NFL: New York Giants will be in the playoffs in 2014 if…

The G-Men have become more like the Gee Whiz Men.

Any attempt to predict the fortunes of the New York Giants before any season as of late has become an exercise in futility. And even after the season concludes, you are scratching your head a bit.

Look at the recent track record. Back in 2006, the Giants finished 8-8 in 2006 and earned a Wild Card berth and in 2007 finished 10-6 and won Super Bowl XLII, upending the previously-undefeated New England Patriots in stirring fashion.

A year later, Tom Coughlin’s team was 12-4 and the top seed in the NFC but fell at home to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

Then a minor case of déjà vu as the team once again finished 8-8 and 10-6 in consecutive seasons. In each instance, the New York Giants were on the outside looking in come the postseason.

Onto to 2011 as Coughlin’s club finished 9-7 and allowed more points (400) than they scored (394). Of course, that was good enough to win the NFC East that year and once in the playoffs, the team got hot and went onto capture Super Bowl XLVI, once again frustrating the Patriots.

So if it worked once, it should work again. In 2012, the Giants once again finished 9-7 and this time actually scored more points than they allowed. The result was no playoff appearance.

This past season, it was seemingly over before it really got started. The team got off to a 0-6 start for the first time since 1976 and even seven wins in their final 10 games couldn’t prevent the club’s first losing season since ’04.

But with a new season brings renewed hope. Thanks to another very busy offseason, this club is hoping to make some major noise in the NFC East.

This is the 12th part of a 32-team series in which we’ll look at the “if, and & but’s” of each team’s chances to make the postseason.

And the New York Giants will reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011…