Game Preview: Washington Redskins vs New York Giants Jan. 1

It all comes down to this: one game, one guaranteed chance to make the playoffs for the Washington Redskins. And they can thank their hated rival, the Dallas Cowboys, for making it possible.

Had the Cowboys fallen to the Lions on Monday night, the Redskins would have needed to not only beat the New Year Giants on Sunday, but also hope for the Packers to lose. Fortunately for the 'Skins, the fact that the Cowboys won means that either the Packers or the Lions can lose, and that will be enough to guarantee a playoff spot for the Redskins if they defeat the Giants and end up with a 9-6-1 record. And since the Packers and Lions play each other on the final game of the season, that's a virtual certainty.

So there's no need for Redskins fans to scoreboard-watch on Sunday, Jan. 1 at 4:25 p.m. when the 'Skins and Giants square off at FedEx Field. If they get the win, they will grab the sixth and final playoff seed in the NFC.

How do the Redskins stack up against Giants? Pretty well, although the Giants are a tough squad who have already locked up the No. 5 seed with a 10-5 record. The Redskins defeated the Giants on the road, 29-27, back on Sept. 25. However, after opening up the season 2-3, the Giants have been red hot, winning eight out of their last 10 games. They also hold the distinction of being the only team to beat the 13-2 NFC East-winning Dallas Cowboys, who they beat in both matchups this season.

But the Giants are also coming off a loss to the NFC East basement-dwelling Philadelphia Eagles, while the Redskins put a smackdown on the Chicago Bears on the road.

So who will the Redskins draw in the first round if they do manage to beat the Giants? As the No. 6 seed, they would face off against the No. 3 seed in the divisional round, which would be the third-best of the four division winners. And even with just one game left, it's not at all clear who that would be.

As it stands right now, the Seahawks at 9-5-1 have the third-best record of the divisional leaders. That is a matchup that evokes bad memories for Redskins fans: the Seahawks dispatched the Redskins from the playoffs in 2012, 2007 and 2005.

But the Redskins could also draw the team they lost to last year in the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers. The Pack currently sits in the No. 4 playoff spot, but with a defeat over the Lions and a loss by the Seahawks, they would move up to No. 3, with the Atlanta Falcons taking the No. 2 spot. The Lions could also be the Redskins' first round matchup in that same scenario.

Finally, the Falcons remain a possibility. At 10-5, they're just barely in the No. 2 seed, but a loss would mean that the Seahawks could pass them for that spot with a win.

If the Redskins fail to beat the Giants, that's great news for the Packers and Lions -- it means that both of them are going to the playoffs regardless of who wins the game, although the winner gets home field in the first game as the division winner. In fact, if the winner of that game gets bumped up to the No. 3 seed as a result of the scenarios listed above, the Lions and Packers will play each other the very next week again in the first round in the playoffs, with this upcoming game simply determining who will have home field advantage.

Image: Patch staff