Bump N’ Run w/ KT: Giants Will Travel To Green Bay For Wild Card And A Rematch In National Championship Game

Photo Credit: Sean Ryan

Giants Knock Redskins Out Of Playoffs, Get Green Bay On The Road Sunday

It wasn’t pretty but the New York Giants won their 11th game of the season knocking the Washington Redskins out of the playoffs with a 19-10 victory on Sunday afternoon. After the game, the Giants had no idea who they would face in the playoffs as the outcome of the Sunday night game between the Packers and Lions would determine their match up. On Sunday at approximately 11:30pm, Big Blue received their answer. They would be traveling to Green Bay to take on the Packers this Sunday afternoon.

This will be the first time New York and Green Bay will meet in the playoffs since 2011 when the Giants defeated the Packers at Lambeau Field, 37-20. The Giants also defeated the Packers at Lambeau in the NFC Championship game in 2007, both instances resulting in Giants Super Bowl wins. History is in the Giants favor but the past is almost always never a good indicator of what team will win.

The Giants defense has been one of the best in football. However, earlier in the season Green Bay defeated the Giants at Lambeau 23-16, a game where the Giants defense was full of holes and the offense was below average, and that’s being generous. To look at that game is to see a totally different Giants team, one that doesn’t exist at this point of the year. In order for the Giants to win this game, New York needs to continue running the ball the way they did against Washington (161 yards) and Eli Manning needs to have an Eli-esque playoff performance. This game is winnable and a Giants victory could result in something they want; a third game against the Cowboys.

Jets End Season With Win…And The Firing Of Several Coaches

The New York Jets’ dreadful season ended with a 30-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills, a team that was playing with an interim coach and missing numerous players. For the Jets, it was the end to a season that was lost in October and a cluster to watch from then on. A big game from Bilal Powell (122 rushing yards) and a turnover-less game from Ryan Fitzpatrick, in what was probably his last game as a Jet. But even with those good performances, the apathetic MetLife Stadium crowd that showed up wasn’t into this game.

It was announced after the game that Todd Bowles would return to the Jets for the 2017 season but you knew heads had to roll along the Jets coaching staff. The announcement came on Monday as offensive coordinator Chan Gailey retired and the Jets released five coaches (defensive line, defensive back, linebacker, running back and quarterback). The key now becomes finding a offensive coordinator that could improve on a 26th ranked offense and an offense that had no imagination. For the Jets this will be their fifth offensive coordinator in seven years (but do we really count Tony Sporano?).

With this many coaches being let go, there will be an adjustment period but the clock is ticking for Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan. Anything less than a playoff appearance for the Jets may spell doom for those two men.

Moving The Chains

• Alabama and Clemson will meet for the second year in a row in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. This is the game that Clemson wanted after their close loss to the Crimson Tide last year. I think this will be a revenge game for the Clemson as the Tigers will win their first National Championship since 1981.

• Speaking of Alabama, Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban “agreed” to part ways so Kiffin can focus on his new job at Florida Atlantic. While Saban is unlikable, Kiffin is officially one of the most arrogant people in sports.

• The Oakland Raiders are now down to their third-string quarterback after Matt McGloin went down with a shoulder injury in their regular season finale on Sunday. Connor Cook, you’re up.

Here are the NFL Playoff match ups for this weekend, with their times and networks:

Saturday

Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans – 4:35 pm, ESPN/ABC

Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks – 8:15 pm, NBC

Sunday

Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers – 1:05 pm, CBS

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers – 4:40 pm, FOX