Giants fans will have one eye on the Redskins and one eye on the scoreboard Sunday, and as a public service, allow me to bring the playoff picture into sharper focus.
The last man I would want to see standing in my way in the wild-card game on the road is a red-hot Aaron Rodgers.
If Rodgers beats the Lions in Detroit Sunday night, and continues his unconscious play since he announced his 4-6 Packers could run the table, then the last thing the Giants and their fans should want is No. 12 waiting for them at the gates of Lambeau Field next weekend.
Pray for the Lions.
And Stay-Away-Rod.
Here is The Post primer, ranked in order from most desirable opponent to least, for frenzied Giants fans:
1. Lions
No one is more dangerous than Matthew Stafford — a.k.a. Captain Comeback — in the fourth quarter. But he has struggled since dislocating the tip of the middle finger on his throwing hand (five turnovers, no touchdowns in his past two games). And the Giants are a fourth-quarter defense. Plus, Calvin Johnson is still retired.
The Lions are a middle-of-the-pack defense that has recorded just 25 sacks. Good luck to cornerback Darius “Big Play” Slay, back from a hamstring injury, on covering Odell Beckham Jr. Landon Collins can handle tight end Eric Ebron.
Zach Zenner was impressive against the Cowboys, but this is the 30th-ranked rushing attack (82.3 ypg) and no one runs on Damon “Snacks” Harrison. A Theo Riddick (wrist) return would give Stafford a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield he didn’t have in their 17-6 loss last month to the Giants. The left side of the offensive line features rookies Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow. Detroit is 1-5 against teams that currently have winning records.
The Lions are 6-1 at home, but look whom they’ve beaten: the Eagles, Rams, Jaguars and Bears. Their one loss? The Titans. The Lions’ last playoff win? Jan. 5, 1992. Stafford is 0-2 in the playoffs. In other words: This isn’t an outfit that knows how to win.
Prediction: Giants win.
2. Seahawks
Russell Wilson knows how to win, and the 12th Man is hardly conducive to an offensive line with inexperienced tackles. This is where you’d better be comfortable being uncomfortable. The Hawks are 7-1 at CenturyLink Field.
The Giants have struggled defending tight ends, and Jimmy Graham has developed chemistry with Wilson. Doug Baldwin has become an elite receiver, but Jackrabbit Jenkins matches up well against him. Wilson, who has been too often under siege, just lost deep threat Tyler Lockett. Jermaine Kearse (six pass interference penalties, one TD) wouldn’t scare Steve Spagnuolo.
The inexperienced offensive line would be overmatched against Olivier Vernon & Co., so Thomas Rawls wouldn’t exactly be Beast Mode. Lockett, a dynamic return man, will be replaced by some combination of Paul Richardson, Kasen Williams and J.D. McKissic. Ouch.
Pete Carroll’s defense has playmakers at every level, but the Legion of Boom simply isn’t the same with Steven Terrell forced to replace stud Earl Thomas. Richard Sherman can give Beckham a difficult time, but he isn’t infallible. Jameis Winston dissected the Hawks with short passes.
Normally reliable Steven Hauscka has missed five PATs. The Cardinals blocked a field goal and punt last week. Beckham returning punts can help field position.
The pedigree and winning culture would make them a tough out, but the Hawks have lost three of their last five games and yielded 38 and 34 points to the Packers and Cardinals, respectively.
Prediction: Giants win squeaker.
3. Falcons
Matt Ryan is in the MVP conversation, and is even more dangerous if Julio Jones (toe sprain) can heal enough and join Devonta Freeman and electric Tevin Coleman on the league’s seventh-best rushing attack and most potent offense. But if the Falcons do not secure a first-round bye, Jones won’t be able to rest his toe.
This would shape up as a shootout, because Dan Quinn’s best cornerback, Desmond Trufant, is done for the season, leaving Robert Alford, Jalen Collins and slot corner Brian Poole to cover Beckham, Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard. The Falcons rank 26th (261.7) in passing yards allowed per game. Vic Beasley (14.5 sacks) has been mentored by Dwight Freeney and would be a challenge for Bobby Hart.
Rookie safety Keanu Neal has been an enforcer and rookie linebacker Deion Jones (100 tackles, three INTs) is a baller. The Georgia Dome, where the Falcons are 4-3, wouldn’t scare the Giants.
Prediction: Giants win squeaker.
4. Packers
Rodgers is over his hamstring and calf injuries, and has thrown 14 TDs without an interception over the last six weeks. My guess is he would be sick and tired of hearing how Eli Manning got the better of him in the divisional playoff game five Januarys ago at Lambeau. Jordy Nelson looks all the way back from his ACL tear, Davante Adams has emerged and Randall Cobb (ankle) expects to return against the Lions. The 20th-ranked rushing attack goes hot and cold, but Ty Montgomery can be a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield.
Linebackers Clay Matthews and Nick Perry are relatively healthy now and can rush the passer, and defensive lineman Mike Daniels is a disruptive force, but the secondary is vulnerable (29th-ranked pass defense). Cornerback Damarious Randall would be in over his head against Beckham. The Pack’s defensive passer rating (95.9) ranks 26th.
This one would almost certainly be a shootout — barring a snow event or minus 20 wind chill — that would force Manning (18-for-35, 199 yards, one late TD in a 23-16 October loss at Lambeau) to play his best game of the season. The Pack are 6-2 at home. Ben McAdoo knows Mike McCarthy. Mike McCarthy knows Ben McAdoo. Yawn.
Prediction: Giants lose.
If you are a Giants fan, you should be rooting for the Seahawks to beat the 49ers, the Falcons to beat the Saints and the Lions to beat the Packers to send Rodgers home.
Pray for the Lions.
And Stay-Away-Rod.