Road to Playoffs No Easy Task for Giants

With three weeks to go in their season, the New York Giants are right where they are used to being during the month of December: on the edge.

The Giants are in the midst of a dog-fight for the NFC East title, and possibly a wild card spot as they head down the stretch. While it is no fault but their own for finding themselves in this predicament, New York still controls their own destiny.

 While the Giants might be 8-5 on the year, their margin for error is zero. They lost three games in the division this year, with Washington and Dallas already owning tie-breakers against them. The Giants remaining three contests will not be easy, with a two game road-trip that has become a highlight of the Giants late season schedule on the horizon. Trips to Atlanta and Baltimore are going to tell all of us what is in store for the Giants as the season wraps up and heads toward January. It is easy for any Giants supporter to scuff at the schedule; the Giants have proven many times in the past that they can handle the pressure, especially on the road. Their two most recent Super Bowl titles have all been accomplished on the road in the toughest of conditions.

However, Atlanta is coming into this weeks contest against the Giants, somewhat desperate. Having lost to Carolina on Sunday, the Falcons still haven't locked up the number one seed in the playoffs - and can take a major step in that direction Sunday with a win against Big Blue. Plus, Atlanta remembers the 24-2 drubbing they took at the hands of the Giants last January in the playoffs, and are out to prove that this years Falcons' team is indeed for real.

Then look ahead to Baltimore, a team that has given the Giants fits over the years, remember Super Bowl XXXV anyone? The Ravens are desperate for a victory right now having lost two in a row, and falling out of contention for the AFC's number two seed. The Ravens, who are now trying to get the number three seed in the playoffs, haven't even locked up the AFC North, and this was a team that started the season at 9-2. Who knows what kind of mood the Ravens will be in in two weeks after Eli's brother, Peyton, is done with the birds this week?

It's not like Atlanta and Baltimore are flawless, however. The Falcons have been perceived as a paper tiger all season and have not been a dominating 11-2 team this year. The Ravens have watched their defense get old and battered, while relying on the right arm of Joe Flacco more often then not which is always a gamble.

In short the formula is pretty simple, win two of these remaining three games and the Giants clinch the NFC East division; win all three and Big Blue gets the East and the number three seed in the playoffs.

The Giants have their flaws this year. They have been terribly inconsistent especially in divisional play. They have not gotten the best out of their running attack, and their offensive line has been in flux. Defensively the Giants have been ravaged by poor play and injuries in the secondary, and the famed Giants pass rush has been invisible at times this year.

Yet, there have been moments of brilliance from these Giants, like last week against New Orleans and two weeks ago against Green Bay. Even the Giants 26-3 domination of San Francisco back in October is a constant reminder of how good the Giants can be if they play their cards right.

However, there is a scenario where the Giants could miss out on the division.

Here is the Redskins and Cowboys Schedule's:

Washington:
@ Cleveland
@ Philadelphia
Dallas

Dallas:
Pittsburgh
New Orleans
@ Washington


Clearly Washington and Dallas have some tricky games too. They have to play one another, and Washington has to play Cleveland and Philly on the road where neither team has anything to lose. Plus, the Redskins may have lost rookie sensation RGIII for this week after having suffered a knee injured in a game against Baltimore.

Dallas has Pittsburgh, who is need of a win, and New Orleans at home -- a place that has been anything but a palace for the Cowboys this season.

But if the Giants were to find themselves in a tie at the end of the season, lets say at 9-7, they will lose out on the division, and would have have to hope that the Chicago Bears, who are in free fall right now, also finish at 9-7 in order for Big Blue to get the sixth seed. A scenario that seems somewhat unlikey, yet one that Tom Coughlin and company do not want to visit.

So if the Giants are going to make the playoffs easily, they have to show some consistency and take care of business during this road-trip; otherwise they will need a lot of help.