Recently while hanging out with one of my engaged friends, I received perhaps the most appealing New Years Party invitation of the season. Offered were top-shelf booze throughout the evening, a fully catered buffet by an exceptional local Italian restaurant, about 50-75 people promised as super-fun, an expansive suburban house out in the NJ woods, live entertainment, and most likely some Cognacs after midnight.

"Mostly couples", Andy told me, "so bring a date".

Sounded great. First-class all the way. And given that I am from the school that views NYE as ‘amateur night’, such a party would be a no-brainer on just about any other year.

But this year isn’t any other year. And knowing that my buddy’s soon-to-be-wife despises sports, I had to ask:

Me: "Do you still have your big screen and will the Missus let us watch the Giants game?"

Andy, a HUGE Giants fan, looked at me like I was from another planet: "What? The game’s over at 4, right?"

Me: "Uh, no. It’s in Oakland, and it starts at 8:30."

Andy: "Starts? Or over?"

Me: "Starts."

Andy (turning white): "Dude, this is a disaster! Sonya’s been planning this for months! She just hired a guy to play guitar! She’s going to kill us if we’re downstairs watching the game!"

Me: "You know, everything could be on the line too for the G-Men…the division, a first-round bye, even maybe a just playoff spot."

Andy: (incoherent mumbling)

Me: (back to the drawing board)

For anyone who is remotely involved in a romantic relationship, I believe it is generally accepted that New Years Eve is a mandatory participation event – that’s right, not just attendance, but participation as well. Dancing. Talking with other couples. Going to see a show or concert. Holding hands. At minimum – a great dinner for two.

It is much more her night than his.

Which leads me to this question - What brain surgeon at the National Football League decided to place the New York Giants in a game that will definitely run close to and could easily eclipse 12 midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Sure, the league cannot predict how good or bad a team will be when the schedule rolls out in Spring. And if this were the 3-11 Jets, the level of excitement and stress around a game against a 4-10 team on New Year Eve would be about equivalent to the World Curling Championship.

But instead, the stakes are so much higher.

We’re talking about thousands – no hundreds of thousands – heck, maybe even a million plus people in America’s largest media market left with a horrible decision ahead of them. After investing 16 roller-coaster weeks filled with heart-palpitations, thousands of dollars in season tickets, hundreds more at bars on Sunday afternoon, and countless hours of work squandered at the water cooler, Giants fans are faced with the ultimate dilemma come December 31.

The Game? Or something special for New Years?...and how can I do both? Thousands of relationships throughout Hoboken and NYC may hinge on the answer.

Even some of the most simply creative strategies have holes in them:

The Lazy Excuse – "Honey, I don’t feel up to it. Let’s just stay in this year. I’ll cook dinner".

How nice…but what are the chances she’ll pass on the candles and music for the shrill of Joe Theismann’s voice from the booth?....About as strong as her nixing an after-dinner movie for a six pack during the Fourth Quarter.

The Watering Hole Excuse – "You know, we met at our local pub and go there every week – why don’t we try that for New Years Eve?"

Great touch with the "we met there" approach, but do you honestly think you’ll get to stare at the TV all night? And not have to pay close attention to while each moment of your first embrace is recounted?

The New Basement Tour – "Honey, sure I’ll go to that party Jane is throwing in Montclair. Plus I can check out John’s new finished basement"

Yeah, check it out for a couple of hours that is. The probable "over-under" on when Jane would storm downstairs and demand you see the new baby – 20 minutes? Half an hour at most?

Bottom line – the NFL has created a logistical nightmare for Giants fans….and not just ones in relationships.

For example, if you make dinner the big event, can you imagine any scenario where it does not go well past 8:30?

If you are hitting the ski house and a bar in Vermont – and are single - do you squander precious hours away from opposite sex prospects to zombie yourself toward a 13-inch set over the bar? Isn’t New Years Eve prospecting half the reason you dropped a thousand on the share in the first place?

How will the $150 ticket to that Lounge in the City feel when you could have watched the same game at home for free?

And worst yet - what if the game goes past midnight? A slow game can easily last 3 hours and 30 minutes. Furthermore, the Giants have played in three overtime games already. What’s to say there is not a fourth? Do you pop the champagne at 12? Or after Jay Feely attempts a 40-yard game-winner at 12:17?

What if they lose? Will you really feel like celebrating?

And for those who believe TiVo is answer to all the world’s ills, consider this…The end of the Giants-Chiefs game would not have been ‘saved’ in your system as the game went well past the 9pm scheduled ending time. Are you willing to take that chance on a potentially bigger game?...especially after 16 weeks of emotional and financial investment?

There is one…just one…glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel. This Saturday, the Giants can secure two of the three possible goals listed at the top of this article – a playoff spot and the division championship. A win on Saturday against the Redskins and the only thing that would matter on New Year’s Eve would be the possibility of a 1st Round bye.

In a perfect world, Giants fans would love to watch that game anyway. But if our beloved Big Blue can provide us with little less at stake on New Year’s Eve, is it that much of a sacrifice to keep our ‘other’ plans intact and our women happy?

So this Saturday, light a few candles, say a few Novena’s, go to your favorite watering hole and scream as loud as you can for the Giants to skin the Skins! It may save more than just a football season…