2012 NFL Playoffs: Book Of Eli? Will Giants QB Manning Upset The Green Bay Packers At Lambeau Again?

Published: 14th Jan 12 8:39 pm
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by Robert D. Cobb
Cleveland Browns Featured Columnist, Follow me on Twitter, @RobertCobb_76
The Star-Ledger-US PRESSWIRE

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Sometimes they say that a sequel is never as good as the original, in the case of the Green Bay Packers and their game with the New York Giants, the Packers hope that this up-coming sequel is more along the lines of Staying Alive than The Godfather Part II 

In a set-up worthy of a Aaron Sorkin screenplay, you have the New York Giants going on a heroic quest for glory on the road in pursuit of their fourth Super Bowl title, and much like 2007, their epic adventure takes them into the heart of the upper Midwest—Wisconsin.

In 2007, you had a third-year quarterback in Eli Manning catch fire at the end of the regular season and ride Manning’s six touchdowns and 854 yards passing all the way to a Super Bowl XLII upset of the heavily-favored—and undefeated—New England Patriots.

Manning would complete 61.3 percent of his passes and post a 95.7 QB rating during the Giants title run.

In the 2007 NFC Championship Game vs the Packers, Manning would defeat Green Bay 23-20—and thanks to a late Brett Favre interception by Corey Webster and a game-winning 47-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes—would force Favre into his first retirement.

Manning would complete 21-of-40 passes for 251 yards in a game that featured temperatures of minus-3 degrees and a wind-chill of minus-24.

While this sequel may have a returning cast of characters such as Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Ahmed Bradshaw, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, there are many new exciting characters who make may this return engagement a blockbuster.

Randall Cobb, James Starks, Jordy Nelson, Clay Matthews, Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Jake Ballard, Jason Pierre-Paul, Antrel Rolle and Mario Manningham may be guest stars in this sequel, but will most likely play big roles.

The question is who will steal the show?

Here’s a hint—it might be the fresh-faced extra who was on the sidelines watching—Aaron Rodgers.

While the Giants defeated Favre on the storied “frozen tundra” four years ago, they have already lost to Rodgers 38-35 on their own.

Make no mistake, Rodgers is no Favre and will not be forced into any ill-timed throws the same way that Favre was, the question that needs to be answered for Green Bay is will Rodgers deliver a happy ending?

Somehow it seems fitting that two old adversaries who share a common bond meet again on the field of battle, with one seeking revenge and the other seeking to continue its own quest for glory, meet on the same hallowed ground of battle.

Will the author of the first encounter in Manning write a sequel to his book of Eli? Or will the unknown and shadowy Rodgers write his own chapter in this remake?

To Be Continued.

Follow me on Twitter, @Dawgfather_76  

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