Packers at Cowboys: 3 storylines to watch

New York Giants strong safety Landon Collins didn’t celebrate his 23 birthday on Tuesday the way he wanted – preparing to play the Dallas Cowboys for the third time in the past four months. Instead, the mercurial young star dropped two big passes, including a potential touchdown as the Giants’ season ended at frigid Lambeau.

Jordy Nelson’s absence wasn’t a factor against NY, but it could become an issue for Green Bay if the wide receiver’s rib injury forces him to sit in Dallas.

NY spent $200 million in off-season contracts to add defensive end Olivier Vernon, tackle Damon Harrison and cornerback Janoris Jenkins and retrain free agent pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul.

Would I prefer that every night during the week Beckham be in bed at 11? Yes.

Newsday’s Tom Rock looked at five questions facing the Giants this offseason. It’s a definite success. During their six-game winning streak to close the regular season, they spent a combined 7 minutes, 44 seconds trailing on the scoreboard during those six games – 1:44 to Chicago on December 18 and 6 minutes to Detroit in the regular-season finale. It’s not complete at all. Not only did the Packers take a 14-6 lead into the break, but also a lot of momentum.

The play was a deflater for the Giants, especially on defense.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio witnessed the 24-year-old headbutting his locker, while Newsday’s Neil Best posted a picture of a hole in the wall, which staff confirmed was the work of a Beckham fist. “There are a lot of guys that will shed a tear or two”.

Although his teammates said he was “locked in” like never before leadong up to Sunday’s wild-card game, Beckham Jr. fizzled out with a dud when it came time to step up.

Three of the four teams with the most playoff experience in National Football League history survived, and one of them had to exit since two of those four teams were playing each other. But that leads teams into the trap of trying to beat Aaron Rodgers in a shootout. In doing so, I got acknowledgement everywhere.

NY was a team that was built on ball control. Something will have to give later this afternoon, as one team will earn the right to play in the divisional round next weekend against the Dallas Cowboys in Jerry World. NY made the stop, and two plays later put their one and only touchdown on the board when Manning connected with Tavarres King. “Randall being back healthy – I said it this week in my news conference – we’re better with (No.) 18 on the field, and he showed it tonight”, Rodgers said.

“I could throw that ball with my eyes closed”, Rodgers said, “because I know exactly where he’s going to be”.

“I saw him with his head down and disappointed”, he explained. It’s my first rodeo, basically. Before Week 17, when they rested their starters, the Cowboys went 13-0 when playing any team besides the Giants.