In the wake of the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs, the Giants can count themselves among the lucky losers whose trajectory is upward. That’s in direct contrast to their NFC East rival Cowboys, who, despite losing by 24 fewer points to the 49ers than the Giants did to the Eagles, are in crisis mode — and with some justification.

Super Bowl contenders, after all, are not supposed to score just 12 points in elimination playoff games. Super Bowl-contending quarterbacks are supposed to do better than 23-of-37, 206 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on such occasions. And the coaches of Super Bowl-contending teams are supposed to have a better plan with the game on the line than Ezekiel Elliott snapping the ball and promptly getting destroyed by an oncoming defensive tackle.

All things the Cowboys did against the 49ers.

Not that the Giants were much better against the Eagles. But anything that happened after making the playoffs was gravy for an organization that had been at Rock Bottom’s long-stay hotel for the last six years.