For all you guys outside the New York and New England viewing areas, here’s a bit of good news. CBS and NBC will simulcast the Pats-Giants game, originally slated only for the NFL Network that approximately six people in Oshkosh, Wis. get. It’s the first triple-cast in NFL history. But more important to you outlying folks, at least you’ll get to see what could quickly turn into a glorified preseason game.

Once you stop doing those joyful jigs of delight over this news, take a minute and tell me how long it’ll be before the teams start pulling starters.

Ciao for now.

The Giants are trying oh so hard to get Plaxico Burress back to practice, no doubt with an eye toward the playoffs more than Saturday’s game against New England.

“If we have an eight or 10-play session, he’ll take two snaps,” Tom Coughlin said. “He’s remained the same, game in, game out, and has not taken a step back. So the medical people thought there wasn’t much risk involved in him practicing.

“He wants to practice, so we’re going to see how that goes today.”

RB Ahmad Bradshaw (leg contusion), WR Sinorice Moss (back), and CB Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) remained out of practice.

As for those who will definitely play in the game, the only thing Coughlin would admit to is that those who do suit up will play hard.

Who is doing the playing is the question.

“We’re going to prepare and play as hard as we can,” Coughlin said. “Our objective is to win, and that will be no different this week. The 45 guys who are dressed will play, and they’ll play to the best of their ability.”

Just my personal guess here. They play it for real for a half. If it’s out of hand, the starters come out after halftime and the subs go in. If it’s a game, the starters play the whole way, or at least until it gets out of hand near the end.

Ciao for now.

I know I told you guys I wouldn’t bother you until Wednesday. But feel I must say two things.

First of all, of course you know by now the Giants will be going to warm weather in Tampa for Wildcard Weekend. The Bucs are completely beatable, so there’s an even shot the Giants can make a little noise down there. It’s a heck of a lot better than heading out to Seattle and that madhouse they call a home field.

Second, I’m not a coach, so I can’t give out game balls. But if I were, I’d hand one right to our Continental pilots this morning. Pulled all sorts of strings to get us de-iced in that Buffalo blizzard they call Lake Effect snow, and then made it to the runway with only seconds to spare in a five-minute window from de-ice to wheels up. Outstanding job. And getting me home by early morning will make this afternoon’s linguine, lobster, calamari, and scungili taste all the sweeter.

Grazie, fellas. And a Buon Natale to one and all.

See ya Wednesday.

Ciao for now.

Another miraculous win on the road in horrible weather conditions, no thanks to Eli Manning or Kevin Gilbride, however.

Some of the decisions in this one were just amazing, like having Manning throw on the first play of the third quarter only to get himself intercepted. Or to foresake a field goal at the end of the first half to send Manning back to throw, only to see him get sacked and fumble the ball away. He had five fumbles in the game, losing two, and two interceptions on a day he threw only 15 times.

Is anybody out there of the mind that sometimes Gilbride and Tom Coughlin appear more interested in turning Manning into some sort of bad-weather legend than in winning a game? With 52 passes last week and some curious calls this week, it seems to me like they’re trying to force their quarterback issue, rather than being content to simply have him manage a game. Opinions?

Bottom line, thanks to Kawika Mitchell’s 20-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Giants locked down a playoff spot without need of beating the undefeated Patriots. Big relief for the team there. Coughlin may even get his extension now that the team went double-digit wins for the second time in three years.

Can’t say enough about seventh-round rookie Ahmad Bradshaw, either. Between his 151 yards and Brandon Jacobs’ 145 and two touchdowns, they helped the Giants put together a 291-yard team rushing game, the fourth-highest total in team history. And Bradshaw’s 88-yard touchdown run that put the Giants up 31-21 after Mitchell’s score, marked the team’s third-longest run in history.

So, despite some ugly doings earlier in the game, the Giants go to the playoffs. Who thinks they make any noise against Tampa Bay or Seattle? And while you’re at it, give me some preliminary opinions on whether you rest guys like Jacobs and anybody else who might be nicked against New England.

Heading back from Buffalo this morning to enjoy a couple of days of Christmas. So you won’t be hearing from me again until Wednesday.

Ciao for now.

Absolutely horrendous call to have Manning throw on the first play of the second half, especially since it resulted in an interception and eventual go-ahead touchdown for the Bills. Still, they had a chance to get the lead back when Ahmad Bradshaw, running after Jacobs sprained his ankle, came down with his knee at the half-yard line. But four shots from there couldn’t get the ball in.

Giants are driving, though, with Jacobs banging the middle as they should have done in the first place. Now they’ve got the wind on their side.

Any suggestions on the playcalling on that failed drive?

See ya after the game.

Ciao for now.

Absolutely hellish weather up here, with rain coming down horizontally and torrentially at one point in the second quarter. But guess what? The Giants came all the way back to take the lead. And for once, actually twice, they took advantage of a couple of breaks Buffalo inflicted upon itself.

The first was a bad punt snap to Brian Moorman that gave the offense field position at the Buffalo 23. As rain poured down like a snowstorm, Brandon Jacobs ran it 6 yards up the middle for a touchdown. Then, after safety Donte Witner plowed Jeff Feagles under for a roughing the passer call, Jacobs took it 43 yards through blocks from Kareem McKenzie, Chris Snee, and Madison Hedgecock for another score.

Lawrence Tynes “tapped” in a 42-yard field goal with the 30 MPH-plus breeze for go-ahead points.

The defense is playing a lot better now, with the pass rush pressure finally getting to rookie Trent Edwards. Bad decision by Coughlin to put Manning in the air late, however, resulting in a sack and fumble that took away a chance at another field goal.

Ciao for now.

Not to sound too pessimistic on a holiday weekend, but the Giants are stinking up the joint. Defense is an absolute no-show so far, as it allowed the Bills two touchdowns before the offense even got a first down. And were it not for Eli Manning’s deep throw and acrobatic catch by Amani Toomer, the Giants wouldn’t have had a first down in the quarter.

How about Manning fumbling yet again with no contact? Gonna be ugly unless the defense gets a turnover or two.

Ciao for now.

Bet Steve Smith gets some business today. Sinorice Moss is out with a bad back. And so much for third tight end Jerome Collins making an impact. He’s inactive.

Here’s the whole list.

Giants Inactives:

Jared Lorenzen (third QB)
RB Danny Ware
CB Kevin Dockery
T Adam Koets
DT Manny Wright
WR Sinorice Moss
WR David Tyree
TE Jerome Collins

Bills Inactives:
Gibran Hamdan (third QB)
LB Coy Wire
RB Shaud Williams
CB Jeremetrius Butler
DL Patrick Estes
OL Christian Gaddis
TE Ryan Neufeld
DE Copeland Bryan

Ciao for now.

While you’re fretting over whether the Giants will come out of tomorrow with a playoff spot, here’s something else to think about.

Buffalo Wings. How do those little things get such big animals up in the air?

That ought to get your mind off the offense.

Here’s the five.

1) Can the Giants’ defense get any turnovers?

Since they’ve gotten exactly one fumble recovery and no interceptions in the four games since a three-pick effort against Detroit, one would think they’re due. Especially if it pours like the weather folks are predicting. Then again, there wasn’t a single turnover last week in the snowstorm in Cleveland, and the Bills are working at a plus-7 ratio, meaning they’ve turned teams over seven more times than they’ve turned it over themselves. If the defense, which will return Gibril Wilson fulltime and James Butler at least part time, can reverse that trend, it’ll help the offense immensely. Then, the only thing the Giants will have to worry about is Eli Manning converting those opportunities to touchdowns instead of field goals.

2) Speaking of that, what are the chances Eli produces a bunch of points and makes it easy?

Not good. It’s going to be windy again, and if Tom Coughlin intends to put him in the air regularly again, he’s only asking for trouble. Then again, if the wide receivers hang onto a ball or two and generate a few big gains, the game will immediately take on a Giants flavor. On the other hand (am I starting to sound like Tevya?) the Giants never do anything easy, do they?

3) What about rookie quarterback Trent Edwards?

Yeah. Good question. Here’s another roadblock. The Giants don’t do well against rookies or backups (see last week vs. career backup Todd Collins and any similar situation in the last 10 years). This kid isn’t flashy yet, but he does know how to take care of the ball. Dick Jauron would rather have him than J.P. Losman. Free advice for the defense: pressure, pressure, pressure.

4) Can Kevin Boss and Michael Matthews take up the slack for the absence of Jeremy Shockey?

Not a chance. The Giants are just going to have to make do and hope Matthews and Boss can block some people. Bet they don’t have two catches between them tomorrow. A big ground attack is called for here—again, the Manning-in-the-wind issue—so they won’t have many opportunities to catch the ball anyway. They must, however, seal off those edges for Brandon Jacobs, who needs to make big chunks with his rushing.

5) What happens if they don’t win?

Oh, boy! Better hope the Saints and Redskins both lose and they go into Monday with the playoff spot locked up. Otherwise, it’s all left to chance the last weekend, and nobody on the Giants wants that.

Prediction: I don’t think Coughlin will make the same mistake and force Manning into the wet wind. Buffalo plays hard, but they’re no power and are certainly beatable. Don’t be surprised if this turns into another fourth-quarter comeback deal. It’s going to be close, but the Giants do close out their playoff spot, 21-20.

If I’m wrong, I’ll be watching Skins-Vikes from the Anchor Bar, the birthplace of Buffalo wings.

Ciao for now.

Looks like Gibril Wilson is ready to go. He was working with the starters for the third straight day, and appears set to resume his starting job at free safety after missing three games with a knee injury.

Not so good for WR Sinorice Moss (back), CB Kevin Dockery (hip), S James Butler (hamstring) or DT Manny Wright (ankle). Moss, Dockery, and Wright were not going to practice, and Butler was only doing limited work. Don’t expect to see Butler Sunday, but do expect Wilson.

Don’t worry about Justin Tuck’s neck, either. He was back working with his unit, with full expectations of playing.

Ciao for now.