By clinching the NFC East title with a victory on Saturday night, the Redskins ensured that the Giants' season would not go beyond Week 17.
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Big Blue finishes the 2015 campaign at MetLife Stadium against the Eagles, who won the first leg of the season series 27-7 in Week 6. While both will be watching the postseason on TV, there is still a lot at stake on Sunday. From where the Giants end up in the draft order to the possibility of playing in London next year, here's a look at what is tied to the outcome of the regular-season finale:
1. DRAFT ORDER
With their 49-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, the New York Giants dropped to 6-9 heading into the 2015 finale. Big Blue, which will finish with a losing record for the third-straight season, is currently No. 10 in the draft order. But that number could fluctuate by the end of Week 17 with 13 teams within one game of the Giants, including six clubs with matching 6-9 records.
Strength of schedule, conference records, and division records are used as tiebreakers. The Giants drafted starting left tackle Ereck Flowers with the No. 9 pick this past April, and star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was taken the year before at No. 12.
According to NFL.com, defensive end is the Giants' top need while other needs are running back, safety, and offensive tackle. Here are the NFL.com's top senior prospects at positional needs: DE: DeForest Buckner (Oregon), Shilique Calhoun (Michigan State), Shawn Oakman (Baylor); RB: Devontae Booker (Utah), Josh Ferguson (Illinois), Aaron Green (TCU); Safety: Deon Bush (Miami), Jeremy Cash (Duke), Kevin Byard (Middle Tennessee State); OT: Vadal Alexander (LSU), Taylor Decker (Ohio State), Spencer Drango (Baylor).
2. OFF TO LONDON OR SEATTLE?
Last month, the NFL confirmed three games in the 2016 UK International Series, one of which may include a return trip to London for the Giants. St. Louis, which is locked into third place in the NFC West, will "host" the same-place finisher from the NFC East in Week 7 of 2016 for the first-ever NFL game played at Twickenham Stadium. That means the loser of Sunday's game between the Giants and Eagles, who are both 6-9 heading into the season finale, will finish third in the NFC East and need to get their passports ready. The winner will finish second and travel to Seattle next season, as dictated by the league's scheduling formula.
The Giants kicked off the International Series in 2007, the year they went on to win the Super Bowl, with a 13-10 victory over the Dolphins at Wembley Stadium. It was the first regular-season NFL game played outside North America.
The 2016 UK International Series Schedule:
**Week** | **Date** | **Visiting Team** | **Home Team** | **Site** |
**4** | October 2 | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Wembley Stadium |
**7** | October 23 | NFC East Opponent | St. Louis Rams | Twickenham Stadium |
**8** | October 30 | Washington Redskins | Cincinnati Bengals | Wembley Stadium |
3. FUTURE OPPONENTS
While we find out if the Giants will travel across an ocean or just across the country to face their NFC West foe in 2016, there is one more opponent yet to be set on next year's schedule: the NFC South same-place finisher.
Atlanta (8-7) is currently second after handing Carolina its first loss on Sunday, and they are both head of Tampa Bay (6-9) and New Orleans (6-9). The Falcons host the Saints in Week 17, and the Buccaneers travel to take on the Panthers.
Here are the Giants' 2016 opponents:
**Home** | **Away** |
Chicago Bears | Green Bay Packers |
Detroit Lions | Minnesota Vikings |
Baltimore Ravens | Cleveland Browns |
Cincinnati Bengals | Pittsburgh Steelers |
NFC South Same Place Finisher | NFC West Same Place Finisher |
Washington Redskins (Div.) | Washington Redskins (Div.) |
Dallas Cowboys (Div.) | Dallas Cowboys (Div.) |
Philadelphia Eagles (Div.) | Philadelphia Eagles (Div.) |
Photo timeline from the Giants Week 16 matchup against Minnesota Vikings