The New York Giants are NFC East Champions and are back in the playoffs after two years of disappointment when they thrashed the Dallas Cowboys at home on Sunday Night Football. The Giants as Michael Strahan said back in 2008 love to wait until the last minute and make it hard on themselves and their fans. But, in a way, this also makes them battle-tested and playoff ready since they have been in seemingly playoff games for the best of the last three weeks.

The Atlanta Falcons, on the other hand, have had some poor performances in the middle of the season. However, they came good in the last few weeks and trounced the Tampa Buccaneers 45-24 last Sunday to lock up the fifth seed in this year’s NFL playoffs.

With the New York Jets tasting defeat at the hands of the Miami Dolphins, NY fans are now pulling for the quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants to go all the way. They already have seen Big Blue pull of the near impossible back during their road warrior winning days in the 2007 NFL season.

“Oh, I’m reeeeeally cherishing this opportunity,” Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora said yesterday of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card game against the Falcons. “Probably more than everybody.”

Prediction: The Giants should emerge victorious in front of their home crowd at MetLife Stadium that will be ready to cheer them onto their first playoff victory since that historic triumph over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.