comments

Packers coach Mike McCarthy got his JPP on Monday.

"We fully expect to win the game," he said in response to comments from Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who voiced confidence about the teams' upcoming meeting.

McCarthy may be banking on a different result, but he said he does not begrudge Pierre-Paul his opinion. In fact, he said, he would have been surprised if the Giants were not in that frame of mind.

"I would expect a team that is playing in a divisional playoff round to think they should win the game," he said. "That stuff . . . What are they supposed to say, that they're going to lose? I think a guy should expect to win. That's the National Football League."

Mark Herzlich was optimistic that he would be able to play against the Falcons, but when he tried to test his sprained ankle last Tuesday, it didn't respond.

He had stepped in as the starting middle linebacker, but Chase Blackburn replaced him and has done well. If Herzlich can return this week, it likely will be as a special-teams contributor.

With Neil Best