“We are very confident,” Pierre-Paul said after the Giants killed the Falcons 24-2 in Sunday’s NFC wild-card game.

“Last time [the Packers] came in here and they beat us (38-35 on Dec. 4), which they shouldn’t have. It’s going to be cold and the atmosphere will be theirs, but we’re going to be ready to play. We know what’s at stake, and we know it’s one–and-done. We aren’t going to let that happen. We are going to go out there and give [an] all out effort, and we are going to walk away with a win.”

Though the Packers shouldn’t need motivation, this is the Playoffs after all. But should they be looking for something to hang their motivational hat on … there it is – handed directly to them by Pierre-Paul.

Don’t get me wrong – the Giants are a dangerous team that’s peaking much like the Packers did last year on their run to a Super Bowl championship. They have a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, they’ve got a defensive line that is pummeling the opposition, their receivers are dynamic, their running backs punishing.

But you don’t have to tell the Packers who they will be facing come Sunday. Every team in this tournament is good. They all have their reasons why they have advanced to this stage – the eight best teams in the league.

However, one of the differences we will see won’t be on the field. It will be in the professionalism of the players. The Packers don’t need a mouthpiece like Pierre-Paul to come out and say something stupid. They need to take their fight to the field. The Giants are going to come out with what they want to be a lethal punch. The Packers simply only have to counter those punches with winning attitudes and abilities.

That’s the true mark of a champion.

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