CRYSTAL BALL TIME....

OK - now it's time for a prediction...As I've said thruout the week, I'm trying to be realistic in my feelings about the game. While we beat Dallas the #1 seed, going into Green Bay and beating the Packers will take another superhuman effort from the defense. They have to hold BRETT FARVE to two TD's or less...the Packers offense can put lots of points on the board and last weekend showed they can play from behind. I've been using the Bears theory from last year about the Giants this year...Defense will carry the team, the QB needs to have a mistake free game. Last year, I knew Grossman would play 2 or 3 games well, but then a clunker which came in the Super Bowl. Eli's the same way - he's been playing well for the last 3 games, his history indicates a clunker is due...the question - is this the week for that? How does Giants 24-23 sound?...in the AFC, the Pats will smoke San Diego 42-3...this one will be over 5 minutes in...

Injury News - CBs Sam Madison and Aaron Ross were limited in practice...but both hope to play. For Madison, it would be his first appearance of the playoff this year.

From the You've Got to Be Kidding department - The NY Daily News had the following item in the TV section Thursday - Fox's Green Bay affiliate, WLUK-TV, has canceled its regular 5:30 p.m. showing of a "Seinfeld" rerun Saturday because it doesn't want to do anything to make life relaxing for quarterback Eli Manning, whose Giants play Green Bay's Packers Sunday for the NFC championship. Manning says "Seinfeld" is his favorite TV show, and WLUK figures 5:30 Saturday is just about when Manning will be relaxing in his hotel room. Eli - bring your DVD's! For those of you who are Seinfeld fanatics, one memorable episode featuring Elaine's boyfriend Joel Rifkin (not the mass murderer) used Giants Stadium as a scene and a shot of LT. " How about changing your name to O.J. Rifkin?"