Packers B.J Raji responds to Giants as war of words heats up - NFL News
A war of words between Green Bay Packers and New York Giants is intensifying as Sunday's kick-off for the divisional round playoff game fast approaches.
Packers’ lineman B.J Raji has upped the ante with a statement to the New York Post that questioned the toughness of Giants' offensive line.
“Not saying they're soft, but it's not the toughest group I have been against,”
Raji is part of Packers' league leading worst defence which hasn’t been given the attention it deserves as the Packers brilliant offensive line takes much of the criticism away from the defence but the lineman does not believe that the Giants offensive line
will pose much of a threat.
“I played [the Giants offensive line] once this year and once last year,” Raji added, referring to a pair of Green Bay victories. “I can only judge from my vantage point up front: not necessarily the most physical. Their backs are pretty physical, but it's
not the toughest [offensive line].”
Giants previously launched the first volley with defensive end, Jason Pierre-Paul guaranteeing a win over the Packers after his team trounced the Atlanta Falcons 24-2.
Safety Antrel Rolle also added his two-cents to the debate by saying that he does not fear the Packers or their high flying offence on Sunday and he will do his best to stop them from progressing to the National Football Conference Championship game.
The sparring between the two teams respective players is part of their recently budding rivalry when in 2007 the New York Giants upset the Green Bay Packers on their way to the Super Bowl title.
The two teams faced each other twice since that fateful playoff game and Packers came out on top on both occasions.
Packers' wins include the Week 13 close encounter in which the then unbeaten Packers came closest to defeat, but won the game with a last second field goal by Mason Crosby.
Packers' 38-35 win showed that the Packers defence is prone to mistakes and those fears came true when their unbeaten run was ended at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in week 15.
Raji also had some kind words for the Giants runners.
“Ahmad [Bradshaw] is always tough,” Raji said. “He's a good player, and he plays hard all the time. When Brandon's running like Brandon, he's very tough to tackle.”
The Packers will face the Giants for the second time this season and are favourites for the win. Both teams quarterbacks are in great form and the game could descend into a shootout with both teams looking to outscore the other.
It is time for the players to put their money where their mouth is and perform on the field at their best to prove that their words were not full of hot air.
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