Not much can keep Giants from playoffs

The Giants own the most desired scenario for any team: Win and in.

Actually, it is even better than that for the Giants: Win (one of next two) and in.

If and when the Giants (10-4) get to 11 wins, they clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2011, almost definitely as an NFC wildcard team. Their first opportunity comes Thursday night against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

The only way the Giants can win the NFC East is if they win their final two games and the Cowboys (12-2) lose their final two (to the Lions and Eagles). In that scenario, the Giants and Cowboys both finish 12-4, and the Giants win the division based on the head-to-head tiebreaker after their 2-0 season sweep of the Cowboys.

If the Giants do not beat the Eagles — or get help over the weekend — they can clinch a play- off bid if they beat the Redskins on New Year’s Day at FedEx Field.

With the Redskins’ 26-15 loss to the on Monday night, the Giants are virtually assured of making the playoffs, but have not clinched, based on complicated tiebreakers with teams that could potentially all finish with 10 wins.

Here are the nightmare scenarios to ponder, if the Giants lose both of their remaining games:

If the Giants, Buccaneers (8-6; f inish at Saints, vs. Panthers) and Lions (9-5; f inish at Cowboys, vs. Packers) f inish with 10-6 records, the Giants would miss out based on the NFC-record tiebreaker.

If the Giants, Bucs, Lions and Packers (8-6; finish vs. Vikings, at Lions) each finish with 10-6 records, the Packers would win the NFC North, the Lions and Bucs would claim the wild-card spots based on the NFC-record tiebreaker and the Giants would be eliminated.