The Giants are a playoff team in every way except the one that matters the most: Mathematically.
Other than that, they seem poised to return to the postseason for the first time since the 2011 season after Sunday’s 17-6 win over the Lions at MetLife Stadium. It was the second straight dominant defensive performance, the second straight win over a first-place team, and the first time since 2010 that they reached the 10-win mark.
They did not clinch a spot in the tournament, though, because the Packers beat the Bears, 30-27. The Giants will have to wait for their celebration, which could possibly happen on Thursday with a win against the Eagles depending on other outcomes this weekend.
The Giants also remain in the hunt for the NFC East crown. Dallas hosts the Bucs on Sunday night.
The Giants entered the fourth quarter with a 10-6 lead against a Lions team that had won eight games with fourth-quarter comebacks. They forced a punt early in the deciding period, though, and then built a bit more cushion for themselves. Odell Beckham Jr. caught a 25-yard pass on third-and-10 from the Giants’ 39 to spark the drive, then snagged a one-handed catch at the pylon for a 4-yard scoring catch with 5:47 left.
The defense, as it has all year, responded with a three-and-out. Then, after the Giants punted it back to the Lions with 3:49 left, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie picked off a pass in the end zone with 1:58 left to seal the win.
The biggest defensive play of the game started out as one of the worst. Shortly after star corner Janoris Jenkins left the game with a back injury in the second quarter, the Lions went after Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Golden Tate caught a 67-yarder down the right sideline. DRC, trailing the play by about 10 yards, sprinted to make the tackle at the Giants’ 11 and save a touchdown. On the next play, Leon Hall forced a fumble that the Giants recovered in the end zone for a touchback. The Lions never got as close to the end zone again.
The Giants drove 75 yards on their opening possession and scored on a 6-yard fade pass from Eli Manning to Sterling Shepard to go ahead 7-0. For most of the rest of the game, though, that was it. The closest the Giants ever got to a touchdown for the rest of the half was when Shane Vereen took a short pass deep into Lions territory and fumbled into the end zone where Victor Cruz recovered it, but that play was negated by a penalty against right tackle Bobby Hart and the Giants settled for a field goal.
Notes & quotes: Eli Manning completed his first 11 pass attempts in the game, breaking his personal record for best start to a game. He had twice gone 10-for-10 … CB Janoris Jenkins left the game in the second quarter with an injury to his back and ribs and did not return … LG Justin Pugh made his first start since injuring his knee against the Eagles on Nov. 6.
..... - Newsday