NFL

Jets, Giants each eye win today to keep postseason hopes alive

(
)

It is finally here. The talking is done. The boasting is finished. It is time to play the game.

Depending on what colors you’re wearing today: it’s Jets-Giants or Giants-Jets. When 1 p.m. hits at MetLife Stadium, the words of this week disappear, and the “Fight Before Christmas” gets settled on the field.

This is “Survivor: The Swamp.” The loser may as well get its torch extinguished, because its playoff flame will be flickering.

COSTELLO CHAT REWIND

UPDATES FROM OUR JETS BLOG

UPDATES FROM OUR GIANTS BLOG

It is the brash Rex Ryan vs. the tight-lipped Tom Coughlin. It’s Eli vs. Sanchez; Revis vs. Nicks; Plaxico vs. his old friends; big brother vs. little brother.

If that wasn’t big enough, both teams’ playoff hopes ride on this game.

“It doesn’t get more important than this for the Jets or for the Giants,” said Coughlin, who may be coaching for his job.

The Jets cannot clinch a playoff berth or be eliminated today, but they could take a big step forward or backward in their hunt for a third straight playoff berth. At 8-6, they have been a disappointment. But they can rewrite the script if they get to the playoffs.

If the Giants lose today, they could be eliminated by the time Santa’s reindeer touch down on their first roof. A loss to the Jets coupled with a Cowboys win over the Eagles knocks the Giants out. The 7-7 Giants will be alive for another week with a win today.

Ryan said he was surprised when the schedule came out in April and the Jets-Giants game fell at the end of the year instead of Sept. 11, like many expected.

“The fact that they put it [there made me think], ‘Wow, this game really could mean something.’ Well, it did,” Ryan said. “Both teams are fighting like crazy to get into the playoffs. Obviously, a loss in this game almost knocks one out, for the most part.”

One team will walk out of MetLife bragging tonight. For the other, it will be a silent night.

Here is how The Post breaks down today’s game:

MARQUEE MATCHUP

Jets WRs Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes vs. Giants CBs Corey Webster and Aaron Ross

It’s time for the Jets wide receivers to have a big game. Burress and Holmes have combined for seven catches over the last two weeks. The Giants secondary is suspect. Webster likely will cover Burress for much of the game, with Ross on Holmes.

Big things were expected of the Jets receivers. Today is the day for them to put up. Burress should be fired up against his former team, and Holmes needs to bounce back after a disastrous game last week.

THE RETURN OF AIR REX?

The Jets opened this season throwing the ball more than they had in Ryan’s previous two years. Quarterback Mark Sanchez threw the ball more than 40 times in two of the first three games of the year. But the Jets then went back to “Ground and Pound.”

Jets players said they might throw the ball more this week. The Giants are 29th against the pass this year. Sanchez has not thrown for more than 200 yards in the last four games. Ryan could turn him loose today.

HIT THE MARK

Coughlin made sure to present these numbers to his team: “When you study, he has 20 turnovers himself. He has seven fumbles and 13 interceptions.’’ Of course, “he’’ is Sanchez, and Coughlin firmly believes if you hit him, the ball will come out.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a bonanza — as I call it a bonanza sack game,’’ said Coughlin, thinking back to a five-sack outing on Oct. 30 vs. the Dolphins. “You’ve got to get after the quarterback, create an uncomfortable situation for him, maybe cause him not to see that well.’’

Coughlin also has taken note of the Jets’ sloppiness in the return game on special teams.

“They’ve had some giveaways with their returners,’’ he said. “They put the ball on the ground, and people have been able to come up with turnovers in that aspect of it as well. So it’s not a difficult thing to talk about the formula. The difficult thing, of course, is to execute.”

BRICK IN THE WALL

The mission for Jets left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, should he choose to accept it, is to contain Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. Easier said than done. JPP is fourth in the NFL with 131⁄2 sacks and is coming off a 16-tackle game against the Redskins.

Told that Sanchez has been sacked seven times the past two games, Pierre-Paul said the plan is “keep sacking him, get around the tackle and be physical with him. It’s going to be a great fight. I don’t know him at all. I see he’s a physical guy. He’s athletic. It’s going to be a challenge, me and him. It’ll be nice to watch.’’

D TIME IS NOW

After a brutal outing against the Eagles last week, the Jets’ defense needs to rebound in a major way. The Jets go from the shifty Michael Vick last week to a more stationary Eli Manning this week. But the Jets know Manning will pick them apart if they let him.

The Jets are 17th in the league with 32 sacks. The Jets need to get Aaron Maybin in Manning’s face. Maybin does not have a sack over the past two games. He leads the team with six.

THIRD AND A PRAYER

The Giants allowed Rex Grossman to convert a ridiculous 53 percent (8-of-15) on third down last week to continue a troubling trend. For the first time in franchise history, the Giants in five consecutive games have allowed the opponent to convert 50 percent or higher on third down. The Jets are just 18th in the league in third-down efficiency at 36.5 percent.

PAUL’S PREDICTION

Can’t imagine a game crammed with more than this one. Entire direction of Giants franchise could hinge on what happens next, and that desperation will either carry or crush the Giants. Get the feeling Justin Tuck has one big performance in him. When in doubt, go with the better quarterback in what should be compelling holiday viewing.

Giants 24, Jets 20

COSTELLO’S CALL

You knew this game would be huge the minute the schedule came out. There was no doubt both teams’ seasons would be riding on it. This game should live up to the hype. This is an even matchup, and the two teams will be motivated. Game should come down to final minutes, where Eli Manning pulls another one out.

Giants 31, Jets 30