NFL 2016 Game of the Week Preview, Week 5: Packers vs Giants

(photo credit: nj.com)

Week five in the NFL is filled with must watch games, including the Green Bay Packers (2-1) who will be hosting the New York Giants (2-2) in Prime Time on Sunday Night Football at Lambeau Field. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Packers fans should be worried when the Eli Manning led Giants come to Wisconsin.  Eli Manning and the Giants broke the hearts of Packers fans back in 2007 when they defeated the Brett Favre led Packers in the NFC Championship game, 23-20, in overtime. Then they beat the Aaron Rodgers led Packers in 2011, 37-20. The 2011 Green Bay team was 15-1, and the top seeded team in the NFC. Both times the Eli Manning led Giants went on to win the Super Bowl.

Both teams head into their week five matchup with injuries to their secondary. For Green Bay, they'll be without their best cornerback, Sam Shields. As far as the Giants are concerned, they could be without Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nat Berhe and rookie Eli Apple.

Not only have Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers each won a Super Bowl, but both run a similar offense. Given that both teams are a little weak in the secondary, expect a lot plays in the passing game. Especially with the New York Giants. Odell Beckham Jr. is looking to redeem himself after a very poor performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football where he had a career low 23-yards receiving on three catches.

The Packers do have the edge in the running game with Eddie Lacy, despite the Giants having a solid defensive line. New York will be without their top back out of the backfield in Shane Vereen, and the Packers have one of the best defenses against the run in this young NFL season so far.

The Packers will also be without tight end Jared Cook, who has a high ankle sprain. That means Richard Rodgers will need to step up and help out Aaron Rodgers by making some plays.

The Giants pass-rush will need to do a better job of getting pressure on the quarterback, and force Aaron Rodgers to get rid of the football quickly. Defensive end Olivier Vernon will be a tough test for Packers David Bakhtiari, while Bryan Bulaga will have to fend off Jason Pierre-Paul on the other side.

The Giants offensive line will have to do a much better job than they did last week against the Vikings. The left side of their line has two former first-round draft picks, but are still young. They're even weaker on the right side with former Packer Marshall Newhouse at tackle.

Look for Packers defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, to blitz Eli Manning by bringing linebackers from a number of angles and gaps. Blitzing has been a strength of the Packers defense thus far.

After winning their first two games of the season, the Giants have lost back-to-back games to the Washington Redskins and then to the Minnesota Vikings. With the Philadelphia Eagles sitting atop the NFC East at 3-0 heading into week five, along with the Dallas Cowboys right behind them at 3-1, this really is a must win game for New York.

The Packers are coming off a bye week, and should be well rested, despite being without Shields and Cooks. The Packers under head coach Mike McCarthy are 8-2 in games coming off a bye week. With the Vikings sitting atop the NFC North at 4-0, and facing a beatable Houston Texans team in Week 5 means this is a must win game for the Packers as well.

This game could come down to a shootout, and whichever team makes the most plays should win.