GIANTS SEEK TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF BERTH AGAINST NFC EAST RIVAL REDSKINS ON 'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL'

"They are a dangerous team." -- Football Night's Collinsworth on the Giants

"I know I sound like Madden but these NFC East games are just special." -- Collinsworth

NEW YORK � Dec. 12, 2007 � The New York Giants (9-4) can clinch a playoff spot with a win as they host their NFC East rival the Washington Redskins (6-7) on "NBC Sunday Night Football." Coverage begins Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET with the "Football Night in America" studio show.

The Giants are coming off a come-from-behind victory in Philadelphia against the Eagles, putting them in a position to secure a playoff spot Sunday. The Redskins, playing back-to-back games on Sunday Night Football, trail the Minnesota Vikings, their opponent in next week's "Flex Game," by just one game for the final NFC wildcard slot. They'll be without starting quarterback Jason Campbell, out with a knee injury, and turn to Todd Collins, who hasn't started a game since Dec. 14, 1997 while a member of the Buffalo Bills.

Al Michaels (play-by-play), John Madden (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) will call all the action from Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Bob Costas (host) and Cris Collinsworth (co-host), Keith Olbermann (co-host), analysts Tiki Barber and Jerome "The Bus" Bettis, and reporter Peter King of Sports Illustrated, comprise the "Football Night in America" studio team.

COLLINSWORTH ON THE GIANTS: "Along with Jacksonville, I would say the Giants are 'the best of the rest.' They are a dangerous team. Any team that plays them, knows their quarterback is going to get hit, and hit a lot. That front four can play with anyone. They have a power running game. I think they're thinking, 'why not us.' The Giants have played in and won a lot of close games, and close games on the road. I think they believe they can win at Lambeau or in Dallas and get to the Super Bowl."

COLLINSWORTH ON GIANTS-REDSKINS: "I know I sound like Madden but these NFC East games are just special in my mind. They always have an appeal. That's one deal that never changes."

GIANTS & REDSKINS UNDER THE LIGHTS:

This is the Giants third appearance on "Sunday Night Football" this season. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys 45-35 in the first Sunday Night game of the year, and defeated the Eagles 16-3 in Week 4, sacking Donovan McNabb 12 times in the victory. New York appeared on SNF twice last season, losing to the Cowboys and Chicago Bears. Overall they hold a 17-32-1 all-time record on the NFL's premier primetime network package (ABC's MNF 1970-2005, NBC's SNF 2006-Present).

Washington is making its first 2007 appearance on "Sunday Night Football" after appearing one time last year, a 27-10 loss to the Cowboys. Overall, the Redskins are 25-29 on the NFL's premier primetime package.

REDSKINS VS. GIANTS:

The Giants hold an 85-60-4 regular season advantage in a rivalry that dates back to 1932. In the third week of the season, the Giants, who had started the year 0-2, rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit to hold off the Redskins, 24-17. Washington had a chance to tie the game, but failed to score after starting first and goal from the Giants one-yard line with 58 seconds remaining. The goal line stand turned around the season for the Giants, who have won nine of 11 games since their shaky start.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING:

The 2007 NFL schedule is utilizing flexible scheduling in Weeks 11-17. In those weeks, the schedule will list the games tentatively scheduled for Sunday night on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game will be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. A flexible scheduling move will be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the move may be announced six days before the game. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.

As an indication of the success of the inaugural year of flex scheduling, three of the final four games on NBC achieved ratings more than 20 percent higher than the comparable games in 2005.

"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL":

"NBC Sunday Night Football" the premier primetime game of the week, is preceded by the "Football Night in America" studio show, which kicks off NBC's regular season coverage each Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. NBC has assembled the most honored broadcast team ever: Joining Al Michaels, the commentator called "TV's best play-by-play announcer" by the Associated Press, and John Madden, the most honored NFL broadcaster of all time with 15 Emmy Awards, are Bob Costas, the most honored studio host of all time with 19 Emmy Awards, who hosts NBC's "Football Night in America" studio show alongside co-host Cris Collinsworth, the most honored studio analyst in history with eight Emmy Awards; co-host Keith Olbermann, named one of the Top Ten Most Powerful People in TV News for 2007 by Television Week; and analysts Tiki Barber, a three-time NFL Pro Bowler for the New York Giants, and Jerome Bettis, one of the most popular players in recent NFL history. "NBC Sunday Night Football" coverage also includes sideline and feature reporter Andrea Kremer, whom the Los Angeles Times has called "the best TV interviewer in the business of covering the NFL." Peter King, who covers the NFL for Sports Illustrated and is considered one of the country's foremost NFL reporters, serves as a reporter for the "Football Night in America" studio show.

"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" REMAINING 2007 NFL SCHEDULE:
Sunday, Dec. 16 � Washington at NY Giants (Flex Week, No Change)
Sunday, Dec. 23 � Washington at Minnesota (Flex Week)
Sunday, Dec. 30 � Kansas City at New York Jets (Flex Week, Teams Subject to Change)

CREDITS: Fred Gaudelli is the producer of "NBC Sunday Night Football" and Drew Esocoff is the director. This is Gaudelli and Esocoff's second season at the helm of "Sunday Night Football." The Emmy Award-winning duo came from ABC where they worked together for five seasons on "Monday Night Football."