The Giants are going to the playoffs with visions of the Super Bowl dancing in their heads.

It was Eli Manning and Victor Cruz who rose to the occasion last night when the Giants turned back the Cowboys, 31-14, to win the NFC East.

The Jets, meanwhile, are heading into an uncertain offseason with memories of fighting in their own huddle and lingering doubts about their young quarterback.

It’s winter in New York, only it’s a lot colder on the Jets’ side of the block. Mark Sanchez was picked off three times in a 19-17 season-ending loss to the Dolphins that will be remembered for the benching of receiver and “team captain” Santonio Holmes.

The Jets re-signed Holmes to a five-year, $45 million contract over the summer. Yesterday, unnamed Jets were labeling Holmes a malcontent and a “cancer” who quit on his team weeks ago.

You reap what you sow, Jets. You reap what you sow. There’s no argument that Holmes is a great talent, but there is a reason he was no longer welcomed by the Steelers – even after becoming a Super Bowl hero in Pittsburgh.

The Jets were well aware, but it still hurt when it happened yesterday.

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Saw “War Horse” over the holidays. It’s not for everyone, but Frankie Says gives it two thumbs up. One of the best films I’ve seen in a while. Home run for Steven Spielberg.

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Even if the Jets had managed to beat Miami yesterday, New York would have fell short of the playoffs because the Titans beat the Texans 23-22.

Houston decided to go for a two-point conversion to win the game in regulation rather that force an overtime by kicking an extra point. Gutsy decision, I thought. Kudos to Gary Kubiak.

Then the tight end was flagged for illegal motion, moving the ball back to the 7-yard-line. I thought the Texans would kick it from there, but Houston had no intention of playing overtime. The Titans had their victory when Houston’s center snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head. Game over.

Kubiak defended the decision to go for 2 from the 7 by saying his team was too beaten up to play overtime. I wonder what the Jets would have said had they beaten Miami. That loss by the Texans would have kept them out of the playoffs.

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Five films that I have circled on my 2012 calendar:

“The Hunger Games,” March 23

“The Avengers,” May 4

“Men In Black III,” May 25

“The Dark Knight Rises,” July 20

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” Dec. 14

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Green Bay’s backup quarterback, Matt Flynn, tossed six touchdown passes to beat the Lions, 45-41. And Detroit didn’t lay down. It needed the game to avoid a first-round playoff matchup in New Orleans.

To put Flynn’s performance in perspective, Colts backup QB Curtis Painter threw six touchdown passes in eight starts this season.

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Andrew Luck in a Colts uniform next season? Probably. Not a lock, though. If the Colts believe Peyton Manning can come back and play three or four more seasons, and someone offers them everything but the kitchen sink for the Stanford standout, I could see them trading the pick.

There have been reports that the pick is worth three Number Ones. Carson Palmer cost the Raiders two Number Ones earlier this season.

Likely suitors are the Browns and Redskins. The Colts could take Manning’s replacement with one of those first-round picks or even in the second round and use the other picks to build around him.

My take: Hear everyone out. If there’s a deal that blows you away, make it. I’m thinking about the Cowboys sending Herschel Walker to the Vikings for Minnesota’s entire draft. If not, keep the pick and take Luck.

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There’s an arctic chill moving its way across the country but it won’t get here in time to help the NHL’s Winter Classic. Today’s Rangers-Flyers matchup at Citizens Bank Park has been moved to 3 p.m. to improve expected conditions.

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Six bowls on tap for tonight, none bigger than Oregon-Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. ET and Stanford-Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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One of the great things about books: “Rizzo’s War” by Lou Manfredo came out in 2009 but I didn’t discover it until a couple of weeks ago. Finished it over the holidays. A detective mystery with heart, an absolute great read. And totally unexpected. It’s like finding gold.