There’s a lot at stake for the Giants in Week 17.
Strikingly, they were still able to win the NFC East, even after losing 27-13 to the Ravens in Week 16.
They can also get the overall number 3 in the NFL draft.
Yes, you read that right: there are scenarios where the Giants can win the division and win the playoffs, or fall steep enough to pick third place in April’s draft. This is the NFC East in a nutshell.
The Giants were the first NFC East team to play on Sunday and they left the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore uncertain whether to end their playoff hopes after falling to 5-10. If Washington or the Eagles had won, they would have been eliminated.
Of course, both teams lost, and neither match was very close. So a Giants team with 10 losses could still make it to the post-season, and for some reason they could also make a big leap in the draft order.
It would be reasonable to wonder what would be better for the organization – a 6-10 season that ends with a one-on-one playoff game, or a Top-3 draft pick. But it’s not about that. It’s about the scenarios.
Let’s look at both, starting with the section.
One is simple: if the Giants can beat the Cowboys – by 36 points per game over their three-game winning streak – and Washington loses to the Eagles, the Giants will win the NFC East.
The draft scenario where the Giants get the third overall pick is a bit more complicated.
First, it is important to note that when the teams finish with the same record, the draw is scheduled according to the schedule. Whichever team easier the strength of the schedule – which essentially means they played worse teams and still lose – wins the breakaway.
Out of all the teams currently in the Top-10, only the Lions (.502) had an easier schedule than the Giants (.506), who have good promise for them.
So this is what needs to happen for the Giants to finish with the third overall pick:
1. Giants lose to Cowboys.
2. Lions (5-9) win against Vikings (6-9).
3. Texans (4-11) win against Titans (10-4).
4. Falcons (4-11) win against Buccaneers (10-5)
5. Bengals (4-10-1) won Ravens (10-5)
6. Eagles (4-10-1) beat Washington (6-9).
It is therefore impossible, although it is complicated and that many bad teams have to overthrow good teams.
Either way, if the Giants lose, they will be locked in a Top-10 pick. If they win and the division wins, they will fall to the 19th pick.
What a strange season.
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Zack Rosenblatt can be reached at [email protected]. Tell us your coronavirus story or send us a tip here.