Commanders playoff odds if they lose vs NY Giants are terrifying

In just a few days, the Washington Commanders will play their biggest regular season game in recent memory. After playing to a tie at the Meadowlands in Week 13, the Commanders will welcome the playoff hopeful New York Giants to FedEx Field with the entire country watching on Sunday Night Football.

With a win, the Commanders would jump to 8-5-1 on the season, and maintain their position as the No. 6 seed in the NFC with three games to play. Having one three straight games, and six of seven, predating their Week 13 tie, Washington opened as a -3.5 (-4.5 in some places) home favorites.

With talent (it’s the truth), momentum, rest, and home field all on the Commanders’ side, it’d be a huge disappointment if they lost this game.

Good coaching and winning ugly bailed the Giants out early in the campaign, but their lack of talent has come full-circle over the last two months. Following a 7-2 start, the fighting Brian Daboll’s are 2-4-1 in their last seven fixtures.

To call this a must-win for Washington would be the understatement of the century. While they’ll still have a puncher’s chance at making the playoffs with a loss, their odds would drop nearly 60% if they lose, per Football Outsiders.

The Commanders’ playoff odds would plummet with a loss to the NY Giants on Sunday night.

Well, that’s pretty terrifying.

It’s worth noting these odds are subject to change based on Sunday’s results, or Thursday’s in Seattle’s case as they’ll play the 49ers at home on a short week. Both the Seahawks and Lions (they play the Jets at noon on Sunday) games will be decided before the Commanders and Giants even kickoff.

With three losses in their last four games, Seattle has crashed down to earth following a magical start to the season. Geno Smith and company own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Giants and Lions, so a win over the Deebo Samuel-less Niners on Thursday night would put them in a good spot.

After that, the Seahawks have the Chiefs, Jets, and Rams, respectively, to close the season. The Giants, meanwhile, travel to the midwest to play a Vikings team that’s eyeing the NFC North crown and No. 1 seed, before they get the Colts at home and close the season with the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

The NFL is a game of inches. As it turns out, so is this year’s Wild Card race.

Again, the Commanders aren’t dead if they lose — far from it — and these odds are definitely skewed with all four Wild Card hopefuls having not played yet. But the pressure to go 2-1 (or even 3-0) over the final three games will increase tenfold if they’re unable to beat the G-Men at home.

Time to take care of business!