The Packers opened as3.5-point favorites over theGiants in next Sunday"s Wild Card round matchup (4:40 p.m., FOX). The line is warranted because the Packers are home, have won six straight games,beat the Giants earlier this season and are led by brilliant quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
But the Giants were bigger underdogs in both the 2007 and 2011 playoffs when they went into Lambeau Field and upset the Packers en route to Super Bowl titles. If you"re looking for a reason why the Giants will pull off the playoff hat trick at Lambeau, start in their defensive backfield.
Rodgers" mobility makes it difficult to disrupt the Packers" passing attack with pressure. If anything, Rodgers is more dangerous when he extends plays and gets outside the pocket.
Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo exercised caution when attacking Rodgers in the Packers" 23-16 win when the teams met at Lambeau Field in Week 5. The Giants only blitzed the Packers on nine of their 50 passing plays (18 percent), according to Pro Football Focus. The NFL average to blitz is around 30 percent.
Packers scouting report
The key against Green Bay is coverage. The Packers have an arsenal of receiving weapons, led by big-play threat Jordy Nelson, who had 97 catches for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Nelson is complemented by Davante Adams (75 catches for 997 yards and 12 touchdowns) and Randall Cobb, who missed the final two games of the regular season with an ankle injury.
Matching up with Green Bay"s talented receivers is a challenge that the Giants are better equipped to handle than most teams. The Giants have three cornerbacks playing at a high level, led by Pro Bowler Janoris Jenkins, who was slowed by a bruised back late in the regular season. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie led the team with six interceptions, including four in the final three games of the regular season. Rookie Eli Apple has been solid despite the occasional growing pains.
Rodgers-Cromartie"s role as the nickel corner is particularly important against a Green Bay offense that moves Nelson into the slot in an attempt to exploit mismatches. The Giants held Nelson to four catches for 38 yards and one touchdown in the meeting earlier this season.
Cobb was the bigger problem in that matchup with nine catches for 108 yards, while Adams added five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. It was still a solid showing by the Giants" defense, as they held Rodgers to 23-of-45 passing for 259 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions (both by Jenkins).
The Giants" secondary is better now than it was in the first meeting whenApple was limited to seven snaps by a groin injury and Rodgers-Cromartie essentially played on one leg as he battled through a groin injury.
Leon Hall, who has since moved to free safety, struggled to cover Cobb in the slot, while rookie Michael Hunter, who is now on the practice squad, was beat for a touchdown by Adams. The Giants have since added Coty Sensabaugh to join Trevin Wade as additional options at slot corner in sub packages.
Stopping Rodgers is a nearly impossible task, but the Giants have the pieces to contain the MVP candidate. If the defensive backs are up to the task, the Giants will leave Lambeau with another happy memory.
Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.
Under Pete Carroll, the Seahawks have always been one of the nfls hottest teams heading into the playoffs. They surge into the postseason, and they feed off that momentum.
But this season has been completely different. The Seahawks have lost three of their final eight games for the first time since 2011. They havent played well in their last four games. Two weeks ago, cornerback Richard Sherman blew up on the sideline at coach Pete Carroll over play-calling. This week, defensive linemen Frank Clark and Jarran Reed had to be separated on the sideline.
With the Packers 31-24 win over the Lions on Sunday Night Football, it finalized that the Seahawks would host the Lions in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.
The Lions are the better matchup. Matthew Stafford is a dangerous quarterback, but Detroit ranks 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game. The Seahawks have been stingy against the run all year and make the Lions one-dimensional.
The Packers were not a good match for the Seahawks. They already beat the Seahawks by 28 at home earlier this season, and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers can really take advantage of Earl Thomas absence.
Also, the Lions arent one of the leagues better pass-rushing teams; they rank 29th with 25 sacks this season. Thats important for a Seattle team that has struggled to protect quarterback Russell Wilson all year.
Reggie Bush- I"m Old Now...And It Totally SUCKS | TMZ Sports
By: Charles Curtis| December 28, 2016 12:54 pmFollow @bycharlescurtis
It hasnt exactly been a Pro Bowl kind of season for Buffalo Bills running back Reggie Bush.
Actually, its been more like whatever youd call the opposite of that kind of season. Hes rushed 12 times for a whopping minus-3 yards. Yep, not a typo hes in the red when it comes to yardage (although he does have a touchdown). And if he doesnt get those three yards, h**l find a place in NFL record books:
If Reggie Bush fails to rush for 3 yards vs. NYJ, h**l become 1st NFL RB to finish a season with negative rushing yardage with 10+ carries.
Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) December 27, 2016
Yikes. Good luck, Reggie. If he did end up with that embarrassing record, itd cap off quite a week in Western New York.
NFL world reacts to the 49ers" firing of head coach Chip Kelly8hr agoReggie Bush made NFL history by finishing the season with -3 rushing yards10hr agoFalcons fans gave Michael Vick a standing ovation during halftime ceremony11hr ago
Many people will be understandably relieved to say goodbye to 2016, a year when the currency and stock markets went into flux at Britains decision to leave the European Union. Unfortunately, in personal finance terms at least, 2017 also looks bleak as consumers are expected to start seeing the full effects of the Brexit vote and how the drop in value of sterling will translate to the supermarket shelf.
Elsewhere, householders can expect an increase in the cost of electricity, while motorists may see premiums on the up. Commuters, already worn down by strike-interrupted trains, can expect to see ticket prices go up yet again.
There is some light at the end of the tunnel the national living wage is due to go up in April, while for homebuyers, house price rises are expected to slow, although this will be tempered by an increase in demand as a result of the lack of housing stock on the market.
So with the unlikely events of 2016 behind us, here are some of the key things to look out for in 2017:
High street price rises
There is expected to be a headache for consumers when they return to the tills as prices rise on the back of fluctuations in the post-EU referendum pound.
Spikes in prices on high street goods, ranging from milk and wine to headphones and TVs, are expected as retailers hedges against currency fluctuations a form of insurance policy against movements in the pound end. Apple Mac users saw raised prices on machines in October as the technology giant updated the cost in line with the low exchange rate between the dollar and sterling.
Raid on buy-to-let landlords
Former chancellor George Osborne announced in July 2015 a cut in tax relief on mortgage interest payments for buy-to-let landlords.
These changes, which will see mortgage interest deductions slashed from 100% to zero, will be phased in between this coming April and April 2020. Instead, when income tax on a landlords profits from their property, and any other income sources, are totted up they will be granted a tax credit worth 20% of the mortgage interest to offset against income tax, whatever rate they pay.
HMRC has estimated that just one in five landlords will be affected by the changes, but representative groups have said it will have a devastating impact on their finances.
House prices versus demand
Anyone hoping to buy a house in the coming year will be both heartened and dismayed by some of the latest predictions.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has said it expects house price growth to be half that of 2016. However, demand is expected to outstrip supply as a result of insufficient housebuilding.
It is expected that the number of sales will reduce from 1.25m in 2016 to between 1.15m and 1.2m. Property firm Savills predicts prices will remain flat across the UK, with falls in the north of England, Wales and Scotland. In the east of England it expects 2.5% growth. Nationwide said it expects the average UK price to increase by 2% over the year, below the rate of growth reported in 2016.
More commuter frustration
Another year, another train fare increase for weary commuters. The Campaign for Better Transport has estimated that fares have gone up by 23.5% between 1995 and 2016 and 2017 isnt expected to show any respite.
The rail industry has announced that they will go up by an average 2.3% from 2 January, a move which has been criticised by unions.
The increases are being driven by much higher increases on the reprivatised east coast route. While regulated fares, such as season tickets and off-peak returns, which are set by the government, are to increase by 1.9%, fares on Virgin Trains East Coast will go up by 4.9% overall.
Increased protections
The amount of cash savers will have protected in banks and building societies that go bust is likely to be raised to 85,000 from the end of January because of the slump in the value of the pound since the Brexit vote.
The limit was cut to 75,000 in July 2015 when sterling was stronger, to keep the UK banking system in step with the rest of the EU. But the increase is required to keep the UK in line with an EU-wide deposit protection limit of 100,000.
A cap on London Airbnb
From the spring, Airbnb will ban hosts in London from renting out entire homes for more than 90 days a year without official consent. The San Francisco-based company will automatically stop people letting their homes for more than this limit unless they have the necessary planning permission from a local authority.
London is the third biggest city in terms of places to stay on the sharing economy website, with a listing of more than 40,000.
It is already against the law to flout the 90-day rule, but local authorities complained of not having the resources or data to enforce it. With the move by Airbnb, there will be automated limits to ensure listings are not shared for more than 90 days.
Rise in national living wage
This will increase from 7.20 to 7.50 an hour from April. The governments target is for it to reach 9 by 2020.
New Isa
A lifetime Isa to help young people save for their first home or retirement or both will be available from April.
The account allows for savings with no tax on the interest earned, and a government contribution equal to 25% of everything saved. The maximum amount which can be saved into the Isa each year is 4,000, and the government will give a 1,000 bonus on that amount. The account can be opened by people at any time between the ages of 18 and 40, and a bonus earned each year until they reach 50.
Increase in energy prices
Householders should brace themselves for bigger bills when they turn on the lights or put on the kettle. EDF Energy has said it will raise electricity prices by 8.4% from March, with the other big six energy providers expected to match the increases.
The French company also said that it will cut gas prices by 5.2%, but blamed rising costs for the increase in its electricity tariff. The changes mean that dual-fuel customers (those taking both electricity and gas) with EDF will see their bills rise by 1.2%, to an average of 1,082 a year.
the announcement followed a rise in wholesale energy prices, which are up by about a third since last spring.
Insurance also on the up
It is expected that car insurance will rise from June as insurers pass on higher costs, and the rise in the insurance premium tax takes effect. Drivers typically pay about 50 a year to the Treasury for this, but it will go up to more than 60 from June.
Average underlying insurance premiums rose sharply in 2016 on the back of problems with whiplash claims and the cost of replacing advanced technological features such as parking sensors on bumpers after accidents. The AA has said that it expects the average shop around premium to break 600 in 2017.
And finally
The deadline for online self-assessment tax returns is well publicised as being at the end of January, but that never seems to stop the imaginative excuses for tardy paperwork.
HMRC has said that among the excuses rejected this year were someones details being engulfed in a yacht fire, while anothers were the victim of a childs scribbling. If you are filing, do it on time or else risk a fine of at least 100.
As we celebrate the new year and make resolutions, lets join up with Star-Lords gang of unlikely superheroes and gear up for this summers Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which promises an epic new adventure, an awesome new mixtape, and some exciting new collectibles from Hot Toys!Plus 2017 is set to be another big year for movie fans, with a slew of highly anticipated movies opening in the months ahead. We cant wait to show you the new offerings we have planned for the year, so remember to stay tuned!
You can get an early peek at theGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 collectibles in the gallery below.
RELATED: Baby Groot Toy from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Revealed
TheGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cast includes the return of Chris Pratt (Jurassic World, Parks and Recreation) as Star-Lord,Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek) as Gamora,Dave Bautista (SPECTRE) as Drax, Vin Diesel (x*x, Furious 7) as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper (Joy, American Sniper) as the voice of Rocket, Michael Rooker (Slither, Jumper) as Yondu,Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, The Big Short) as Nebula, and Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Gilmore Girls) as Kraglin. New cast members include Pom Klementieff (Oldboy), who plays Mantis, Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby, Everest), Chris Sullivan (The Knick,The Drop) and Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, Furious 7) as Ego, the Living Planet.
Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2continues the teams adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quills true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2is produced by Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, with Louis DEsposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Nik Korda and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2will be followed by Spider-Man: Homecomingon July 7 and Thor: Ragnarok on November 3.
The Black Eyed Peas - #WHERESTHELOVE ft. The World
If you live anywhere near the Southern United States, you know it"s lucky to have black eyed-peas for dinner on New Year"s Day. Like "em or not, it"s a tradition.
"Black-eyed peas, collard green, pork chop and corn bread," Alabama resident Marcerlene Coleman told FOX 10 recently. "My grandmother did it, my mom did it, now I do it ... and my kids do it."
You can make black-eyed peas in a slowcooker, get them frozen or turn the recipe healthy. But if you"re looking for a standard Southern recipe, former Food Network hosts Patrick and Gina Neely have got you covered. The now-divorced coupleused to own threeTennessee restaurants, so you"ll definitely want to check out their recipe.
See it here or read below.
The Neelys" Black-Eyed Peas With Bacon And Pork
1. First, take a pound of dried black-eyed peas and cover them with four inches of water, then let soak overnight. Drain.
2. In a large pot, heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil and add six ounces of pork shoulder cut into small cubes. Sear for about five minutes, then add four strips of cut-up bacon. Toss in four minced cloves of garlic and a diced onion and cook until everything is brown. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and cayenne.
3. Add four cups of chicken stock and three bay leaves. Boil and let simmer for a half hour.
4. Next, add your peas. Let that simmer for another hour and a half, using a spoon to crush some of them.
5. Season again to taste. Pour in a bit of hot-pepper vinegar (if you want), take out the bay leaves and serve your peas. yum.
may your new year be prosperous (or, at the very least, better than the crazy year that was 2016).
istanbuls governor vasip sahn described the incident as a terrorattack
Authorities are searching for thegunman
The private Dogan news agency said Sunday the dead included a victim fromCanada.
24 of the shooting attacks 39 victims were reportedly citizens of other countries. This includes at least seven Saudi nationals and four Iraqis, two Indians, two Tunisians and one each from Syria, Israel, Lebanon andBelgium.
Frances foreign minister says one French citizen was killed and three otherswounded.
CCTV footage showed that the assailant in a nightclub shooting in Istanbul wore a Santa Claus hat for part of the attack. Turkeys prime minister denied these news reports. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters Sunday: There is no truth to this. He is an armed terrorist as we knowit.
The United States is denying reports in Turkish news outlets and on social media that its security agencies knew in advance that a nightclub in Istanbul was at risk of a terrorattack.
- With reports from the Associated Press and Reuters
Video: Dozens killed in attack on Istanbulnightclub
1:55
Turkish police officers block the road leading to the scene of an attack in Istanbul, early Sunday, Jan. 1,2017.
AP
Recent attacks aimed atTurkey
Oct. 10, 2015: Suicide bombers hit a lunchtime peace rally in Ankara, killing about 100 people. No one has claimedresponsibility.
Jan. 12, 2016: A suicide bomber blew himself up and killed 10 tourists, all foreigners, in an attack in Istanbuls central historicdistrict.
Feb. 17, 2016: A blast in Ankara hit a convoy of buses filled with soldiers at a traffic light, killing 28 and wounding more than60.
March 13, 2016: A car rigged with explosives blew up in a public square in Ankara, killing more than 30. A Kurdish militant group claimedresponsibility.
March 19, 2016: A suicide bomber struck a main avenue in Istanbul, killing at least four, including two Americans. Turkey said ISIS carried out theattack.
June 7, 2016: A car bomb destroyed a police vehicle near an Istanbul tourist district, killing 11 people and woundingdozens.
June 28, 2016: Three suicide attackers killed 45 people and wounded dozens more at Istanbuls mainairport.
Dec. 10, 2016: A double bombing in Istanbul outside a soccer stadium killed at least 38 people and wounded136.
Dec. 19, 2016: Russias ambassador to Turkey was assassinated by a gunman at an art exhibit inAnkara.
