The Packers destroyed the Raiders yesterday at Lambeau Field.  Aaron Rodgers was sharp as he completed 17 of 30 passes for 281 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  Matt Flynn threw two incomplete passes and he was sacked in the end zone for a safety by LB Rolando McClain of the Raiders.  Ryan Grant led the way on the ground for the Packers in this game with 85 yards rushing on 10 carries (8.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  John Kuhn pitched in with 10 carries for 46 yards (4.6 ypc) in this game.  WRs Jordy Nelson (3 rec, 81 yards, TD) and Donald Driver (4 rec, 75 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Packers yesterday.  TE Ryan Taylor pitched in with 1 catch for 4 yards….but it went for a TD.  The Packers finished up with 136 yards rushing on 24 carries (5.7 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 32 passes (53.1%) for 281 yards as they had possession of the ball for 28:40.

The defense made a lot of big plays in this game.  LB D.J. Smith (10 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception), safety Morgan Burnett (10 tackles) and LB Rob Francois (9 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the Packers on D in this game.  LB Erik Walden (2 tackles and a fumble recovery that he returned 5 yards for a TD) and CBs Sam Shields (interception) and Charles Woodson (interception) also made big plays on D in this game for the Pack.  The Raiders finished up with 117 yards rushing on 29 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 43 passes (55.8%) for 245 yards in this game.  The Packers are now 13-0 on the year.

The Packers are coming off a very hard fought win against the Giants.  They still have found a way to win every game they have played so far this year.  The Raiders are now tied with the Broncos atop of the AFC West, so this is a HUGE game for them.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to try to get this game over quickly.  Aaron Rodgers is going to be throwing the ball all over the field in this game, in order to build a big lead.  The Raiders are giving up 239.1 yards passing per game so far this year, but they do have 14 interceptions, so they can make some plays.  I still don’t see them offering must resistance to the Packers’ air attack.  James Starks and Ryan Grant will try to grind the game out late on the ground against a Raiders’ D that is allowing 141.2 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards per carry so far this year.

When the Raiders have the ball:  The Raiders like to run the ball and throw it deep.  RB Michael Bush is a good power running back, so the front seven of the Packers are going to have to tighten up the chinstraps.  The Packers must also watch out for FB Marcel Reece.  He doesn’t get the ball a lot, but he makes plays both running and catching the ball when he does get his chances.  The Packers are going to have to get after Carson Palmer, because he still has a good enough arm to get the ball deep to his WRs.  He doesn’t have a favorite receiver which makes the Raiders’ passing game hard to defend.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 37, RAIDERS 20

26-year old WR Jordy Nelson is really stepping up for the Green Bay Packers this year.  He has played in 12 games for the Packers so far this year and he has caught 48 passes for 876 yards (18.3 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  Nelson has already set career highs in receptions, yards and TDs with 4 games left in the 2011 season.  Packers’ QBs are completing an amazing 48 of 63 passes (76.2%) thrown in Nelson’s direction.  The most amazing thing about that completion % is that a lot of Nelson’s catches are down the field.  Nelson has now played in 57 games in his first four years with the Packers and he has caught 148 passes for 2,144 yards (14.5 avg) with 15 TD grabs.

23-year old TE Andrew Quarless is done for the season due to a knee injury that requires surgery.  Quarless played in 10 games for the Packers this year and he caught 3 passes for 36 yards (12.0 avg).  He has now played in 23 games in his first two years with the Packers and he has caught 24 passes for 274 yards (11.4 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Quarless was the Packers’ #3 TE, so they should be o.k. without him the rest of the way.

The Giants tied this game up with 58 seconds left in the game, as they scored too quickly.  Aaron Rodgers quickly drove the Packers right down the field for a 31-yard, game winning field goal from Mason Crosby.  Rodgers completed 28 of 46 passes for 369 yards with 4 TD passes and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 32 yards (8.0 ypc) in this game.  Ryan Grant “led” the way on the ground for the Packers yesterday with 13 carries for 29 yards (2.2 ypc).  WR Greg  Jennings (7 rec, 94 yards, TD), WR Jordy Nelson (4 rec, 94 yards), TE Jermichael Finley (6 rec, 87 yards, TD) and WR Donald Driver (4 rec, 34 yards, 2 TDs) led the way in the passing game for the Packers yesterday.  The Packers finished up with 89 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 28 of 47 passes (59.6%) for 360 yards as they had possession of the ball for 33:03.

The Packers gave up a ton of yards yesterday as the Giants’ offense gave them fits all day long.  Safety Charlie Peprah (9 tackles, 1 pass defensed) and LB D.J. Smith (8 tackles) led the way for the Packers on D in this game.  NT B.J. Raji (fumble recovery) and OLB Clay Matthews (38-yard interception return for a TD) also made HUGE plays for the Packers in this game.  The Giants finished up with 100 yards rushing on 20 carries (5.0 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 40 passes (57.5%) for 347 yards.  The Packers are now 12-0 on the season.

The Green Bay Packers are making a very serious run at a undefeated record in 2011,  and the Giants are likely the toughest game they will have the rest of the regular season.  The Giants have lost three games in a row, in which they have been outscored 93-54!  The Giants need this game in the worst way.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers aren’t going to change for the Giants, as Aaron Rodgers is going to come after them with his right arm.  The Giants have 31 sacks on the year, so they are going to be coming after Aaron Rodgers.  Rodgers will likely be getting rid of the ball quickly, using all of his WRs and TEs to catch shorter passes and make something happen with their legs.  The Giants just don’t have the depth in the secondary to cover all of Rodgers’ receivers effectively.  James Starks and Ryan Grant will give the Packers some ground support when they are called on.

When the Giants have the ball:  The Giants are likely to have Ahmad Bradshaw back in this game.  But, he’s likely going to be on a hit count, so Brandon Jacobs will also get his work in.  The Packers are giving up 4.9 yards per carry, so the Giants might have some success on the ground.  The Packers like to get after the QB, but the Giants’ O-Line has protected Eli Manning pretty well so far this year.  He has very solid weapons in WRs Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and TE Jake Ballard…..but the Packers have 22 interceptions this year, so they are going to be ballhawking in this game.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 33, GIANTS 30