Dru Phillips, Wan'Dale Robinson help Giants eliminate Colts from playoff contention

adamluckettksr

Dec 29, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) breaks a tackle by Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon (32) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The last playoff spot in the AFC is still up for grabs. The Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers currently have playoff berths locked in along with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans. But the last spot is still open thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) knocking off the Denver Broncos on Saturday.

The New York Giants knocked one of those contenders for the final wild card spot out on Sunday afternoon. The NFC East franchise beat the Indianapolis Colts in a shootout on Sunday as a 7.5-point home underdog. That officially eliminated the Colts (7-9) from the playoff picture. First-round pick Malik Nabers (7 receptions, 171 yards, 2 touchdowns) and backup quarterback Drew Lock (309 passing yards, 4 touchdowns) were the biggest story in the 45-33 victory, but two former Kentucky players also had big performances.

Give him 6️⃣

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/tRX8iI2FtH
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 29, 2024

INT for the rook!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Yzs0eESBpF
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 29, 2024

Wan’Dale Robinson finished the game with five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. The slot receiver had a couple of big grabs on a fourth quarter touchdown drive. Dru Phillips helped secure the win when he picked off a Joe Flacco pass with just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

Thanks to this unexpected win from a franchise that was very much in the tank conversation to land a quarterback in the upcoming draft, Bengals fans now have a chance to secure a playoff bid in Week 18. The same goes for the Miami Dolphins (8-8) after a road win over the Cleveland Browns without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The Broncos (9-7) are a win away from securing a wild card bid against a Kansas City Chiefs team that will be sitting starters, but the door is cracked open for a couple of teams after Week 17 in the AFC. The Giants helped open the door for all of the Bengals fans in Big Blue Nation.

Things could get interesting next week.

AFC playoff scenarios

Kansas City Chiefs (LOCKED IN)
Buffalo Bills (LOCKED IN)
TBD
Houston Texans (LOCKED IN)
TBD
TBD
TBD

Team	Playoff status	Playoff scenarios
Baltimore Ravens (11-5)	Locked in	Secures AFC North title and No. 3 seed with win versus Browns or Steelers loss.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)	Locked in	Secures AFC North title and No. 3 seed with win versus Bengals and Ravens loss. Secures the No. 5 seed with just a win. Could fall to the No. 6 seed with a loss and Chargers win over the Raiders.
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)	Locked in	Can get to the No. 5 seed with a win over the Raiders and Steelers loss to the Bengals. Has No. 6 seed locked in with loss or Steelers win.
Denver Broncos (9-7)	TBD	Will be No. 7 seed with win versus Chiefs. Can secure wild card spot with a loss if Bengals and Dolphins both lose.
Miami Dolphins (8-8)	TBD	Secures No. 7 seed with win over Jets and a Broncos loss.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)	TBD	Secures No. 7 seed with win over Steelers plus Dolphins loss to Jets and Broncos loss to Chiefs.