Packers Cruise Past Giants, Set Up Divisional Clash With 49ers

GREEN BAY, WI - The final NFC Wild Card game never turned into the shootout some expected. Instead, the Packers leaned on defense, field position, and a dominant rushing performance from Josh Jacobs to grind down the Giants and advance with a 26-14 victory at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay controlled the tempo for most of the night, building a 23-7 advantage before New York mounted a late push in the fourth quarter. The Giants briefly gave themselves life with a one-minute touchdown drive, but the Packers recovered the ensuing onside kick and closed out the game to secure a Divisional Round matchup with the second-seeded San Francisco 49ers.

"We knew playoff football wasn't going to be pretty every snap," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said afterward. "We wanted to stay physical, control the game, and keep pressure on them for four quarters."

Jacobs powers Green Bay ground attack

The biggest difference in the game came on the ground.

Josh Jacobs repeatedly punished the Giants defense, rushing for 154 yards on just 17 carries and averaging over nine yards per attempt. His longest run went for 25 yards, and nearly every explosive gain helped keep Green Bay ahead of the chains.

"Once the line got rolling, we felt it," Jacobs said. "The holes were there and everybody kept leaning on them. In playoff football you want to be the team throwing the punches late."

Green Bay finished with 163 rushing yards and 352 total offensive yards while converting six of twelve third downs.

Jordan Love was efficient rather than spectacular, completing 19 of 33 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

Both scores went to Tucker Kraft, who became Love's favorite red-zone target.

Kraft opened Green Bay's touchdown scoring with a six-yard grab midway through the second quarter, then added another score from two yards out with 3:25 remaining before halftime to push the Packers ahead 17-0.

"We practice those situations constantly," Love said. "Tucker found the windows and finished the drives."

Giants rally falls short after slow start

New York spent most of the evening trying to climb out of the early hole.

Brian Donahue threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 27 rushing yards, but Green Bay's pass rush consistently disrupted the timing of the Giants offense. The Packers finished with three sacks and forced a critical fourth-quarter fumble.

The Giants finally got on the board with just 34 seconds left in the first half when Donahue found Wan'Dale Robinson for a three-yard touchdown, trimming the deficit to 20-7 heading into halftime.

Still, New York never fully seized momentum.

Malik Nabers was outstanding despite the loss, catching nine passes for 96 yards and repeatedly moving the chains on key drives.

"Malik gave us everything tonight," Giants head coach Brian Daboll said. "We battled, but against a team like Green Bay you can't spend three quarters chasing the game."

The Giants' final push came with just over a minute remaining.

Facing fourth-and-14 from the Green Bay 16-yard line, Donahue connected with Drake London for a touchdown with 1:00 left to cut the lead to 26-14. New York then recovered the onside kick at midfield and suddenly had one last chance.

The comeback ended moments later.

Green Bay recovered the next onside attempt and kneeled out the final seconds.

"We kept fighting," Donahue said. "That's who this team is. We just put ourselves behind too early."

Defense and special teams seal it

The Packers defense quietly delivered one of its better performances of the season.

Warren Brinson, Lamar Jennings, and Collin Oliver each recorded sacks, while Green Bay limited the Giants to 252 offensive yards and just three third-down conversions all night.

Special teams also played a major role.

Harrison Mevis was perfect, converting all four field-goal attempts from 36, 44, 48, and 22 yards while adding both extra points. His four field goals accounted for nearly half of Green Bay's scoring output.

"Harrison was huge tonight," LaFleur said. "Every time we needed points, he delivered."

Up Next

Green Bay advances to the Divisional Round where the Packers will travel west to face the San Francisco 49ers, renewing one of the NFC's biggest postseason rivalries.

For New York, the loss ends a season that saw the sixth-seeded Giants reach the playoffs but fall short at Lambeau Field.