Art Stapleton

Staff Writer, @art_stapleton

The Giants are heading to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

They are locked in as the fifth seed and the NFC’s top wild-card team and will open on the road in two weeks, when the postseason begins. Their opponent is yet to be determined, but here is a look at the four possible opponents and the scenarios involving each:

Seattle Seahawks (9-5-1)

Kicker Steven Hauschka’s missed point-after kick and Arizona’s stunning comeback sent shockwaves through Seattle. Instead of clinching the second seed and a first-round bye, the Seahawks lost and now face the possibility of falling all the way to No. 4. They can avoid that by defeating two-win San Francisco — they open as 9-point favorites, the largest spread on the board.

The Seahawks lost WR Tyler Lockett (broken leg), and RB Thomas Rawls has a shoulder injury. Toss in the fact that All-Pro safety Earl Thomas is out for the season. Seattle is an extremely difficult place to play, and the long flight to the West Coast would challenge the Giants, but a matchup against the Seahawks is not as daunting on paper with the way they are currently playing.

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Detroit Lions (9-6)

The Lions missed out on a chance to secure a playoff berth Monday night when they lost 42-21 to the Cowboys. They’ll be playing for the NFC North title Sunday night against the Packers, and it’s likely — as long as Seattle wins now that Dallas has defeated Detroit — the Giants will face the NFC North champ.

A playoff game with the Lions would be indoors at Ford Field in Detroit, but the rematch of a Week 15 victory by the Giants (17-6 at MetLife Stadium) is likely the most favorable matchup at this point.

Green Bay Packers (9-6)

The Giants lost at Lambeau in October, 23-16, and the Packers have won five games in a row.

Criticized earlier this season, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is playing at a high level.

If the Packers beat the Lions for the NFC North crown and Seattle beats San Francisco, it’s likely the Giants will be heading back to the stadium their last two Super Bowl runs went through.

Atlanta Falcons(10-5)

The Falcons have won the NFC South and can finish as high as the No. 2 seed with a first-round bye if they beat New Orleans in Week 17. If the Falcons lose to the Saints, Seattle beats San Francisco and the Lions win the NFC North, they’d fall all the way to No. 4.

Quarterback Matt Ryan is an MVP candidate, and the Falcons are dominant offensively, as New Jersey native Dan Quinn has coached Atlanta to the playoffs in one of the league’s most overlooked stories.