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The New York Giants have a two-game lead in the NFC East entering Monday night's game against the Washington Redskins. A victory Monday puts the Giants in an excellent spot to win the division. A loss, of course, makes the division a real race to the finish line.
Here is a look at what the Giants, Redskins and Dallas Cowboys face the final five weeks of the season.
NFC EAST
|
TEAM |
NEW YORK |
DALLAS |
WASHINGTON |
|
OPP. RECORD |
32-23 (.582) |
25-30 (.455) |
27-28 (.491) |
|
WEEK 13 |
at Washington (5-6) |
Philadelphia (3-8) |
New York Giants (7-4) |
|
WEEK 14 |
New Orleans (5-6) |
at Cincinnati (6-5) |
Baltimore (9-2) |
|
WEEK 15 |
at Atlanta (10-1) |
Pittsburgh (6-5) |
at Cleveland (3-8) |
|
WEEK 16 |
at Baltimore (9-2) |
New Orleans (5-6) |
at Philadelphia (3-8) |
|
WEEK 17 |
Philadelphia (3-8) |
at Washington (5-6) |
Dallas (5-6) |
“This is when you need to be playing your best ball heading into the playoff atmosphere,” said Justin Tuck. “This is when you want to be playing your best. Hopefully we can end this season playing our best ball and head into the playoffs playing that way. That’s where you want to be.”
Five teams – Atlanta (NFC South, playoff berth), Baltimore (AFC North, playoff berth), Denver (AFC West), Houston (playoff berth) and New England (AFC East) – can clinch a playoff berth this week. SBNation.com breaks down all the scenarios.
The Giants, obviously, have the toughest remaining schedule of any of the NFC East teams that still matter.
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com summarized the situation this way:
Realistically, this race is over if the Giants can get the road win against Robert Griffin III. The race will go on if the Redskins win. It won't be easy, but that's a nice scenario for New York considering it's only Week 13.
Exactly. Beat the Redskins Monday the division should belong to the Giants. Lose and they will still be in good position, but will have a much harder fight on their hands.