The only problem is that the Giants have nothing to play for Sunday at the Metrodome against the Minnesota Vikings, who can win the NFC North with a victory or a Bears loss to the Houston Texans.

And as much as the Bears are relying on the Giants, coach Lovie Smith wasn't about to offer any advice about what they should do with their starters and regulars.

''Can't control any of it,'' Smith said. ''If we were playing one of them, I would have a lot of thoughts on it. I don't. A lot is on the line. All we can do is put ourselves in position now, a one-game season. All we can do is get a win, and we're going to do everything possible we can to get that.''

The Giants are locked in as the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and have nothing tangible to gain with a victory. Running back Brandon Jacobs isn't back to 100 percent from a knee injury, and receiver Domenik Hixon is dinged up. And how long does coach Tom Coughlin want quarterback Eli Manning to be in the path of Vikings defensive end Jared Allen?

''You play to win, period,'' Smith said. ''Last year, we were out of it with two games left to go in the season. We played every guy we had that we thought gave us an opportunity to win. There was no looking forward to the future and all that. You play every game like it is your last one, period. I assume all teams will do that.''

But the Bears didn't do that when they were in a similar situation a few seasons back. They had the No. 2 seed in the playoffs secured in 2005 when they closed the regular season at the Metrodome. Quarterback Rex Grossman rested his gimpy ankle, the defensive starters who played -- including linebacker Brian Urlacher -- were on the field for all of two series and running back Thomas Jones got the ball just long enough to top 1,300 yards on the season.

''Every coach in the league has a chance to do what he wants to with his team,'' Smith said. ''We shouldn't have to think about what someone else is doing or hope someone does something to help us.''

Coughlin is an old-school coach who understands the integrity of the game, but he's going to act in the best interest of his team. He said multiple times Tuesday that the Giants' medical staff would weigh heavily in the decision process.

''Our position, as always, is we try to win every game,'' Coughlin said. ''And my answer to all of your questions will be that in conjunction with the medical people ... we'll do the best thing for our Football team.''

Translated, the Bears might be pulling for David Carr at quarterback early in this one.

LENDING A HAND

Defensive end Alex Brown went to special-teams coordinator Dave Toub after an extra-point try Monday against the Packers and told him he thought he could get a block, if needed, because he could beat left tackle Tony Moll.

The problem was that when the Packers' Mason Crosby lined up for a

38-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in regulation, he was on the left hash mark, meaning the Bears would be bringing their rush from the left because of the trajectory of the kick.

Brown convinced Toub he still could make the play and was given the green light. Urlacher, who didn't know about the switch, tried to realign Brown just before the snap to his usual spot on the right side. But Brown stayed put, got through with a swim move and blocked the kick with his right hand.

''It was his call all the way,'' Toub said. ''When they know they can beat a guy, we can adjust. It was just a great play.''

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