Game 12: Packers at Giants - 3:15 p.m. - FOX

[MickeyDavis]

Mid 50's, weather is not a factor.

Bob McGinn's Five Things to Watch:

UNSUNG HERO: Last year, the Giants signed wide receiver Victor Cruz after the draft as a free agent from the University of Massachusetts. He made the team, played in three games and didn't catch a pass. This year, after failing to catch a pass in the opener, he has posted four 100-yard games and leads the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (957). "Came out of nowhere," an assistant coach for a recent Giants opponent said. "This guy studied for a year. He filled Steve Smith's void. He can pluck (the ball). He doesn't need to see the ball very long. Good after the catch. Gets north and south. I think his speed is pretty good." Cruz is coming off a nine-catch, 157-yard game in New Orleans. "He's ascending and really talented," an executive in personnel said. "He's only going to get better. He's quicker than fast. He's a mid-4.5 guy, but he plays faster than that. Like a Greg Jennings kind of speed. You time Jennings, he wasn't as fast. But put him on the field and he just beats people and gets open."

LOOKING FOR MORE: Perry Fewell, the Giants' defensive coordinator, on Thursday went off on the slipshod performance of his unit against the Saints. "We need to play with more energy, we need to play with more passion," said Fewell. "That was a game against a playoff football team; we have aspirations of being a playoff football team. Sometimes it's just the will to get it done. And we didn't will ourselves to get it done." One of the worst offenders was DE Justin Tuck. "He has had injuries, but I don't think that's the reason why he's not playing well," one scout said. "I just don't see the effort and desire that he once had. Last year he played good. He got banged up in preseason this year and really hasn't done anything." As for playing against Aaron Rodgers, Fewell said: "More so than discipline, we just have to get after his (butt), OK? And if we do that and he scrambles, then that's the price he's going to have to pay. Because we're going to hit him."

SURPRISINGLY EFFECTIVE: When the Giants let TE Kevin Boss depart as an unrestricted free agent Aug. 5, the expectation was that third-year pro Travis Beckum would replace him. But when the coaches didn't gain confidence in the former Badger they turned to Jake Ballard, a second-year free agent from Ohio State who spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad. For the Buckeyes, he caught 34 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns. This season, Ballard has 30 catches for 490 and three TDs. "His average (16.3) is out the roof for a guy that looks like that," an assistant coach said. "When you put on the tape it looks like he's going to be kind of lumbering. But he's such a big target. The quarterback likes him. He's just a really big guy with good hands. No fear over the middle or down the seam. Just seems to get a long play on everybody." As far as Ballard's blocking, one scout said: "He's not going to kill anybody. He's huge, so he gets in the way. He can wall people off."

BIG LITTLE MAN: With Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) iffy, it appears that Brandon Jacobs will handle the bulk of the ball-carrying load. In Jacobs' seven seasons, the Giants have played Green Bay three times. He missed the 2007 meeting in the regular season because of injury. In the NFC Championship Game that year, he helped the Giants control the tempo by carrying 21 times for 67 yards and one TD. Last December, he rushed eight times for 47. "He's the biggest guy on the field and he tries to run like a little back instead of hitting things up inside," one scout said. "He always tries to bounce things. He's still got the same skill set. It's in the mind and the heart. He can sniff the end zone and do that. But if you need it on a first and 10 or whatever, he just doesn't do it."

GOOD ALL OVER: The status of Mario Manningham (knee) remains up in the air. Even without Manningham, the Giants can present problems at wide receiver with Hakeem Nicks, Cruz and Ramses Barden. "This is the best receiving corps in football that nobody knows about," one assistant coach said. "They got three guys that can play. I don't think we've seen three guys that good all year. It's not one single guy. Together, it's a nice group. Nicks is a good big guy with great body skills. He's hard for undersized guys, really any-sized guys, to deal with. He's got buildup speed, but he (still) gets long plays. He kind of runs through somebody or breaks away from something. When big guys get behind you, they can shield you off."

[MickeyDavis]

PACKERS INJURY REPORTOut: LB Desmond Bishop (calf), T Chad Clifton (hamstring, back), A.J. Hawk (calf), G Josh Sitton (knee).

Probable: TE Andrew Quarless (groin); RB James Starks (knee/ankle).

GIANTS INJURY REPORTOut: LB Mark Herzlich (ankle), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee).

Doubtful: WR Mario Manningham (knee).

Questionable: LB Michael Boley (hamstring), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot).

Probable: WR Victor Cruz (hip), S Derrick Martin (hamstring), WR Hakeem Nicks (ribs, concussion), S Antrel Rolle (back), DE Justin Tuck (ankle).

[MickeyDavis]

BOB McGINN: It's not like the Giants' backs are to the wall. They probably can win the NFC East with a sweep of Dallas and a victory over Washington. The assumption is they'll be jacked after two desultory games, but don't look for that to last long. Green Bay is just too good and the Giants are too beat up.

TOM SILVERSTEIN: For the past couple of weeks my feeling has been the only games the Packers might lose were against the Giants and Bears. I think the circumstances are right for an upset. The Packers are missing three regulars, none more important than Josh Sitton. I think the good Giants show up for this one. Giants 20, Packers 16.

TYLER DUNNE: Perry Fewell didn't hold back this week. The Giants will try to lay some licks on Aaron Rodgers. There's no reason to think it'll lead to an upset, though. Green Bay has handled pressure well most of the season. Packers 27, Giants 14.

MICHAEL HUNT: Each week I keep telling myself that the Packers are going to lose, followed up by the mental note of, "Really?" They handled that stadium well last season against the Jets and will do so again against the downward-spiraling Giants. Packers 34, Giants 24.

GARY D'AMATO: I've learned my lesson after twice picking against the Packers this season. No more. I still don't see them going 16-0, but I also don't see them losing to the Giants. If Drew Brees can pick that defense apart, why wouldn't Aaron Rodgers? Packers 31, Giants 21.

LORI NICKEL: Tom Brady said it's impossible to play the game any better than Aaron Rodgers right now. While injuries to A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop are a concern (the defense has been a little better), there's not much reason to think the Giants, even at home, can stop Rodgers and the receivers. Packers 31, Giants 13.

[Newz]

Sitton being out scares me.

But DJ Smith starting assures this will be a win.

[WeeksNMeeks]

Was thinking about hopping on the Bolt Bus from Boston to NYC for this one, but I can't muster the $150 for a ticket among some of the world's most aggressive sports fans. For the 2007 Packer game, my friends witnessed a Giants' fan swing at some dude but landing the punch on his girlfriend's jaw. She had to leave on a stretcher. Even after that punch, those fans didn't let up.

Time to lay the wood. DJ Smith and Francois are going to have their heads rung a few times tackling Brandon Jacobs, but they're young.

Masthay will be played of the game, with Pat Lee redeeming himself with a few inside the 5 yardline punt downings.

[MadCityBucky]

Hate waiting till 3 for the game.

Go Pack Go!! Destroy the Giants and shut those cocky NY fans

[MickeyDavis]

Especially when we get Chiefs/Bears and Tebow/Queens as the early games instead of Bengals/Steelers and Falcons/Texans.

[MadCityBucky]

Yeah, didn't realize until now but this weeks matchups really suck. Can't believe MNF is Jaguars/Chargers lol

[MickeyDavis]

At least the Sunday night game is good this week.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Not related to this week's game, but cool none the less. Hopefully he won't be cheering for the Raiders (he probably will be).

BRAND0NJENNINGS Brandon Jennings
Dec 11th Packers Vs Raiders.... In Green Bay, I'm going to this!!!!!

[MickeyDavis]

How is Denver at Minny a Fox game? That should be a CBS game. Weird.

[MickeyDavis]

The NFL on Monday announced that the Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints game was flexed to the Sunday night spot on NBC. The Broncos-Vikings game, which originally was on CBS, was switched to Fox at 1 p.m. ET. Also, the Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots game, which was the scheduled Sunday night game on Dec. 4, reverts to 1 p.m. on CBS and the Baltimore Ravens-Cleveland Browns game was moved to 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS.

The NFL couldn't leave Fox with only two early games in its doubleheader week, so it took a game from CBS who had eight, according to a league source.

It is the first time that this has happened to the league's knowledge. In the new NFL deal, there will be lots of this -- switching games between networks and less emphasis on CBS being the home for AFC games and the same for Fox and NFC games.

[chuckleslove]

How is Denver at Minny a Fox game? That should be a CBS game. Weird.

I didn't notice that but you are right, I wonder if they made some sort of trade of games like CBS will get a game that would normally go to Fox or if something else is at play, I've never seen an AFC @ NFC game on Fox before.

[Kerb Hohl]

I'm fine with Silverstein picking a loss...but only 16 points? Is he predicting that Rodgers gets hurt?

[Marley2Hendrix]

I'm fine with Silverstein picking a loss...but only 16 points? Is he predicting that Rodgers gets hurt?

Actually I was just going to post that I'm rapidly developing the impression that I could never hang with Silverstein because of his picks (I think this is at least the 3rd time he has predicted a loss this season; seems like he's the kind of person who keeps waiting for life to **** on him - then again, I'm certainly reading far too much into this).

Anyhow, as you said, 16 points, especially now that GB has Cobbinance seems exceedingly low. Further, with the hand that giveth/taketh away aspect of our defense, I generally expect the defense to be responsible for 7 pts per game (even if they end up giving away 21+).

Eh, who knows though. I'm certainly expecting a win though, some nastiness from Deitrich Smith, and I just want to bask in the glory that will be DJ Smiff. I'm also curious to see if T.O.D. gets any extra looks at OLB in light of Walden's troubles.

[trwi7]

We just clinched a playoff spot and we clinch the division with a win or if we lose we clinch the division with a Detroit loss tonight.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Typical D.

[MadCityBucky]

Charlie Peprah folks

[Greatness]

Wonderful start

[trwi7]

We're just playing conservative and coasting, right rilamann?