NFL 2016 News: As They Continue To Make Strides, New York Giants & Green Bay Packers Could Emerge As Biggest Threats Come Playoffs

By Christon Jervil Ligon - 13 Dec '16 05:55AM

The New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers are riding high on their moral-boosting victories recently. And, it's not just because they have proven that they can grind out their way to winning games late this season, but to, actually, do it against higher-ranked and more favored opponents is what's even more impressive. The two teams emerge as the new pair of dark horses in the 2016 NFL season.

The Green Bay Packers Are Suddenly Back In Strong Contention For The Playoff Race

The Green Bay Packers, for one, started off on the wrong foot. Prior to the successive wins they were able to string together lately, the Wisconsin-based squad was having a relatively dismal season to say the least. But, the Packers were able to turn things around just in time for final leg of the race.

The Green Bay Packers are, suddenly, looking like a team in the conference that you can't just simply look past. The team is boasting a three-game winning streak after thrashing the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. And, their most recent victim were the Seattle Seahawks, the NFC West division leader whom the Packers beat in a convincing fashion.

While it won't be an easy undertaking en-route to the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers (7-6) are back in the hunt, the Rolling Stone reports. Now, they can even clinch the division top spot should they go on to win their last three games against the three other teams in the NFC West division, and pray that the top-seed Detroit Lions (9-4) lose at least two of their last games, including the final match against them.

The New York Giants Showed They Can Keep Up With The League's Best Teams

The New York Giants, meanwhile, are sitting comfortably at the second spot over at NFC East, and just two games behind division leader Dallas Cowboys. The Giants make a good account of themselves during their last game when they beat the highly-touted Cowboys, who were in an 11 game winning streak at the time.

Behind the impressive performance from Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants stifling defense, they have proven that they can play as good as anybody in the league. The Giants can hold on to a playoff berth if they could win against the Detroit Lions in Week 15, and should the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings lose theirs. But, nonetheless, they can assure themselves of a spot if they could win two of their last three games, GiantsWire wrote.