New York Giants: 4 Best-Case Playoff Scenarios for the G-Men

After a devastating and embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, the New York Giants now sit a game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East.

The Giants had a two-game lead three weeks ago.

Their playoff hopes look bleak at best, but there could be hope yet for Big Blue despite what your knee-jerk reaction may be telling you.

This slideshow will take a look at how the teams in front of the Giants can help them, with the order going from most likely to least.

Detroit Falls Apart Admist Ndamukong Suh Suspension

After the NFL announced today that Ndamukong Suh will miss two games after his bone-headed move where he stomped on a player's arm, the Detroit Lions appear to be in dire straits.

They had already gone 2-4 since their 5-0 start, and that was with Suh. They have a tough schedule remaining, playing the Saints, Raiders, Chargers and Packers.

The Lions still have an explosive offense that will keep them in games, but their already-suspect run-defense just got a lot worse.

Chicago Stumbles with Caleb Hanie at the Helm

The Chicago Bears turned to Caleb Hanie this weekend in the wake of Jay Cutler's thumb injury, and in his absence Hanie had a 56 QB rating against the Raiders in a 25-20 loss.

Hanie had key mistakes early, but looked a little better in the second half.

Giants fans are hoping that was a flash in the pan.

The problem with gunning for a Bears collapse is they still have four very winnable games on the schedule. They still play the Chiefs and Seahawks at home, go to Denver in two weeks and end the season at Minnesota.

The defense can win them three of those games, and the Bears still have Matt Forte on offense.

Giants Sweep the Cowboys, and Dallas Adds a Little Help

Lets just be honest for a second: There is not a single person in the world who should think the Giants will beat the Green Bay Packers next weekend. It doesn't mean it is impossible, but it is highly unlikely.

At the same token, the Dallas Cowboys should route the Arizona Cardinals next week, giving them a two-game lead in the division.

Crazier things have happened, but if the Giants and Cowboys are tied after next weekend I'm buying a lotto ticket.

So if the Giants fall two games back, they would need to likely run the table to win the division—which would include a sweep of the Cowboys.

Now, it really isn't 100 percent certain the Giants would need to sweep the Cowboys. Dallas still has two games against Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, and the Cowboys have been known for December collapses.

I wouldn't put it past the Cowboys to give the Giants a little help by falling asleep in a game they should win.

As bad as you felt last night, Giants fan, this is far from over.

Atlanta Falcons Stumble Down the Stretch for No Apparent Reason

The Atlanta Falcons have to be loving what is happening in Chicago and Detroit. With both of those teams seemingly on the downfall, the Falcons are on the rise, having won five of their last six.

Not only that, but three of their final five games are at home against Houston with a third-string QB, Jacksonville who just fired their coach and a tough one against New Orleans.

Oh, and their two road games are at Carolina (3-8) and Tampa Bay (4-7). The Falcons shouldn't take the Tampa game lightly, as that team likes to get up for home division games, but from where I'm sitting that looks like a favorable schedule down the stretch.

An 11-5 record is not out of the question for Atlanta, which would more than seal up a Wild Card spot. Giants fans have to ignore Atlanta falling out of the race unless they suffer a huge injury.