What “experts” think of New York Giants’ playoff chances

Let’s forget for a moment what Skip Bayless has to say about the New York Giants and their playoff chances. Let’s look at some of the other, perhaps more credible, NFL analysts think of the Giants as Wild-Card Weekend approaches.

We have to begin with opinionated former New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott. He might not be any more credible than Bayless, to be honest, but he certainly did have a brash opinion worth noting.

“I don't think the Giants defense is that good, when was the last time they played a real team."

Apparently, two victories over the Dallas Cowboys, and wins over the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions don’t count.

NFL Total Access, on the other hand, is looking for Round 3 in Super Bowl 51 between the Giants and the New England Patriots.

In his final power rankings of the 2016 season, Elliot Harrison of NFL.com summarized the situation for the Giants.

Damn impressive. The defense. The defense is damn impressive, everybody. As for the offense ... yeah ... well ... ahem ... meh ... eh. So with the way Steve Spagnuolo's unit has competed this year, if the offense can ever get out of its own way, New York can be more than merely a tough out in the postseason.

A word of warning from former Super-Bowl-winning coach and current NFL analyst Brian Billick. He believes Sunday’s opponent, the Green Bay Packers, is the most dangerous NFC playoff team:

With all due respect to Tom Brady, there isn't a hotter quarterback in the NFL right now than Aaron Rodgers. The emergence of Davante Adams and the position change for Ty Montgomery (from receiver to running back) have been instrumental in the Packers closing out the season on a six-game winning streak, but Rodgers has been frighteningly accurate in the process. With those three hitting their stride and Jordy Nelson leading the NFL in touchdown receptions (14), Green Bay has scored 30-plus points in four straight games -- and 30 appears to be the Packers' magic number on the other side the ball ...

Green Bay is 10-1 when allowing fewer than 30 points this season. Read that again: The Pack is 10-1 when ALLOWING FEWER THAN 30. That is amazing to me, and not too much to ask of a defense, especially one coordinated by Dom Capers. Quality usually reveals itself, and after the Packers' midseason slump brought panicked calls for Capers' job, Green Bay's defense matured into an effective unit. In Weeks 12 through 16, the Packers surrendered just 17.6 points per game while also manufacturing 14 takeaways in the process. (Without a garbage-time Hail Mary in Week 17, the Packers also held the Lions to 17 points while adding another takeaway.)

ESPN ranks the Giants No. 7 of the 12 playoff teams.

FOX Sports ranks the Giants No. 8.

USA Today ranks the Giants No. 7, and isn’t optimistic the Giants will get past the first round:

The Giants are low on this list, but would anyone be surprised if they ran the table? If any team is capable of knocking off the Patriots, it’s New York. And, no, this has nothing to do with past matchups. The Giants have a dominant pass rush — not dissimilar from the one in Denver — that can take over a game and bother Tom Brady. Unfortunately, the Giants probably won’t make it that far. They have no running game and Eli Manning has been off all season. The Packers will end New York’s postseason run before it even gets started.