NFL

MESSAGE TO BIG BLUE: WIN WAY TO PLAYOFFS

THE Giants have made the playoffs the previous two seasons under Tom Coughlin, but first-round losses have wiped the shine off those ventures as if they never deserved any merit.

A shutout loss to Carolina in 2005 and a first-round ouster by the Eagles in 2006 made some fans want to put asterisks by Tom Coughlin’s coaching record, indicating making the playoffs those two seasons weren’t such big deals, after all.

A third-straight postseason berth would be clinched with a victory over the rival Redskins tonight at Giants Stadium and despite the sour taste of playoffs past, Coughlin and the Giants deserve to take a bow should they emerge victorious.

Skeptics might suggest we have been down this road before and some Giants fans may be spoiled and demand more than just a one-game appearance in January. But reaching the “tournament,” as Bill Parcells called it, is deserving of a bow, especially when you do it the right way. That’s why it’s important to finish the task tonight against the Redskins. That’s what a playoff-worthy team would do.

Coaches will say it doesn’t matter how you make the playoffs as long as you get in. We know that’s not necessarily true. The Giants made the playoffs last year by beating the Redskins in the final game of the regular season to finish 8-8 after a 6-2 start. The Giants didn’t earn a playoff berth as much as they salvaged one. No one was surprised when the opening round ended with a 23-20 loss at Philadelphia. It was a fitting end to an otherwise miserable season of finger-pointing, backstabbing, and injuries.

Beating the Redskins (6-7) today would create a different feel. With the Cowboys running away with the division, there is no shame in being the top wild-card team in the NFC. Others have come from a similar position before to win Super Bowls. Whether Eli Manning can get the Giants there is a debate for future weeks. The objective now is to get in with the kind of confidence and momentum that can be springboards to success.

“It would make everybody feel a lot easier to get that playoff spot,” Amani Toomer said. “It would be a relief.”

Though the rest of the free world knows they will clinch a postseason berth with a victory over the Redskins today, most of the Giants insist they’re not concerned about the p-word as if it might trigger an evil curse to mention the obvious. It is old school thinking handed down by a head coach who wants his team to remain focused.

“I’m not worried about that,” Coughlin said of the playoff implications. “I’m worried about trying to be the best you can to beat the Washington Redskins who are very good football team.”

Truth is, some might question whether the Giants are a good enough football team to advance deep into the postseason should they qualify. Certainly, the home crowd is aware of their flaws as the Giants have a complied a meager 3-3 record on their home turf heading into tonight’s game.

The first step, however, is to qualify with their heads held-high, something they didn’t do last year, but can rectify tonight. The Giants have come a long way since their 0-2 start. Only the optimist picked them to win 10 games this year. Clinching a postseason berth with two games to go was unthinkable in September.

Win tonight and the pressure will be off, making a trip to Buffalo next week and a season-finale against the Patriots a formality. If the Giants lose tonight they become a vulnerable team again; confidence could turn to doubt. That’s not the way to go into the postseason.

Beat the Redskins today and the Giants can feel good about themselves and their season. Their mediocre record at home would be forgiven and Coughlin can rest his team for a playoff run. That’s what a playoff-worthy team would do.

george.willis@nypost.com