Patch Poll: Will the Giants Make the Playoffs?

Well, we know there are more than a few Giants football fans in Berkeley Heights and Mountainside. That's because we've seen quite a few people wearing their Big Blue jerseys while biting their nails to the bone.

And it's with good reason -- because the 6-6 Giants are on the verge of a disastrous collapse after starting the season at 6-2. Gee, it wasn't that long ago when those same nail-biters were high-fiving each other while stashing away money for playoff tickets.

Fortunately, the rest of the characters disguised as professional football teams in the NFC East are also riding a wave of mediocrity, which puts the Giants exactly where they hoped they'd be after Week 12 of the NFL season -- with fate in their own hands. (Don't drop it, guys!)

Albeit a precarious situation, Coughlin's Crew can actually win the division, but there are a few big "ifs" to overcome.

If the team that beat New England -- and battled San Francisco and Green Bay to the wire - decides to show up against Dallas Sunday night, that would be a good start. In my opinion, the Giants are still the better team when they're on their game. I'll take Manning over Romo and Coughlin over Garrett on the sidelines. Manning is generally more consistent, and Coughlin has the meaner scowl.

They will also have to beat the Cowboys again in the last game of the season, and beat one of the other two teams on their schedule to go 9-7. That should be enough to sneak into the dance, but they'll have to beat the 'boys twice.

And while I don't have any chips on the table for this one (my 49ers are in the playoffs for the first time in a decade and I havn't stopped dancing yet), I'll root for the local team because it not only makes it interesting to watch, but because I particularly dislike the Cowboys. (They used to beat the dickens out of SF when I was a kid). Memories like that while growing up seem to stick with you.

All that said, it's time for you to chime in. I think the Giants WILL make the post-season party. Take our Patch Poll and tell us what you think.