The New York Giants have won three games in a row, but their playoff chances are slim.
The New Orleans Saints have lost three of four games, but their playoff chances are much better.
The Giants (5-8) will face the Saints (6-7) on Sunday afternoon in New Orleans.
Thirteen NFL teams are either one game above or below .500, including the Saints, who are part of a three-club logjam atop the NFC South.
The Giants, however, play in the NFC East, which features the Dallas Cowboys (10-3) and Philadelphia Eagles (10-3). Therefore, the wild card is the only path into the playoffs for the Giants.
“That’s the way our league is designed,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said of the balance. “The margin for error is extremely small right now, and we need to make sure that we’re taking advantage of every opportunity.”
The final margin has been eight or points or less in eight of New Orleans’ games this season.
“It’s about consistent execution,” Allen said. “A fundamental, a technique, a play here or there makes a big difference. It’s not some miraculous formula that puts you over the top. It’s just coaches, players, everybody doing their job at the level it needs to be done at.”
Six of the Giants’ losses have been by 15 or more points, but rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito has given the team a lift during his four starts.
Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said DeVito’s happy-go-lucky demeanor in the locker room masks “a stone-cold killer” on the field.
“I feel like that’s what you want out of your quarterback,” Robinson said. “He’s laser-focused, composed, relentless.”
DeVito drove New York 57 yards in the final 1:33 to set up Randy Bullock’s 37-yard field goal, giving the Giants a 24-22 home victory against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.
“When you are winning like we are right now, everything is high,” DeVito said, “and when you are losing, everything is low. So, as a quarterback, you have to be able to stay even through it all.”
DeVito completed 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown vs. the Packers. He has not thrown an interception in his last 87 passes, and he was not sacked by Green Bay after being sacked 26 times in the previous four games.
Tyrod Taylor replaced starter Daniel Jones after the latter suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 5. When Taylor missed four games due to a rib-cage injury, DeVito stepped in and remained the starter even after Taylor was cleared last week.
“I certainly have confidence in him,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do since he’s been here. He’s continuing to improve. He earned the right to (keep starting).”
The Giants held a walk-through Wednesday and estimated that five starters would have been limited — defensive back Cor’Dale Flott (shoulder), defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) and A’Shawn Robinson, linebacker Azeez Ojulari (shoulder), and tackle Evan Neal (ankle).
Two Saints starters — wide receiver Chris Olave (ankle) and offensive lineman Andrus Peat (illness) — did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Three other key players — versatile Taysom Hill (foot/non-throwing hand), wideout Rashid Shaheed (thigh) and defensive end Cameron Jordan (ankle) — were limited.
–Field Level Media