Packers find plenty of heroes

Although Brett Favre and Ryan Grant were the headliners in Green Bay's playoff victory over Seattle, it would be a mistake to ignore the Packers' supporting cast.

It's a cast that's capable of stepping up again in the NFC title game Sunday against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field.

One of those cast members is right tackle Mark Tauscher.

Against Seattle, Tauscher had the vital -- and unenviable -- task of keeping NFC sack leader Patrick Kerney off Favre, which he did so well that the Pro Bowl defensive end wasn't credited with a single tackle.

"I can't say enough about the individual performance from Mark Tauscher," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "He played very, very well."

Tauscher's assignment doesn't get any easier this week when he goes up against Michael Strahan and a Giants pass rush that led the NFL with 53 sacks.

Strahan, the NFL's active sack leader with 141.5, had 9 in the regular season, while left end Osi Umenyiora added 13 and pass-rush specialist Justin Tuck chipped in with 10.

The Packers' defensive line doesn't get nearly as much notice as the Giants', but it was instrumental in eliminating the Seattle run game and making the Seahawks' attack one-dimensional.

The Packers allowed just 28 rushing yards on 16 attempts for a 1.6-yard average and a long gain of 9 yards.

Stout 6-foot-2, 322-pound tackle Ryan Pickett tied for the team lead with 4 solo tackles, clogged the middle and kept blockers off the Packers' talented linebackers.

Pickett's absence was noticeable when he missed the Packers' loss to the Bears on Dec. 23 with a groin injury. The Bears ran for a season-high 139 yards. But the veteran run stuffer was full speed against Seattle.

"He's clearly our best run defender," McCarthy said. "It was great to have him back healthy."

Fellow tackle Cullen Jenkins, who had just 1 sack all season, came up with 1½ against Seattle.

"Cullen probably played his best game of the year," McCarthy said. "That's the type of game we're going to need again this week."

The Giants should present more of a challenge for the Packers' defense because they have a much better running game than the Seahawks, and quarterback Eli Manning is playing his best football of the season with 8 TD passes and just 1 interception in his last three games.

But the Green Bay secondary won't make it easy on Manning.

Charles Woodson and Al Harris both are on the wrong side of 30, but they have a combined 20 years of NFL experience and still are playing at an elite level.

"I've had national reporters call and ask about (Woodson's) chances of being defensive player of the year," McCarthy said. "That alone tells you what kind of year he's had.

"He's been banged up throughout the season. He's in the training room around the clock, in the meetings at night with his coaches. He's definitely one of the most unique players I've been around."

Strong safety Atari Bigby has emerged as an impact player as well. He was the NFC defensive player of the month for December, when he had 4 interceptions. His intimidating play, including a forced fumble after a catch by tight end Marcus Pollard, disrupted Seattle's passing game.

Bigby's improved play down the stretch has been a lot like that of the Packers as a whole.

"We played clearly our best game (Saturday) since I've been here (2006), and that's important," McCarthy said. "This is when you want to play your best football.

"We need to carry that momentum, that standard, into the NFC championship game."