HELP! Hakeem Nicks (pictured) and the Giants are praying Aaron Rodgers’ Packers, Matthew Stafford’s Lions and Robert Griffin III’s Redskins all win Sunday to keep Big Blue’s playoff hopes alive. (
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Victor Cruz forecasts a Happy New Year for the Giants and their fans.
Cruz, destiny’s darling last season, predicts the Big Blue dominoes will be falling perfectly into place Sunday for the defending champs to miraculously make the playoffs.
The Giants have to take care of their business against the Eagles and pray the Lions upset the Bears, the Packers beat the Vikings and the Redskins beat or tie the Cowboys.
BEARS-LIONS: “I think Calvin’s [Johnson] trying to put some distance on that [single-season receiving] record a little bit, so they’re gonna do some good things offensively,” Cruz said.
PACKERS-VIKINGS: “I just think they’re hot, so I think they’re gonna continue that streak,” Cruz said of the Packers.
COWBOYS-REDSKINS: “I think it all depends on how the receivers play in my book, how Pierre [Garçon] and Dez Bryant on both sides, but I think the Redskins are gonna pull it out,” Cruz said.
Oh yeah, EAGLES-GIANTS: “I think this kid named Victor Cruz is gonna have a pretty good game, so I’m excited about it,” Cruz said, smiling.
“We get in baby!”
The latest:
EAGLES-GIANTS (1 p.m.): Dog mentality needed against Michael Vick. “Just corral him,” Giants linebacker Spencer Paysinger said. “He hasn’t played in a while, so we don’t know if he has any rust on him or anything like that. He hasn’t seen game speed in a long time so hopefully it takes him a while to get warmed up.”
Will the Eagles be extra motivated to win one for outgoing Andy Reid?
“I’m sure they will be,” Chris Canty said.
Giants players will peek up at the scoreboard for Bears-Lions.
“I try to guard against that, I really do,” Canty said, and chuckled. “They flash it up there, I think some guys are gonna take notice.”
BEARS-LIONS (1 p.m.): Matt Forte (ankle) is expected to play. Lovie Smith won’t rule out Brian Urlacher (hamstring), who missed practice again. Returner Stefan Logan has been benched, in favor of Mike Thomas and possible Joique Bell. Henry Melton called Lions dirty. “In my book,” Detroit’s Dominic Raiola said, “he’s a clown.” Chicago’s Major Wright on Matthew Stafford: “You put a little pressure on him he kind of folds.” Bad blood boils over.
PACKERS-VIKINGS (4:25 p.m.): The Vikings need a fast start — in the last three weeks, Christian Ponder is 7-of-7 for 111 yards and a touchdown on opening TD drives. Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 210 yards at Lambeau, needs 208 to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record. He’s nursing an abdominal strain.
“AD’s a competitor … he’ll be ready to go on Sunday,” Vikings center John Sullivan told The Post last night by telephone.
Jordy Nelson (hamstring), who has missed the last three games, appears ready. Randall Cobb (ankle) may sit out.
“We know it’s gonna be very difficult for Green Bay to execute their offense because of the crowd noise,” Sullivan said.
Asked if he had a message for his former Notre Dame teammate Justin Tuck, Sullivan said: “I love the guy. I respect him as a player and person. I hope he’s not in the playoffs after this weekend.”
COWBOYS-REDSKINS (8:25 p.m.): Former Giant defensive tackle Barry Cofield tells The Post that RGKnee is looking better than he did last week.
“Just more spry,” the Redskins’ Cofield said over the telephone. “You could just tell he has more pep in his step.”
A more mobile Robert Griffin III will be needed in what looms as a shootout with Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Cofield knows how important it is to slow RB DeMarco Murray.
“He reminds me of Adrian Peterson in a way,” Cofield said. “Similar-type body, very explosive and both run extremely hard. They’re just so talented we definitely can’t let them be balanced.”
Alfred Morris needs 104 yards to establish the single-season Redskins rushing record. “He runs like he’s trying to make the team,” Cofield said.
Asked about the Cowboys-Redskins rivalry, Cofield said: “It’s unlike any rival we had in New York.”
Cofield chuckled when it was mentioned to him that his team could help the Giants get in the playoffs.
“You know what? I got a lot of friends over there,” he said. “I got so much fixated on the Cowboys that I have no time to have feelings on any other game.”
Cofield is aiming for a Super Bowl.
“[Coach Mike Shanahan] always preaches only one team is happy at the end of the year,” Cofield said.
Can that team be the Giants again? Getcha salsa ready.