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

And: New York’s usually-impressive pass rush becomes a potent entity once again.

We all have memories of Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, fellow defensive end Justin Tuck and company frolicking in the Patriots’ backfield in Super Bowl XLII, pummeling quarterback Tom Brady that day in Glendale. The Giants finished with 53 sacks that season as well as a Lombardi Trophy.

Fast forward to recent years as Coughlin’s team totaled a combined 94 sacks from 2010-11, finishing with 46 and 48 quarterbacks traps, respectively.

But you can’t ignore the falloff as of late. New York has a combined 67 sacks in its last 32 contests, totaling 33 and 34 sacks respectively. It marked the first time since 1995 and ’96 that the Giants didn’t total at least 40 sacks in back-to-back seasons.

These days, Strahan is in Canton, Tuck is now a member of the Oakland Raiders and New York’s defensive front took a big hit in free agency when defensive tackle Linval Joseph signed with the Minnesota Vikings in March. Can veterans such as former Pro Bowler Jason Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka get back on track? Will the addition of free-agent defensive end Robert Ayers (Denver Broncos) help? There appear to be plenty of question marks here.