The Green Bay Packers got themselves a gift-wrapped 16-13 win in the season opener against the Eagles while the Giants had a very costly 45-35 loss to start the season.  The Packers will likely come right after the Giants poor defense with Brett Favre aiming for WRs Donald Driver and rookie James Jones.  Why not, seeing how the Giants allowed 345 yards passing and QB Tony Romo left the game with a 128.5 QB Rating and 4 TD passes.  The Giants also had issues stopping the run as the Cowboys rolled up 142 yards on 30 carries (4.7 ypc).  But the Packers running game didn’t provide much in the opener so don’t expect miracles out of their running backs.  Still, Coach McCarthy will get the ball to rookie RB Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency (if healthy) to balance the offense a little bit.  Look for the Packers to score in bundles on Sunday.

The Giants are so banged up right now that they really could use their bye week right now.  Eli Manning was awesome against the Cowboys completing 28 of 41 passes for 312 yards with 4 TD passes and 1 interception but he is not likely to play because of a right shoulder injury.  It looks like the “Pillsbury Throwboy” Jared Lorenzen will get the start.  Lorenzen has a strong arm when he has the time to throw the ball but the Packers have an outstanding pair of rushing defensive ends in Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins who will likely be all over Lorenzen.  With that in mind the Giants will likely institute a much shorter passing game which means Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey must hold onto the football and take some hits.  The Giants would prefer to keep the game on the ground but that will be hard to do without Brandon Jacobs (out with injury) against a Packers defense that only allowed 3.6 yards per carry against the Eagles.  Derrick Ward (89 yards rushing) and Reuben Droughns will likely find the going tough against linebackers Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk.

PREDICTION:  The Packers offense will look like it did a few years ago against a soft defense.  The Giants offense will make some crucial mistakes this week as they will lose at home to the Packers.