The New York Giants can clinch a playoff berth this week. Of course, even at 9-4 and currently holding the No. 5 seed in the NFC, it is also possible that the Giants end up not making the playoffs at all.
That means that it is time once again for our weekly fan confidence poll. Do you think the Giants, fresh off a second exhilarating victory over the Dallas Cowboys, will make the playoffs this season? Vote in the poll and let us know.
Here is how the Giants can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday. First, they need to defeat the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium. The Giants are 4.5-point favorites, but the Lions are also 9-4, lead the NFC North and have a five-game winning streak.
If the Giants defeat the Lions, they need a loss by the Washington Redskins plus a loss or tie by both the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. If all of those things happen, the Giants will be a playoff team for the first time since 2011.
The Redskins host the Carolina Panthers, the Vikings host the Indianapolis Colts and the Packers travel to play the Chicago Bears.
For what it’s worth, FiveThirtyEight gives the Giants a 75 percent chance of making the playoffs. Football Outsiders uses its own methodology to give give the Giants an 80.1 percent chance of being a playoff team.
When we did this poll a week ago, only 52 percent (917) of 1,750 voters were confident the Giants would reach the playoffs.
How confident are you now, Giants fans? Vote in the poll and let us know.