‘Collective effort will be key against Green Bay Packers,’ says New York Giants’ Antrel Rolle–NFL News
New York Giants dramatically improved their rushing and defensive game to win their first playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) postseason against Atlanta Falcons, 24-2.
Now, as they prepare to take on the defending Super Bowl champions, Green Bay Packers, New York's safety, Antrel Rolle has urged his teammates to build on the momentum, commenting on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, that it is the team’s collective effort that
will be the key to win against Packers.
Throughout the season, Giants have relied mostly on the passing game led by quarterback, Eli Manning.
The rushing game and the defence remained a cause of worry for them in the regular season, but a remarkable improvement in both the sectors against Atlanta Falcons has brightened their chances against Packers.
With Manning keeping his form up and the defence and rushers joining him, the alarm bells are certainly ringing for Green Bay Packers.
Rolle believes that repeating last week’s performance will give Giants a much needed victory.
“It’s going to be a collective effort. There’s not one position that has more of a responsibility than the other. We have pretty much the same responsibility, just different techniques”, Rolle said.
Earlier, Giants’ defensive end, Jason Pierre-Paul (JPP), also claimed that his team will come out as winners on Sunday.
While acknowledging the fact that Green Bay is the league’s strongest offensive team, Rolle termed that the competition will be tough.
However, he, like JPP, predicted good prospects for his team, New York Giants.
"I don't put any opponents on a pedestal. I understand that they have a lot of weapons and I understand that they are an awesome opponent. But then again, so are we”.
"We are coming in here expecting to win this game. That is going to be our mindset and that is going to stay our mindset. We are not going to let anyone tear that away from us," he added.
Green Bay won 15 games in the regular season and entered the playoffs as the first seeded team, earning a first-week bye and home-field advantage.
The only team to defeat the Packers was the lowly Kansas City Chiefs, that didn't even qualify for the postseason.
The Chiefs smartly contained Packers’ explosive offence and outscored them.
Given the fact Green Bay is one of the league’s worst teams in terms of defence, Rolle said that the Giants would be focusing on hurting the opponent’s weak point.
He stated that the Giants have repeatedly watched Packers-Chiefs game's tapes and said that he would try to learn the positives from that game.
The Packers also played Giants in the regular season and defeated them.
When asked about how different the next matchup is going to be, Rolle pointed out that the Giants had a few of their top players on injured reserve during the regular season game.
Now that they are all back, Rolle thinks that the battle would be fought on different levels.
The Giants are gearing up with every passing day, but underestimating the Packers will be a big mistake, which they would surely avoid at all costs.
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