The New York Giants (2-9) and Green Bay Packers (8-3) will square off on Sunday in Week 13.
The Giants opened the week as 6.5-point home underdogs, and the spread hasn’t changed as of Saturday morning.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Packers Wire managing editor Zach Kruse.
Giants Wire: The Packers appeared to have rounded out some early season struggles entering Week 12, but then came a meltdown against the 49ers. What did San Francisco do to frustrate Aaron Rodgers & Co. and what should the Giants have learned from that game?
Zach Kruse: The 49ers were a bad matchup for the Packers on paper and it played out exactly that way on the field. The 49ers dominated the line of scrimmage, contained Aaron Jones as a runner and receiver, got consistent pressure with only four rushers and smothered any and all underneath-to-intermediate options in the passing game. The Chargers established the blueprint in Week 9, and the 49ers executed it perfectly.
The key to frustrating the Packers is taking away the running backs (especially Jones), pressuring Rodgers without blitzing and playing coverage with seven. Force the Packers to beat you through the air with their receivers and tight ends. They haven’t proved capable of doing it consistently.
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By all accounts, Aaron Jones is having a career season, but he’s averaging a career-low ypc. Can you explain the contrast between that number and how productive Jones has actually been? Are there any weaknesses to his game?
I think there was an adjustment period to Matt LaFleur’s new running scheme, and playing the Bears, Vikings, Broncos and Eagles in the first four games hurt Jones’ efficiency numbers. Over the last seven games, Jones is averaging almost 4.9 yards per carry. He’s such a clever and instinctive runner, and despite his size, he’s tough to tackle. He’s at his best when he’s pressing the line of scrimmage, finding the cutback lane and exploding into the second level. And considering his improvements as a receiver and blocker, it’s hard to find an obvious weakness in his game.
At times, however, he’s been handcuffed by his own coaches. The Packers need to make sure he’s getting enough touches every game.
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On the defensive side of the ball, Green Bay’s bookend Smith’s have over 20 sacks combined and are destroying games. Has anything slowed them down this season and is there anything the Giants’ lacking tackles could do to prevent a massacre of Daniel Jones on Sunday?
Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith have been consistently productive as rushers this season. They’ve feasted when teams have been in third-and-long and other obvious passing situations. The key for the Giants will be staying ahead of the sticks, softening the defensive front with the run game, utilizing the quick passing game and making sure Daniel Jones gets the ball out on time. When offenses have limited the two Smiths, the Packers have struggled on defense. Their ability to create disruption is vital to Mike Pettine’s bend-but-don’t-break defense.
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Running back Jamaal Williams leads the team in touchdown receptions… What makes him so dangerous out of the backfield, specifically in the red zone?
I’m not sure I’d call Jamaal Williams a “dangerous” receiver, but the Packers have been smart and creative about getting him (and Aaron Jones) the ball out of the backfield. They’ll incorporate pre- and post-snap misdirection to freeze linebackers and open up the running backs in space. It all makes for easy completions for Aaron Rodgers.
Of course, one of Williams’ touchdowns came off a ridiculous individual play from Rodgers in Kansas City. There’s little doubt about it: The running backs are a big part of the Packers’ passing game.
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The Giants have traditionally (and by that, I mean consistently) struggled against opposing tight ends. Although Jimmy Graham has not had a season up to his standards, this is a game that could get him rolling. Do you expect Green Bay to exploit the Giants’ lacking interior defense (specifically their inside linebackers)?
The Packers have struggled covering tight ends in the middle of the field for the better part of a decade, so the feeling here is mutual. It’ll be interesting to see if the Packers can get Jimmy Graham going on Sunday. Rodgers hasn’t done a lot of throwing over the middle, especially the last month. He’s always preferred throwing to the perimeter, so maybe that works in the Giants’ favor. Graham still doesn’t have a game with over 70 receiving yards this season, so it’s hard to see him terrorizing the Giants on Sunday. Maybe the running backs will find openings underneath against the Giants linebackers.
Make sure you check out Zach Kruse for all of your Packers needs over at Packers Wire.
