While it’s understandable that the New York/New Jersey greater metro area is in a frenzy over the possibility of a Jets-Giants matchup in Super Bowl XLIII, it also creates a scenario that forces the NFL and its network partners to discuss:

What happens if the Jets and Giants both are hosting conference championship games?

The Giants are on pace for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Jets, who share a stadium with the Giants, are tied with Pittsburgh for the second-best record in the AFC (they currently would be the third seed based on conference record). It’s still a long shot that both would be hosting the conference title games, slated for Sunday, Jan. 18, but it’s not out of the question.

At this point, the NFL is not announcing any potential contingency plans. But there are a few considerations that may help to answer the question:

• An NFL official noted that this topic was discussed back in 1998, when the Jets were the AFC’s No. 2 seed. The Giants missed the playoffs that season, but they were close enough to get NFL officials thinking about it. The contingency plan was to move one of the conference title games to Saturday if something crazy were to happen. It was clear at the time that playing two games on the same day was not an option.

• Looking ahead to this season’s scenario, it’s hard to imagine they could play one of these games on Saturday, Jan. 17. The New Jersey Nets, playing in the adjacent Izod Center, are scheduled to play host to the Boston Celtics that day.

Therefore, while there is no official confirmation, there’s a good chance that a scenario in which the Jets and Giants are both hosting conference championship games would push one of those contests to Monday, Jan. 19.

Assuming that’s a primetime game, it seems NFL officials would be pleased with that scenario.