They may be the second youngest team in the National Football League, but they're playing like veterans. An ageless quarterback, an offense and defense clicking and special teams all playing like there's nothing standing in their way.

The Green Bay Packers started out the season with many critics saying they weren't going to win the NFC North Division and they would be lucky to be more than .500. Quarterback Brett Favre told the media this is one of the most talented teams he's been around. It left most Packers fans and media members wondering what was in Favre's breakfast cereal the day he said that. Looks like someone is having the last laugh and it isn't the fans or media.

Here we are, the weekend before the NFC Championship game to decide who goes to the Super Bowl in Glendale , Arizona on February 3 and it's none other than the Packers making their first appearance since 1998. They will face the New York Giants at Lambeau Field after the Giants pulled the upset against the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas . Had it been the other way around, the Packers would have been going to Dallas . As everybody knows, Dallas has been more of a house of horrors for Favre than the Metrodome in Minnesota . The Packers haven't won their last nine games in Dallas .

The Seattle Seahawks/Green Bay Packers game pitted Favre against his former mentor, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren . It was Holmgren's tutelage that made Favre the quarterback he is today. Many thought the Packers wouldn't have a chance winning against Seattle since they tend to play sloppy against them. Not this time.

The start of the game didn't start out the best for the Packers. The Seahawks capitalized on two fumbled passes by running back Ryan Grant to put the score, 14-0 early in the first quarter. As per usual, we all held our breaths wondering what Favre was going to do. Traditionally, he has thrown the rocket ball and tried putting the game in his hands and it's meant disaster. Myself along with many others couldn't believe our eyes. Favre took the ball and distributed it evenly and had the confidence in Grant to give him the ball. They came back to tie the game at the end of the first quarter, 14-14, making it the highest scoring first quarter in the playoffs in 30 years.

The Packers continued to surge with two more touchdowns versus Seattle 's one field goal to make the score 28-17 at the half.

With snow coming down harder as the game went on and the grounds crews doing what they could to make sure you could see the lines and kick the ball, the Packers played as if it was the middle of summer. The cold and snow couldn't hold them back. The Packers scored a touchdown in each the third and fourth quarter and won the game, 42-20.

This arguably has to be one of the best teams the Packers have assembled since the 1996 season. Favre is throwing the ball to at least seven to nine different guys every game. Wide receiver Greg Jennings is one of his favorite targets along with Donald Driver. The tight ends are getting rotated in and becoming a security blanket when all else fails. Running back Ryan Grant came in midseason after an injury to Vernand Morency put him out indefinitely. Grant has great instincts and his offensive line is nothing to take lightly either. These guys have been consistent all year long in making sure no one gets through.

The defense has been dominant both on the line and in the backfield. The first round selection of former Ohio State University linebacker A.J. Hawk a couple years ago showed the Packers were working on getting their defense better. Hawk's play along with Aaron Kampman , Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila , Nick Barnett and the rest of the defensive line has made it tough for opposing offenses. The addition of Charles Woodson at defensive end in the offseason brought some additional veteran leadership along with Al Harris. Strong safety Atari Bigby looked like the second coming of former San Francisco 49ers defensive back Ronnie Lott on Saturday. If the ball was there, Bigby wasn't far behind and did he get a few hits in.

This Sunday's game puts the New York Giants at Lambeau Field which is going to be a "balmy" 5 degrees at game time, 5:30pm central. Quarterback Eli Manning will be playing his first game at one of the most hallowed stadiums in the country. Older brother, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, will be watching as his Colts lost the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

The New York Giants started out slow but they have been a force to reckon with. Eli Manning is beginning to show the country he's not the "other Manning". He's come into his own quite nicely after a controversial start in the draft when his father, Archie, didn't want him to play in San Diego . The defensive line anchored by Michael Strahan has been playing tremendously after a horrible start. On offense, wide receiver Amani Toomer is catching the ball down the field and their running back is just as good.

My prediction for Sunday's game is the Packers will win. The aura of Lambeau Field and cold game time temperature are going to be too much for the Giants. This is going to be the Packers moment to shine not only for Coach Mike McCarthy but for their ageless quarterback, Brett Favre . Green Bay 35, New York 14.