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December 31, 2011

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Cowboys, Giants clash with NFC East on the line

THE final week of the National Football League regular season takes place tomorrow with seven teams battling for the last three available spots in the playoffs and another four hoping to earn a week off on the road to the Super Bowl.

Nine of the 12 playoff berths have already been snapped up but the fight for the remaining three spots will go right down to the wire with the New York Giants (8-7) and Dallas Cowboys (8-7) clashing in tomorrow's featured night game at the new Meadowlands Stadium.

The stakes could hardly be higher for a regular season game with the winner advancing to the playoffs as the NFC East division winner and fourth seed, while the loser will miss the postseason altogether.

"The guys are ready. We understand what's at stake," Giants quarterback Eli Manning said.

The other five NFC spots have already been claimed with the Green Bay Packers (14-1), the defending Super Bowl champions, assured of home field advantage during the playoffs.

The San Francisco 49ers (12-3) can lock up a first week bye if they beat St. Louis but the New Orleans Saints (12-3) could snatch it if they beat the Carolina Panthers and the 49ers slip up.

In the AFC, five teams remain in contention for the two available playoff spots.

The Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders are vying for the AFC West division title. The Broncos (8-7) will book their place as the fourth seeds if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs but will miss out altogether if they lose and the Raiders (8-7) defeat San Diego.

Raiders in hunt

The Raiders are also one of four teams battling for the final AFC Wild Card, along with the Cincinnati Bengals (9-6), Tennessee Titans (8-7) and New York Jets (8-7).

The New England Patriots (12-3) have already locked up a first week bye, leaving the Baltimore Ravens (11-4) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4), last season's Super Bowl runners-up, competing for the other free pass into the second week.

But the main focus for the last week will be on the heavyweight clash between the Giants and Cowboys. The Giants have won five of the past seven meetings between the teams, including a 37-34 win in Texas earlier this month.

 

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