Here are 10 storylines to follow as the Giants take on the Packers Sunday at 4:40 PM ET:
1. BACK TO THE FROZEN TUNDRA
The last two times the Giants traveled to Lambeau Field in the postseason turned out pretty well for them. Big Blue won there in 2007 and 2011 en route to titles in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI, becoming the only visiting team in NFL history to win consecutive postseason games at the Packers' historic venue. This time, the Giants enter as the NFC's fifth seed, while Green Bay is fourth after winning the NFC North.
2. ROAD WARRIOR
The most incredible stat found all week is that Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers have the same number of postseason victories at Lambeau Field: two. Manning is 8-3 all-time in the postseason and 5-1 on the road. His current five-game win streak on the road in the playoffs is an NFL record and includes a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 11:2. Meanwhile, Sunday will be the first Wild Card matchup in NFL history between Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks in Manning (XLII, XLVI) and Rodgers (XLV).
3. GIANTS INJURY REPORT
Out: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (core muscle)
Doubtful: DE Owa Odighizuwa (hamstring)
4. PACKERS INJURY REPORT
Out: CB Quinten Rollins (neck/concussion), RB James Starks (concussion) Questionable: OT Bryan Bulaga (abdomen), WR Randall Cobb (ankle), LB Jayrone Elliott (hand), LB Nick Perry (hand), CB Damarious Randall (knee), LB Joe Thomas (back), OL JC Tretter (knee)
5. FIRST ROUND
Like 2007 and 2011, the Giants already played the Packers in the regular season, losing 23-16 in a Sunday night game in Week 5 that extended their losing streak to three games at the time. The Giants fell behind on a Jordy Nelson touchdown from Aaron Rodgers with 6:18 left in the first quarter and never recovered. Manning went 18-for-35 for 199 yards and a touchdown. He was also sacked three times and lost a fumble while the Giants were outgained, 147-43, yards on the ground.
6. SINCE THEN
The Giants and Packers are two of the hottest teams entering the postseason. After their Week 5 meeting, the Giants won six games in a row and nine of their final 11 to seal the first Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Packers come in with a six-game winning streak in which they defeated opponents by an average score of 31-19. Rodgers, who led the league with 40 touchdowns, has not thrown an interception since Nov. 13.
7. CALL THE NYPD
Tossed around for a bit in the meeting room, the secondary has decided on a nickname heading into the postseason: NYPD. The New York Pass Defense is one of the best units in the league, ranking first in fewest offensive touchdowns allowed (25), first in red zone defense (39.5 percent), second in lowest opponent passer rating (75.8), second in points allowed per game (17.8), second in passes defensed (101), and tied for fourth in interceptions (17). The last three Super Bowl champions have been in the top 10 in scoring defense (Denver, New England, and Seattle).
**>>COLLINS, HARRISON NAMED TO ALL-PRO TEAM**
8. McADOO VS. MENTOR
Before becoming the Giants' offensive coordinator in 2014, Ben McAdoo served for eight seasons under Packers coach Mike McCarthy, the first six as his tight ends coach and the final two as the quarterbacks coach. Together, they earned six playoff berths, won four NFC North titles, and won Super Bowl XLV. Now in his first year as a head coach, McAdoo has the organization back in the postseason for the first time since 2011, while his 11 wins tied Dan Reeves (1993) for the most victories by a Giants head coach in his first season.
9. RUNNING WILD
With nothing to gain or lose in the regular season finale in terms of seeding, McAdoo still played to win. Perhaps the best thing to come away from doing so was seeing the production from the run game while playing on the road against a team fighting for its postseason life. Rookie Paul Perkins, the Giants' fifth-round draft choice out of UCLA, made his first career start and recorded his first 100-yard game, while veteran Rashad Jennings added 52 yards and a touchdown.
10. ALL-PRO GIANTS
On the eve of the NFL playoffs, the 2016 Associated Press NFL All-Pro Teams were announced. Safety Landon Collins and defensive tackle Damon Harrison made the first team, the first Giants to do so since defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in 2011. The Giants also had four players named to the second team: wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., defensive end Olivier Vernon, and cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
These five players could make a key impact in Sunday's matchup with the Packers
WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. Coming off a 100-reception season, the second in Giants history, Beckham is ready to play in his first postseason game since he was drafted 12th overall in 2014. Since then, he became the first player in NFL history to record at least 80 catches and 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons.
RB PAUL PERKINSThe running game has some momentum heading into the postseason with rookie running back Paul Perkins, who rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries in the regular season finale while the team had a season-high 161 yards.
QB ELI MANNINGEli Manning (2-0) and Aaron Rodgers (2-2) have the same number of postseason victories at Lambeau Field as starting quarterbacks: two. The Giants are the only visiting team in NFL history to win consecutive postseason games at Lambeau Field.
DT DAMON HARRISONDespite finishing tied for the No. 3 rushing defense, the Giants allowed a season-high 147 yards on the ground in their first meeting with the Packers. The defense will need a big showing from Damon Harrison, who led all defensive linemen this season with 86 tackles. He also recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks.
CB JANORIS JENKINSThe offseason addition earned his first Pro Bowl nod this year by shutting down some of the premier passing attacks in the NFL. Now he'll go up against Aaron Rodgers, who led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes.
