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New York Giants: Which Team Presents Biggest Challenge In Playoff Picture

By Kenneth Teape

Dec 4, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the New York Giants make the postseason, they will be hoping to avoid a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks for as long as possible.

The New York Giants picked up a great victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13. The win greatly improved the team’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs this season. With a record of 9-4, the Giants are probably one win away from clinching at least one of the Wild Card spots in the NFC.

Per ESPN’s NFL Power Index, the Giants have a 76.4 percent chance of making the postseason. With games remaining against the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins, the Giants control their own destiny.

10 wins should be good enough for a playoff spot, especially if they defeat fellow playoff hopefuls in the Lions and Redskins. The Lions currently lead the NFC North, while the Redskins are a half-game out of a Wild Card spot because of the tie in London against the Cincinnati Bengals.

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The Giants still have an outside shot at taking the division, but will need a lot of help to do that. The easiest way would be for the Cowboys to lose out and finish the season with a record of 11-5. That would afford the Giants a loss the remainder of the season; if the two teams finish with the same record the Giants will take the division crown because they swept the regular season matchups.

Winning the NFC East will be a long shot, as the Wild Card is the likeliest route for a Giants playoff berth should they qualify. Nothing is close to being set in stone yet, but the Giants could face off with the Seattle Seahawks the opening weekend of the playoffs. Making the trip to CenturyLink Field is tough enough, but the Giants do not

Making the trip to CenturyLink Field is tough enough, but the Giants do not match up well with the Seahawks. Not many teams match up particularly well against Pete Carroll’s team, but their strengths are where the Giants struggle most, which is why ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Seahawks are the team the Giants will most want to avoid in the postseason in the NFC.

Here is a snippet of what Barnwell says as to why the Seahawks are the team the Giants will want to avoid should they make the postseason.

"The worst-case scenario would then be the Seahawks, who are eighth in the league in pressure rate at 29.1 percent despite missing Michael Bennett for five games with a knee injury. Bennett still isn’t 100 percent; he doesn’t have a quarterback knockdown since returning against the Panthers in Week 13. But the devastating interior rusher should be closer to his usual self by the time the playoffs roll around. The Giants will get standout guard Justin Pugh back soon, which would help against Bennett, but the combination of Bennett and Cliff Avril would be enough to give an inconsistent Giants offensive line fits. The weakness in the New York pass defense is also against tight ends, against whom they were 27th in DVOA heading into Week 14. Jimmy Graham could fit nicely into that hole."

Barnwell hits it on the head. Despite their record and improvements defensively, the Giants have some glaring holes. The offensive line is the most glaring unit on the team, as their performance as caused the offense to crater. The weakest skill of their defense is defending the tight end position; virtually everything else on defense the Giants are capable of doing and quite well for that matter.

Jimmy Graham is one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL and has found his groove with the Seahawks. The Giants have struggled against lesser tight ends such as Ladarius Green and Zach Miller, so it is fair to believe Graham could have his way against their defense.

As far as the offensive line, Eli Manning has tried to mitigate their struggles by getting rid of the ball quickly. Pugh returning would be an upgrade, but that doesn’t really address the struggles of Ereck Flowers.

Flowers has looked like a turnstile for the second consecutive season; he just cannot pass protect. Speed rushers have their way with Flowers; just look at what Benson Mayowa did to him on Sunday Night Football. Flowers didn’t touch Mayowa until his back was fully facing the line of scrimmage; the wrong direction for an offensive lineman to be facing.

Next: New York Giants Midseason Grades By Position

Really any team with a strong pass rush will cause issues for the Giants. Thankfully for them, there aren’t very many in the NFC, but a matchup with the Seahawks is possible and would present major problems for the Giants.

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