FOX analyst and former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson talks Giants-Vikings, Eli Manning’s awful interceptions and Jason Garrett’s future as Cowboys coach with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: Who do you think will win the NFC East — Giants or Eagles?
A:
I think the Eagles will win the division and the Giants will have to beat Green Bay the day after Christmas in order to get a wild-card spot. The Giants are in the mix, and anything can happen when you have Michael Vick, who is as exciting as anyone in the league but is as fragile as anyone in the league, too.
Q: How much of a concern would it be to you that Eli Manning still seems to be making rookie mistakes — like the interception he threw in the end zone against the Redskins?
A:
The thing about the Giants is that they have been inconsistent throughout the season and that comes from the turnovers. You just can’t continue to turn the ball over like they have and be a solid football team. Sometimes the more comfortable a player gets at his position, and the more confidence they have in their abilities, they take more chances. The head coach has got to reel him in sometimes.
Q: Favre will be a game-time decision for the Vikings against the Giants. How difficult does it make it for a coach to prepare for two quarterbacks?
A:
They’ve got to stop Adrian Peterson and now that Sidney Rice is starting to make plays, they have to contend with him. I wouldn’t concern myself as much with the quarterback as much as I would Peterson and Rice.
Q: Jason Garrett is off to a 3-1 start as Cowboys interim coach. Would you like to see him get the job on a permanent basis?
A:
Jason played for me. He’s been to my home before, just kind of talking about preparing for this opportunity. He’s very smart, he knows the game and he’s prepared himself well for this role. Right now, his players have responded. The mark of a successful head coach is how he responds to adversity and right now he hasn’t had any, but I like Jason and I’d like to see him get the job full time.
Q: How much of a challenge does Rex Ryan face in getting his team back on track after getting demolished by the Patriots on Monday night?
A:
The way the loss happened without question will get the attention of the players, and Rex will get their attention, but I don’t think that score is indicative of the quality of the Jets. I don’t think one ballgame will shake a potential championship team’s confidence. They understand they may have to face the Patriots again, so they have to adjust their game plan to what the Patriots did.