The New York Giants did not get the help they could have used most on the field Sunday, which would have come from the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys gave Philadelphia a fight, but the Eagles held on, 30-27, to move to 9-4 and stay just ahead of the Giants in the NFC East.
The Giants, however, did get good news overall as both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers lost on Sunday. The Bears (9-4) were shredded by New England, 36-7, but still lead the NFC North. That is because the Packers (8-5) were upset by Detroit, 7-3. The Packers also lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a concussion, and now face the possibility of traveling to Foxboro to face the 11-2 New England Patriots this Sunday with Matt Flynn at quarterback if Rodgers can't play.
The Bears and Packers results are important for New York should the Giants wind up failing to win the NFC East. As it stands now, it looks like the Giants would be fighting the loser of the North (Green Bay or Chicago) and possibly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) for the final wild-card berth. Atlanta looks like the NFC South winner, and 10-3 New Orleans looks sure to get one wild card.
The Giants could have gotten even more help Sunday, but Tampa Bay escaped Washington, 17-16, when the Redskins botched an extra-point that would have tied the game with nine seconds to play. Washington field-goal kicker Graham Gano also missed field goals from 24 and 34 yards.
The Giants (8-4) face Minnesota tonight at Ford Field in Detroit, following Sunday's postponement due to weather and the Metrodome roof collapse. The best thing the Giants can do for their playoff hopes, of course, is to defeat the Vikings tonight.