NFL

Giants seek Super advantage

Giants co-owner John Mara turned to his public relations man, Pat Hanlon, during yesterday’s practice to ask which team won last year’s preseason game between the Giants and Jets. The Giants won 26-3.

“With preseason games, it’s just hard to remember,” Mara told The Post after watching the Giants go through an indoor workout before tomorrow night’s game. “A week after the game is over, you don’t really know who won or lost. I’m really more concerned about this team getting ready for Dallas.”

Yes, the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Cowboys is when it starts to count, but that doesn’t mean Giants-Jets has no meaning, even though Jets coach Rex Ryan isn’t talking anymore about taking over the city.

In many ways, tomorrow’s game is unique in this long series. It’s the first preseason tussle between two teams trying to be the first to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. Super Bowl XLVIII is scheduled for Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium.

If you think it’s too early to start thinking about the Super Bowl, think again. The Giants have gone so far as to put a sign in their locker room that has a picture of the stadium and a countdown with the number of days remaining until the game. It was at 164 yesterday and serves as a source of daily motivation.

“You have the New York City skyline and 250 yards from here we have the venue that’s going to play the last game of the year here,” punter Steve Weatherford said. “We’re working hard every day because the last thing you want to do is be sitting on your couch knowing some other team is getting dressed in your locker room to play the biggest game of the year.”

The competitive tension created between the Giants and Jets when Ryan became the Jets head coach has subsided. Ryan has been muzzled by new general manager John Idzik and his own issues trying to decide on a starting quarterback. The Giants winning the Super Bowl in 2012 also helped quiet the rhetoric.

The Giants and Jets also have worked together in developing contingency plans for the first cold-weather Super Bowl to be played in a stadium without a dome. There’s a necessary spirit of cooperation at least for this year.

“We have a great relationship, contrary to what people think,” Mara said. “It’s been going very smoothly. We’re fortunate we have a good management team at the stadium and a great Super Bowl host committee.”

That doesn’t mean tomorrow night’s game will be like kissing your sister. It’s still Giants-Jets with something called a Snoopy Trophy at stake.

“I know our ownership loves this game,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “It’s two teams representing New York and both want to be considered the elite team in the city, and not only in the city, but in football. So I know this game is going to be more like a regular-season game atmosphere.”

The Jets had hoped to be a Super Bowl contender by now, Ryan’s fifth season at the helm. Back when they were going to AFC Championship games, they had visions of being the first team to play a Super Bowl in its own building. But now that looks doubtful with an unsettled quarterback situation and lots of retooling taking place on both sides of the ball.

The Giants appear to be better equipped to get there. Eli Manning is in his prime, and the roster is stocked with proven veterans and leadership. Coach Tom Coughlin hasn’t slowed down a bit. Practicing in the shadow of MetLife Stadium doesn’t hurt.

“We’ve talked about that,” Coughlin said. “Historically, the home team has never played, so that’s a nice thing to be aware of. But we have a long way to go to be in that situation.”

The Giants and Jets will be chasing history this year: first the Snoopy Trophy and then the Lombardi.