We're in the Meadowlands today as the Green Bay Packers are set to take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 12 PM CST. Today may not be a "desperate must-win" game for the Packers, but it sure has that feeling. Last week, the now 5-3-1 Packers fell to the Philadelphia Eagles 10-7 in a defensive struggle of a game where, even though the Eagles have a good defense, it felt more like the Packers couldn't get out of their own way on offense. The Giants, sitting at 2-8, are coming off a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears, where they lost a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter, and just recently had their head coach, Brian Daboll, fired. They will be looking for a little redemption today. Both teams will be desperate to perform well today, but under differing circumstances.
The last time these two teams met was December 11th, 2023, in a game many Packers fans would like to forget. The Giants defeated the Packers 24-22 with a field goal in the final seconds. That's not why fans would like to forget, though. The Packers' defense at the time under Joe Barry allowed third-string QB Tommy DeVito to go 17/21 through the air for 158 yards and a touchdown, and run the ball 10 times for 71 yards. It was at the Packers' expense that the Tommy DeVito phenomenon was born, and it really went no further after that. DeVito is currently just barely holding on to the QB3 position with the New England Patriots. Coincidentally, the Packers are facing another QB3 today in Jameis Winston, but unlike DeVito at the time, Winston is a capable veteran who should not be taken lightly.
Last week, many Packers fans hit the panic button. Normally, a three-point loss to the defending Super Bowl Champions still in contending form would be considered "not too bad." But that's only tolerable when the final score is maybe along the lines of 24-21. Not 10-7. The Packers' defense got the job done in limiting the often-potent Eagles' offense to only 10 points. But the Packers' offense couldn't get a thing going, only putting up 7, and that was late in the game. When you try to pinpoint the problem, several factors come up. The offensive line didn't hold up well to keep Jordan Love comfortable, play calling seemed very stale and predictable at times, and overall, there was just a lack of discipline and execution. The Packers desperately need to get things right before it's too late.
Today could serve as a "get right" game for the Packers, but they can't take their opponent too lightly.
What to See on Offense
Normally, I start this section with the pass, but not today, we're kicking it off with the run. The Packers' running game this season has been nothing short of inconsistent. It has its moments where it just looks brilliant, Josh Jacobs bursts right through for a decent-sized gain, and we think we're improving. But then the next play you see nearly the entire offensive line getting pushed back on a run call with Josh Jacobs getting swallowed in the backfield, and you wonder if the line even knew their own play call. To make matters worse, center Elgton Jenkins is now out for the season with a leg injury. Oddly enough, however, Jenkins' replacement, Sean Rhyan, did pretty well in relief on Monday night. Rhyan is playing for a second contract now with his rookie deal expiring after this season, so we'll see how things stack up with him in the middle.
This week could be the perfect game for the running attack to find its footing. The Giants' run defense ranks second-last in the league, giving up 152.1 yards per game on the ground. If there were ever a chance to "get right" in the running game, it's today.
On to the pass. If this were last year, I'd be a bit more comfortable against this Giants pass rush. But given how uncomfortable Jordan Love was last week against the Eagles, we're seeing that things are different in 2025. The Giants' pass rush may not offer a break today. Between Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and rookie Abdul Carter, the New York defense has many players capable of getting after the QB. But the sack numbers haven't quite shown it yet. Brian Burns leads the team with 11 sacks, but then there is a significant drop off to Thibodeaux with 2.5. Abdul Carter and Dexter Lawrence only have a half sack each.
This fact could work to the Packers' advantage, where the line may be able to keep Jordan Love clean, or it could be a disaster with those pass rushers finally getting on track. Let's hope the Packers' offensive line is the one that takes the step forward.
In the secondary, the Giants rank 23rd against the pass. CB Dru Phillips leads the team in INTs and in passes defensed with two and nine, but Phillips holds half the team's interception total, with a quarter of it held by a defensive tackle in Dexter Lawrence. Seemingly, the entire Packers receiving corps appeared on the injury report this week, but according to Christian Watson, he's good to go, and the medical staff is just "going to do what they have to do." Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks were basically removed from the list, as well as Watson. Matthew Golden may be the only question mark heading into today's game with that group, as he didn't play the previous game, but with Malik Heath out today and no practice squad receiver being brought up, I think it's a safe bet that Golden may be good to go. Malik Heath was a surprise healthy scratch, per coach's decision. In fact, Heath didn't even make the trip to New York. The Packers run a pretty tight ship, always have, so there's a chance we never find out the true reason unless it's directly addressed. But otherwise, if the offensive line can keep Jordan Love clean, we may see some good numbers for the pass catchers today.
Matt LaFleur is always looking to establish the run. Today may be one of his best chances to do so. If he does, the run should easily open up the pass, and we will hopefully see the Packers' offense perform as expected.
What to See on Defense
At one point this season, it looked like the Giants had the makings of an exciting young offense. Rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart was taking over at quarterback, another rookie, running back Cam Skattebo, was breaking out, and second-year receiver Malik Nabers was ready to shine with his new QB. What more could head coach Brian Daboll have asked for? Fast forward six weeks, and now Brian Daboll is out as head coach, Jaxson Dart is in concussion protocol, and both Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo are on injured reserve. Wow, a lot can change in a few weeks.
Jameis Winston will be at the helm today for the Giants' offense. This will be Winston's first start in a Giants uniform, and who knows which Jameis Winston is going to play today. He's always had an up-and-down career where he can be brilliant, throwing three touchdowns and no INTs, but then boneheaded, throwing no TDs and three INTs. Unfortunately for Winston, the Giants' offensive line has struggled mightily in protecting the quarterback, giving up 31 sacks so far this season. Winston isn't the most mobile player anymore, so the Packers' pass rush may have an opportunity to steal the show.
With Malik Nabers out for the season, the weapons available to Jameis Winston aren't exactly stellar, but WR Wan'Dale Robinson leads the team with 602 receiving yards, well ahead of Darius Slayton, who's second with 343 yards. They have Theo Johnson at TE, who can be a red zone threat, and unfortunately, we know how the Packers are often prone to giving up big games to tight ends; however, it hasn't been too damaging as of late.
Overall, this should be a favorable matchup for the Packers' secondary and pass rush. Lukas Van Ness returned to practice this week and is questionable for today's game. We'll have to see if he'll have the chance to cash in on this matchup as well upon his return.
On to the run. Micah Parsons was criticized for his play against the run this week. A narrative that was started in Dallas has followed him here, and I have to give a short comment on the matter. Folks, just because a player doesn't make the tackle against the run doesn't mean they're bad at it. There are 11 players on each side of the ball for a reason, and they all have a role to play. You watch a few of the running plays from Monday night, and you easily see Micah Parsons setting the edge on running plays, forcing the running back inside, and into the arms of a linebacker. That, my friends, is good against the run. Parsons recognizes the play, sets the edge to take the back's options away, and allows his teammates to make the play.
Okay, on to today's game. Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary have taken over as a kind of duo in replacement of Cam Skattebo, and so far, they haven't been much to write home about. After being gashed by Rico Dowdle two weeks ago, the Packers rose to the occasion in holding Saquon Barkley to only 60 yards on 22 carries. That was an outstanding performance.
We may see a bit more of Tracy Jr. and Singletary today. Given this is Winston's first start in a Giants uniform, they might rely on the run a little bit more to help open things up, but I just don't see that being a good idea against the Packers, who sit at 6th in the league against the run.
The Packers have a suffocating defense that can control this game; we need to see it happen again today.
Extra Notes
Can we not talk about kickers this week? Oh, wait, we have to? Fine, let's get this over with.
One of the joys of training camp was not caring about the kicking game; it was fine, everything was good, but now in the last month, it's been all about the kickers, and Brandon McManus is ranked 39th out of 39 qualified kickers in field-goal percentage. Yes, that means in a league of 32 teams, six backup kickers have been kicking better than our starting kicker. I'll allow you to pause for a bit and let that sink in. That's right, we can't have nice things. McManus was off the injury report this week, for a second, but now he's back on and listed as doubtful for today's game. My guess is that we're getting Lucas Havrisik today. If Havrisik has another great showing, it's going to be rough sailing for the Packers, as they'll have to decide on McManus. Does he get shelved for the season? Do they run him out next week against Minnesota if he's "better"? We shall see.
The Giants just had their kicker, Graham Gano, placed on IR, and now Younghoe Koo is looking to take over kicking duties. Maybe on our trip to the Big Apple, we can leave our kicking issues with the Giants, sorry, New York fans.
Gunner Olszewski gives the Giants a good return game, averaging 28 yards per return on kicks and 9 yards average on punts, with a long of 21. Can they pass some of that luck on to the Packers as well? Between Romeo Doubs and Savion Williams, I feel like we don't really have a returner.
Punting, Jamie Gillan averages 44.3 yards per punt, which is towards the bottom of the barrel at 28th in the league, while Packers punter Daniel Whelan continues to be the only shining beacon of hope on special teams, averaging 51.1 yards per punt, which is tied for third in the league.
In the End
As said before, this is a "get right" game for Green Bay. But the Giants can't be taken lightly, especially given that they're coming off their head coach being fired the week before. As noted in the past, many teams seem to rise to the occasion and perform well for their interim head coach. The Packers simply cannot afford to be on the losing end of that statistic. With all the adversity the team has faced in the last week, it's their time to hush the critics.
Next week starts a brutal stretch of the season where the Packers will face NFC North opponents in five of their last seven games to wrap up the regular season. This starts with the Minnesota Vikings coming to town. Hopefully, the Packers come out of New York victorious today and ready to enter the next week with some momentum. Go Pack Go.