NFL Playoff Picture: Giants and Jets Will Decide Each Other's Fate

The New York Giants and New York Jets share a city and a stadium. 

Outside of that, there isn't much they have in common.

Their ownership and philosophies are as different as they come. One identifies with blue and the other identifies with green.

They've been in the same postseason only twice since 1990.

But in the 2011 season, it is likely that their Week 16 matchup on Christmas Eve will ultimately decide their postseason fates.

While all hypothetical, with three games to play before they meet, the two teams are on an undeniable collision course.

The Giants are on a disgusting three-game skid that will likely extend to four this week against the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

The Jets, who are as up and down as any team in the league, take their show on the road in Week 13 against the Redskins. Gang Green is only 1-4 this season away from home.

There is a good chance these two teams are 6-6 at week's end. They could both be 7-5 or any other combination of two.

Either way, neither will be worse than 6-6 and their looming Christmas Eve clash is going to be the ultimate decider of postseason fates.

The Jets aren't going to catch the 8-3 New England Patriots in the AFC East. Bill Belichick's team, who swept the Jets this year, has the easiest schedule in the league down the stretch.

Gang Green is fighting for a wild card berth along with the Pittsburgh Steelers (who were swept by the Baltimore Ravens), Cincinnati Bengals (who are 0-2 against the Ravens and Steelers with one more game with each remaining) and the Denver Broncos.

It is entirely possible that the Broncos catch the Raiders in the AFC West, but in any event of a tiebreaker, the Jets lost to both the Broncos and the Raiders already.

The Steelers or Bengals can catch the Ravens, but they'll all be in the hunt until at at least Week 16.

As for the Giants, they still play the NFC East-leading Cowboys twice this season (once before they play the Jets and once after) and likely need to win the division to earn a postseason berth.

The number that neither team can reach in the loss column is seven. The Jets won't earn a wild card berth with seven losses while the Giants would have to hope the Cowboys fall flat on their faces (which, actually, is entirely possible if you know anything of Tony Romo) to win the NFC East.

While the scenario is all hypothetical and depends on this, that and the other thing, there is one undeniable truth: neither the Jets nor Giants can afford a loss on Christmas Eve.

When all is said and done, the winner of the Christmas Eve clash is likely going to be the only one with playoff hopes.