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This just in: Don’t be shocked if the Giants find themselves back in first place Sunday night atop the NFC East. A look at key games that impact their playoff push:
REDSKINS-EAGLES: I look for the Eagles players to do everything in their power to send Andy Reid out with a victory in what most everyone believes will be his last home game as coach. It has been 10 days since their 34-13 loss to Cincinnati — plenty of time to think about a 31-6 beatdown from Robert Griffin III and the Redskins in their previous meeting last month. The Eagles have nothing to lose.
“There have been two games this year where we just got flat out dominated, and that was one of them,” Jeremy Maclin said of the first clash with the Redskins. “Individually, I didn’t have a catch that game, so it’s motivation for me to go out there and hopefully make some noise to help my team.”
RGKnee returns from his one-week absence, but this isn’t the same defense he torched for four TD passes and a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating. DE Brandon Graham, who has four sacks in three games, will be a threat because of RGKnee’s diminished mobility. In 12 games this year with Jim Washburn’s wide nine scheme in place, Eagles defensive linemen had just 13 sacks. They have eight in two games since Tommy Brasher took over. The Eagles have allowed just three TD passes and limited quarterbacks to a 44-percent completion percentage over the past two weeks. Graham (four sacks in three games) is a sudden menace, and Redskins RT Tyler Polumbus (concussion) may be forced to give way to inexperienced Maurice Hurt or Tom Compton.
A rusty LeSean McCoy (concussion) will split the rushing workload with Bryce Brown, who can fumble the ball as quickly as he can turn the corner. Nick Foles versus Jim Haslett isn’t a fair fight: In the past three games, the Redskins have allowed an average of 135.3 yards and 5.7 points in the second half after surrendering 211.3 yards and 16 points in the first 30 minutes.
SAINTS-COWBOYS: Remember when R.W. McQuarters intercepted Tony Romo in the end zone at the end of the Giants’ 21-17 playoff victory over the Cowboys en route to Super Bowl XLII? Then you might agree that no one knows Romo — who was 18-36 for 201 yards, one TD and one INT that day — better than Big Blue’s defensive coordinator back then, Steve Spagnuolo, who is the Saints defensive coordinator these days. Romo, on the other hand, was 3-0 during the regular season against the Giants and Spagnuolo, with 10 TD passes and one INT.
“This guy, in my opinion, is one of the toughest quarterbacks to defend against and to gameplan against,” Spagnuolo said. “He puts his team in good plays, takes them out of bad plays and puts them in good ones. He is really smart, and I think part of the fact that he has gone up against us enough he might have an upper hand. … I think he is a tremendous athlete and good person. I am one of his fans, but we are going to try and beat him this weekend.”
Spagnuolo’s task is complicated by the growing telepathy between Romo and Dez Bryant, and the rounding into form of RB DeMarco Murray. Romo (14-24, 166 yards, two TDs) wasn’t so much the problem as was Murray (25-253, one TD) when the Cowboys whipped Spagnuolo’s Rams 34-7 last season. The Saints defense needs to hold its final two opponents under 364 yards per game to avoid breaking the NFL record for most yards allowed in a season (1981 Baltimore Colts, 424.6 yards per game). The Saints have allowed 433.3 yards per game.
Drew Brees is hoping to mount an Iron Horse to ride past the Cowboys.
“Lou [Gehrig] was asked why he played so hard when he went out there, and he said because there is somebody in the stands that is watching me play for the first time and I want to give them the impression of the type of player I am,” Brees said. “It’s somewhat of that mentality. There is always something to prove, there is always a challenge to be met, and there is always somebody that has you in their crosshairs, too, that is coming after you. So you want to make sure that you’re putting forth your best effort. Certainly, with what we’re trying to accomplish as a team, too, you just can’t have a down game. I know we’ve had tough stretches at times this season, I’ve had tough stretches, but it’s all about how we want to finish.”
BEARS-CARDINALS: Patrick Peterson has proclaimed himself the best cornerback in the game, but that won’t stop Jay Cutler from targeting Brandon Marshall, especially since his other option is fragile rookie Alshon Jeffery. The Cardinals lead the NFL with 22 interceptions, and Windy City offensive coordinator Mike Tice is having Tony Sparano results. Gabe Carimi, benched last month, replaces Jonathan Scott at right tackle, and Ray Horton and Darnell Dockett are licking their chops. Cutler has been sacked 35 times.
“They’re the biggest blitz team I’ve ever seen,” Carimi said.
Brian Urlacher won’t play, but much to Larry Fitzgerald’s chagrin, Ryan Lindley will.
49ERS-SEAHAWKS: Russell Wilson has 13 TDs and two INTs since a 13-6 loss to Niners. Pete Carroll’s 12th Man will make life miserable for Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers have allowed eight 100-yard rushing games in 76 games and Marshawn Lynch has three of them. Plus, Justin Smith is a question mark. Say a prayer for Seahawks RT Breno Giacomini against freakish sackmaster Aldon Smith.
VIKINGS-TEXANS: Christian Ponder picked the wrong week to marry Samantha Steele. Besides, it never IS the right week to confront J.J. Watt. OLB Connor Barwin on Adrian Peterson: “He’s playing like an animal.”
steve.serby@nypost.com