Giants Fans: Time To Put Your Heads Together

While the Giants winning out would be a surprise in itself, it is still no given it would give the Giants their fifth playoff appearance in as many years.

With the Cowboys' victory last night, some hope was lost, but there are still an abundance of scenarios that could give the Giants a chance at the playoffs.

Some scenarios I am unable to decipher if the Giants can get in.

But here is a list of all of the things that could happen and whether or not the Giants would be able to get in. All of this is pending the Giants win out, too.

1. Eagles Lose Next Two, Cowboys Win at Washington

This would put the Cowboys at 10-5 and Eagles at 9-6 heading into the final showdown.

I'm pretty sure this would be the ideal scenario for the Giants.

If the Eagles win, it would be a three-way tie for first.

The Eagles would have a 5-1 division record, so they would win the division, and the Cowboys would have a 3-3 division record, compared to the Giants 4-2.

So that would allow the Giants to take the wild card.

If the Cowboys win, then the Eagles would be 9-7, and the Giants would get in as a wild card.

Of course, it's not very likely that the Eagles lose the next two at home to San Francisco and Denver, but that possibility remains.

If the Eagles split the next two and Dallas beats Washington, then both would be 10-5, and Giants fans will bleed green for a day. Of course, the possibility remains that...

2. Packers Lose Two of Next Three, Either Eagles or Cowboys finish at 10-6

To be honest, I'm not sure what this would mean for the Giants. Here is the official NFL guidelines to breaking a three-way tie for a wild card spot.

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to Step One of applicable two-club format.)

1. Apply division tie-breaker to eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to Step Two. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie-breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two wild-card participants.
2. Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in conference games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

As an aspiring sports writer, I know what I'm about to say is a sin.

But I have no clue how to interpret this.

Now, I ask the Giants' community to fill me in.

What happens if it is a three-way tie between the Giants, Packers, and Eagles? How about Giants, Packers, and Cowboys?

And for those who say it is unlikely for the Packers to finish the season losing two of their last three, they have a point.

However, they play a Steelers team that is finally playing with nothing to lose today.

Next week, they host the Seahawks, as easy a game as December can have for a contending team.

Then they finish the season at Arizona, which is no gimme by any means. Don't punch the Packers postseason ticket just yet.

3. Eagles and Cowboys Finish 11-5, Giants and Packers Finish 10-6

Since the Giants and Packers would likely have the same conference record (unless Green Bay beats the Steelers but loses to Seattle and Arizona, this would allow the Giants to win the wild card), it will come down to record vs. common opponents.

Since this would be assuming the Giants would beat Minnesota, this would give the Giants a huge leg up.

Green Bay also lost to Tampa Bay, and this is assuming they lose to Arizona, too.

Therefore, against common opponents, the Giants would hold a 4-1 record, while the Packers would have a 1-4 record. Advantage, Giants.

Those are basically the only scenarios if the Giants win out.

Of course, this may all be for naught until the defense can cover a receiver for more than three seconds.

But it's still worth knowing.