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The New Orleans Saints know they are long shots to make the playoffs even if they beat the New York Giants on Sunday.

Still, they haven't given up - taking inspiration from the Giants, who made a postseason run from a position similar to one in which the Saints find themselves now.

''We saw what they did last year,'' Saints cornerback Jabari Greer said. ''We know that it's possible.''

The Giants were on the verge of dropping their fifth game in a row and falling two games behind the Cowboys in the NFC East with three games left. But they went on an improbable run from playoff outsider to Super Bowl champion.

The Giants finished the regular season 9-7. The Saints can get to 9-7 by winning their last four games. Even if they do, New Orleans still would need help to reach the playoffs, but the first step is controlling their end.

''Obviously the margin for error is very tight,'' quarterback Drew Brees said. ''We understand that if we want a shot at postseason play we probably have to win out. We're playing the defending world champs in their house, and the last three don't mean anything unless we win this one.

''The Giants have played in these types of games - playoff games before the playoffs. That's kind of the situation we're in.''

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."