*December started off so promising for the New York Giants (9-6). They began the month with a 31-7 pasting of the Washington Redskins (6-9) in the Meadowlands. The G-Men had two hundred-yard rushers and forced six turnovers in the blowout. Then Mother Nature turned Tom Coughlin’s squad into the winter nomads. They were supposed to play in Minnesota but the dome collapsed under the weight of the snow. The Giants were trapped in Indianapolis but had to travel to Detroit to play the Vikings. Despite the travel woes, New York prevailed easily, 21-3. The next week they returned home, jumped up on the Philadelphia Eagles huge in a must-have NFC East battle for the division supremacy and appeared headed to an easy win. Until Michael Vick turned it on in the second half and DeSean Jackson created the “Miracle in the New Meadowlands” with his game-ending punt return. That second-half hangover lingered on Sunday in Green Bay where the Packers embarrassed Eli Manning (four interceptions) and the Giants, 45-17. Aaron Rodgers returned from a concussion to give New York fans a holiday headache. He shredded the Giants’ secondary for over four-hundred yards and four touchdowns in a flawless performance. To rub road salt in the wounds, New York was trapped in Wisconsin until Tuesday by the brutal East Coast snow storm this past weekend.

The last six quarters by the G-Men are arguably the worst any team has had in the NFL this season. The total second-half collapse against the Eagles, which was culminated by that head-scratching decision to punt to the ball to Jackson with only seconds remaining is Hall-of-Fame dumb. High snap or not, you don’t kick a line drive to the center of the field. The rookie New York punter should have been put on the next stagecoach out of Dodge. Teams can say they are professionals and are able to shake off such demoralization, but they rarely do. Now the Giants are in a must-win situation and even if they prevail, Green Bay controls its own fate. A Packer win at home over the NFC North division-winning Chicago Bears and the Giants are powerless. The Eagles’ shocking loss at home to the lowly Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday night lessens the likelihood that the Bears will play their starters much if any on Sunday at Lambeau. It is essentially the third time that Philly has dealt the Giants a loss this season. The NFL, in their infinite wisdom, moved the kickoff at FedEx this weekend to 4:15P.M. This means the Giants/Skins and Pack/Bears will be playing at the same time. You know there is going to be some major scoreboard watching.

The Redskins were supposed to get flattened by the playoff-bound Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. They were coming off a crushing last-second road loss to Dallas. And would have to travel again on Christmas Eve with nothing to play for. Complicating matters were crippling injuries to the defense. Six backups started against the Jags. Some just added to the practice squad during the week. Got so bad the Skins’ almost signed the massive homeless dude who works the corner of Randolph Road and New Hampshire Avenue.  (Wonder how a homeless guy can maintain 300 pounds of girth? ) Washington did not need Bootsy! The Skins turned in a noble effort defensively. Held run-oriented Jacksonville to under eighty rushing yards and prevailed in overtime. Rex Grossman started fast but struggled the last three plus quarters, ending with a quarterback rating of just sixty. But a win is a win. And on the road no less. So don’t try to figure out these Washington Redskins out so easily. When they should lose and improve their draft stock, they win. The soap opera between head coach Mike Shanahan, Donovan McNabb and his shady agent Fletcher Smith continues to play out in the press each day. Donovan insists he still wants to return to DC. I’d like to win Mr. Olympia someday too. Not going to happen. There was only one blogger who told you that #5 would be “one and done” two weeks after the trade with Philly was finalized. And I took unreal heat for that stance. There was a reason why Andy Reid traded McNabb within the division. He had no fear of facing his aging signalcaller two times this season. And Reid will get to pocket two high draft picks from Bruce Allen & Company for thirteen games of McNabb in Burgundy & Gold. I wonder if a slimmed-down Bootsy could throw the deep slant?

The storylines on this regular season finale are boundless. Will the Giants continue their slide, shockingly finish out of the playoffs and look toward Bill Cowher, who is openly salivating from his square jaw for the job? Or will the Skins’ patchwork defense be able to pull off another sterling effort to finish at 7-9 (the record I forecast for them before the season started). Your guess, as always, is as good as mine.

And that guess can take the form of  the final installment in my immensely-popular “PICCA WINNER: Redskins’ Trivia/Predict The Score Contest.” The winner will receive a copy of the best-selling book, “No, I’m Watching Football” by award-winning author Tony Caputo. It is a classic for every sports fan who spends a ton of time watching gridiron action on the tube. (Hint: it makes a great New Year’s gift for that special someone and Tony will personalize a message on each book!)

It’s a two-part challenge so read carefully: 1) You must answer the trivia question correctly, 2) You must pick the winning team and be closest to the score on both ends. The link to this story must appear on either your Facebook or Twitter WALL to be eligible. (So make sure I am added to one or the other.) You must cut and paste the entry below with your answers in a private email to me (danpicca@gmail.com). In the event of a tie, the first person to get their entry in wins. Submissions will only be accepted until an hour before kickoff. The winner will be announced in my weekly recap article. The book will be mailed to you. Good luck!

“PICCA WINNER: Redskins’ Trivia/Predict The Score Contest”

Skins’ Trivia Challenge—George Preston Marshall was the first owner of the Washington Redskins. Who was the second owner? _________________

My Week #17 Prediction — New York _____ Washington _____