NFL

How Giants will make the playoffs

The beauty of the wild card is that even flawed and, at times, feeble teams can be in the hunt and sometimes even make it into the playoffs.

Barely better than mediocre often gets you in, which is good news for the Giants this holiday season.

It will be shame on the Giants if they cannot overtake the self-destructing Cowboys in the final three games to gain the second wild-card spot and No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Not that the Giants bear any resemblance to a playoff team or appear capable of mounting a serious challenge in the postseason. After all, the only team with a winning record they’ve beaten is the Cowboys.

But getting in means something, and with the assembled talent, not getting in is inexcusable.

GIANTS BLOG

WEEK 14 REWIND

Based on the more favorable schedule and the sense that coach Tom Coughlin can navigate his team through treacherous waters more ably than Wade Phillips, it says here the Giants are going to make it.

“We all know who Dallas plays, and they’ve got a tough schedule,” Eli Manning said. “We are in the mindset that if we win these three games, we think we will make the playoffs.”

We think so, too. Here’s why:

⇒ WEEK 15 — Cowboys at New Orleans in a Saturday night prime-time event. This is likely the last real threat for the Saints on their march toward an unbeaten season.

Tony Romo and the Cowboys will score plenty, but not enough as steam rises from Jerry Jones’ head inside the Superdome. Saints 34, Cowboys 24

Giants at Washington in a Monday night event. Knowing they now once again control their destiny, the Giants get back to what they do best: Beating bad teams.

The Skins qualify even though they are spunky. Even the Giants’ crummy defense can deal with these guys, and, at long last, Brandon Jacobs gets his first 100-yard game of the season. Giants 27, Redskins 16

⇒ WEEK 16 — Panthers at Giants, Sunday at 1 p.m. It is two days after Christmas and the NFL is in a giving mood.

Panthers are playing out the string and Giants try to hire John Fox on the spot to run their defense. Some old Giants’ swagger returns just in time in their final game at Giants Stadium. Giants 24, Panthers 10

Cowboys at Washington in a Sunday night game. Reports surface that Mike Shanahan is seen with Jerry Jones’ credit card buying a pair of cowboy boots at DFW Airport. Romo is linked to one of Tiger Woods’ babes, but the quarterback is undeterred as the Cowboys deny the Giants a chance to clinch playoff spot.

Cowboys 31, Redskins 14

⇒ WEEK 17 — Eagles at Cowboys, Sunday at 1 p.m. Eagles already have wrapped up the division and don’t need anything out of the game as far as playoff seeding, meaning there’s a steady diet of Michael Vick on the field as Andy Reid rests a bunch of his starters.

Better coaching and a winning tradition win out, though, as the Wade Phillips era comes to an end. Eagles 23, Cowboys 9

Giants at Minnesota, Sunday at 1 p.m. Giants come in knowing they’re in the playoffs if the Cowboys lose, but the games are going on simultaneously.

Vikings are the No. 2 seed and don’t need the game at all.

Brett Favre is wearing Wranglers on the sideline.

Giants start slowly but later feast on Vikings reserves and get to whoop it up inside the Metrodome. Giants 27, Vikings 20


Eli’s gotta be more of a leader

If Eli Manning throws two more touchdown passes this season, it will give him 25, establishing a personal best. His quarterback ranking of 93 is easily the highest of his career.

He’s shepherded a young group of receivers and has dealt with an achy right foot most of the way. He’s already a Super Bowl MVP, and this has been his best season.

Off the field, he comports himself with flawless, uneventful class.

Now for the next line for his resume: Get his team in the playoffs by displaying more outward leadership qualities.

The players around him need it.

Tough year for Reese

The offseason spending spree by GM Jerry Reese was supposed to fortify an already solid defense, but three of the four imports have done little or nothing and the other, Michael Boley, has battled injuries and doesn’t look like a true impact player for his $2.5 million salary.

Chris Canty is making $3.75 million and has 19 tackles in his six games, which comes out to $197,368 per tackle. Rocky Bernard ($1.9 million) and C.C. Brown ($1 million) look as if their first year with the Giants will be their last.

Not Jerry Reese’s finest hour.