Can the New York Giants keep their second-half surge going, and their miniscule playoff hopes alive, Sunday at MetLife Stadium against the Tennessee Titans? Oddsmakers think they can, having installed the Giants as 2.5-point favorites.
The 5-8 Giants have won four of their last five games as they climb back to respectability after a 1-7 start. The Giants’ playoff odds have “risen” all the way to 0.7 percent, up from 0.1 percent a week ago. Want better odds? The New York Times playoff machine shows the Giants making the playoffs in 6 percent of possible scenarios should they win out. So, still not good.
The 7-6 Titans will provide a good test for the Giants. Tennessee is right in the midst of the AFC playoff race, one of four seven-win teams vying for the second AFC wild-card playoff berth. The Titans have won two straight.
They also have their starting quarterback, Marcus Mariota. In each of the Giants’ four recent victories, their opponent has started a backup quarterback.
“We’re definitely coming together and playing really well as a team, but the reason why we’re doing that is because we’re playing for each other,” running back Saquon Barkley said. “That’s the message that’s been in the locker room and that’s been the message from Coach Shurmur, is coming together and playing for one another, and when you’re playing for your brother, it makes a lot of things easier.”
