The Crystal Ball 2007 The Wild Cards

Here we are once again, at the end of the season. The strange world of the NFL has been a whirlwind of both good and bad. A face of the NFL and of a franchise has gone from toast of the town and renewed promise to sitting in jail for dog fighting. Young men have been lost for no reason other than they were young, black and rich. A Hall of Fame coach retired, and then returned to try and resurrect a once proud franchise. The Patriots and Dolphins gave their best effort to thumb their nose at the concept of parity in the NFL. It has been quite a ride.

There has been bad. Travis Henry and his prodigious ability to procreate, Spy gate, OJ up to more trouble, the deaths of Sean Taylor and Darrent Williams, Michael Vick and his extracurricular activities, Pacman Jones and his.

But for every bad story, we had a good one as well.

Kevin Everett and his miraculous recovery, the resurgence of the Cleveland Browns, Devin Hester weaving his magic, Vinnie Testaverde’s last hurrah, Priest Holmes giving it one last shot, Mack Strong taking his last shot, Brett Favre raging against the dying of the light, The Patriots standing tall against all comers. Although that one could go in either category, depending on with whom you speak.

It all seemed to go away so fast. Where did it all go? I miss it already. Each Sunday held a cornucopia of delights for every fan. Always there was something to amaze, enthrall or scratch one’s head over. But now many stadiums will stand dark until next season, once again as quiet guardians left to watch over the remains of this season, and prepare themselves for the coming onslaught that at this point seems so very far away.

20 teams head home to wonder where it all went wrong. Injuries, poor coaching, perhaps a bad stroke of luck or some ill timed mistakes did them in. Or maybe, it just was not their year. But remember, a good draft, a few free agents, some renewed vigor and hope, and next year could suddenly look fabulous. That is the beauty of the beginning of each season. The slate is wiped clean and everyone has fresh hope and a new chance. 20 teams begin their search for that hope.

But it is also the curse of the end of each season, as that chance, that opportunity, that hope is lost. Left to wander alone in the cold darkness that is the off season until someone finds it again. Sure, there are still games to be played, but for the 12 teams left standing, 11 will go home disappointed as well, pondering the same questions, and looking to also capture that hope somewhere over the next eight months.

Cherish this weekend my football friends, for of the 11 remaining games, 4 are played this weekend. Cheer and jeer as loudly as possible, throw all of your passion into each contest, savor every morsel of action you can get, over indulge with each game, immerse yourself in plays, players, coaches and strategy. For soon even these will be gone. Hold on tight, the magic, mystery and thrills to come must sustain us all until late July. And that certainly is too far away for me to even contemplate.

At least soon we’ll have American Gladiators back.


Recap

As I said I would, I offer congratulations to the New England Patriots in becoming only the 4th team to ever finish the regular season undefeated, and the first to do it in a 16 game season. Quite the accomplishment, and one certainly deserving of a toast; they have done more in winning games and breaking records than any team before them.

But even in this their, so far this season, greatest moment, the Patriots still find ways to be completely unlikable. I mean, come on, why was Vince Wilfork trying to gouge out Brandon Jacobs’ eyes and draw him into a personal foul? This is why despite the wins, despite the records, despite their quarterback having, arguably, the best season ever by a signal caller, despite the coach who knows how to keep his team motivated and focused week after week, you just cannot find anything to like about these miserable, classless curs, no matter how hard you try. Honestly, this is a team to be admired when they pull off grade school shenanigans like that?

And for that matter, please tell me when the Patriots are going to stop getting every call. Gerris Wilkinson did not commit pass interference on Randy Moss, he face guarded him. This thanks to a rule change in 2005 is completely LEGAL to do. But since he did it against Moss, well, we might as well send him to prison for unpatriotic acts.

Letting it go….

Ok, now this peeved me too. The Eagles were up late in the 4th quarter in a close game. For them there would be no playoffs, no more Eagle football until next season. And signs indicate this could be the last game for McNabb in an Eagle uniform. So what do I see when tuning into the tilt against the Bills? The stands at the Linc were almost empty. You know, for all their bitching and moaning, the Eagle fans show a remarkable lack of support. Ok, I’m saying it, Eagle fans suck.

If it were not said a hundred thousand times before, it still has not been said enough. Devin Hester is the MAN. Amazingly, Sean Payton said his #1 goal was to avoid getting Hester the ball. But somehow Hester managed to grab a hold of a punt despite the Saints efforts and what happens, typical Hester magic. If you will not miss that in the off season, your ticket order for the MLS will be processed shortly.

Never, EVER, doubt the magic of Kyle Orton. The neck beard knows all.

85 sure loves the stage, no doubt about that.

Lawrence Tynes, please take a note from Jeff Reed. Onside kicks only work if you do not kick the ball directly to an opposing player, like say the sure handed Mike Vrabel.

Can the Chiefs and Jets in overtime really be considered bonus football? I question whether it can even be considered football. Of course, ask me that question come March.

Good on the Redskins for getting the job done. Not only are they going to the playoffs, but they go in red hot.

Congratulations to Houston, for reaching .500 for the first time in franchise history. The Texans also gave their fan base something else they’ve never had before, hope. I’m sure all 27 of them are thrilled about what may happen next season. Well, if they were in any division other than the AFC South.

Darrell Reid absolutely destroyed Chris Henry on a kick return during the Titans/Colts JV contest. Not only was I impressed he held onto the ball, but also that his head didn’t fly off. Someone please tell Chris his name and that he’ll be playing this week in San Diego. I’m sure he is not aware of either.

Titans’ fans freaked, understandably, when Vince went down and their playoff hopes rested on Kerry Collins. Not that I’d blame them, Kerry has not been effective since January 2001.

Not that Grey Beard Kerry was terrible. In relief of the injured Vince Young he was decent, going 10-13 for 106 yards driving the offense, killing the clock when needed and earning Horse Trailer status from Al and John. Not too shabby overall, but that grey beard of his makes me feel very old.

Now we know why no team has inquired with the Colts about acquiring Jim Sorgi. Is there another team out there with such a gigantic drop off between starter and backup?


Ravens 27 – Steelers 21

Hey, what happened to that avenge our loss in Baltimore last year crap? As the game progressed, that nonsensical pre game rhetoric sure sat like a steaming pile.

Yeah, you bet this game cheesed my whiz, for a multitude of reasons. The team went into the game with a chance at the 3rd seed, albeit a slim one, and could not capitalize. They allowed a loss to a bitter foe to be their final step before going into the playoffs. They also had every single weak spot of their offense, defense and special teams disturbingly exposed.

I would have felt better about a loss if we were on the second stringers, but almost every starter played this game short of Roethlisberger, Polamalu, Ward, Smith and Rossum. That’s it. The Ravens beat the hell out of the starting defense, with their third and fourth string running backs no less!

The starting defense once again got shredded on the ground.

The Ravens rookie looked like a top flight quarterback, making big plays and finding every gaping hole in the coverage

Charlie Batch was merely decent in relief, unlike his usual self which is spectacular. His biggest problem, self admitted, was he could not sustain drives.

Willie Reid needs to work desperately on his ball handling skills. He looked as if he picked up the fumble bug from the Fast Willie.

Offense could not stay on the field. Defense could not get off it. And worst of all, the mental mistakes added up, as did the stupid errors and bad blown coverages and routes.

Ok, I’m being far too harsh. I should relax. They had injury issues to deal with, especially with Aaron Smith and Marvel Smith gone and Max Starks going out early. And they did show one thing, tenacity. Despite everything, the team kept fighting and fighting. Even as the backups trickled in, no one gave up. They kept working at it, pounding away, never surrendering or accepting defeat. They did not roll over even when they were down 20 points. They kept at it until they had a chance at the end. If there is any positive to be taken from this game, that is it. It may not seem like much, but I’ll take it.

One think is crystal clear, though. The lines on both sides of the ball need to be improved, drastically, in the off season.

What I Liked from Pittsburgh: Never give up attitude in the 4th quarter, giving them a chance at the end to climb out of a deep hole, everyone doing what they could to fight back.

What I Did Not Like from Pittsburgh: Digging said hole in the first place.


NFL, the alternative Universe

As predictable as Old Faithful, the NFL coaching carousel began at the end of the season right on cue. In hopes of giving fan bases something to cling to, and keep those season ticket sales rolling during the off season, several teams have already jumped on board the wild ride of coaching changes. Are they the right moves? Will it make a difference? Probably not.

Keep in mind, one of the biggest keys to winning is consistency. Who has won the most in the NFL over the long term? That’s easy, the Patriots, Colts and Steelers. And why is that? Because they know that to win they need to be consistent, and that starts at the top. Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli, their uber GM, have been with the Pats since 1999, each year adding needed pieces through the draft or reasonable free agent pickups, and trimming away parts that are no longer viable or too expensive. Peyton Manning has worked with offensive coordinator Tom Moore for his entire career, and Tony Dungy has been in place since 2002, making no changes to the offensive brain trust unless needed while strengthening the defense and the team as a whole. The Steelers have had three head coaches since 1969. Since the merger of the AFL/NFL they, thanks to the Dolphins being ultra crappy this season, now have the most wins of any team during that time period. Why do these teams win? Because their owners are smart enough to understand that championships do not occur overnight and it takes time to assemble the right talent, teach and train those men how to be their best and how to work well together as a unit toward a common goal. And what these teams do is no secret, but for some reason you would think they were working on quantum physics.

Alas, too many teams and owners look for a quick fix and want instant gratification. So they fire coaches, hire coaches, make silly trades for over priced, and often over the hill, players and then find themselves no better off, and in some cases even worse off, than the previous season. And their fan bases wonder why things consistently go wrong. But no matter how much what the Patriots, Colts and Steelers do seems to be obvious common sense, there will always be teams out there ready to jump the gun and make a change not for any logical reason, but merely to make a splash and give the impression of actively working to improve. And this year is no different.

The Falcons continue their new coach shopping that began after week 13 because after the 2006 season they sided with their superstar and not their coach, giving up on him and his burgeoning system and potential consistency and stability way too early, hired a college guy to replace him, then found out what a detestable human being their superstar really was and watched their coach show no honor in his contract or commitments and bolt back to the college ranks. Perhaps patience in their search, and someone with NFL experience, might be a good idea this time around.

Baltimore fired Brian Billick and his entire staff in hopes of a change in fortune. This I think was a justified move. Billick had been with the team since 1999 and did win a Super Bowl, so it’s not that he did not produce or build a long term consistency. But the main point of his hiring was to build a stellar offense to go along with the Ravens otherworldly defense. That never happened and each year that defense got a little older and a little slower.

The Dolphins, however, just crowned themselves the king of poorly run operations after giving the pink slip to Cam Cameron and GM Randy Mueller and making a panic hire of Bill Parcells to rebuild the team. Mueller’s moves were somewhat questionable, especially drafting Ted Ginn Jr. over Brady Quinn, but Cameron did not deserve to be given the yank so quickly. He had been on the job for only a year, and was still working to clean up the mess left by Nick Saban, Jim Bates, Dave Wannstedt and Jimmy Johnson. The Dolphins are about to embark on their fifth head coach in five years! Please tell me how any team, no matter the talent level, can compete with such constant change and uncertainty. How Wayne Huizenga ever built a business empire with this type of incompetent leadership, I’ll never know.

The Chiefs did a bit of house cleaning and fired 4 offensive coaches, including their offensive coordinator, for being unable to generate any offense with a patchwork offensive line, a surly but well paid and injured Larry Johnson, a broken Priest Holmes, a receiving corps whose sole standout was a rookie and a quarterback pu pu platter that consisted of career journeyman Damon Huard and future David Carr all star Brodie Croyle.

After merely two seasons, the Lions dismissed offensive coordinator Mike Martz because he could not replicate the Greatest Show on Turf with Jon Kitna, overrated receivers, no running game and a sieve of an offensive line. Once again the Lions screwed up and fired the wrong man with the initials MM.

There are still question marks around the 49ers and Panthers, but at the moment Mike Nolan and John Fox both look safe. But who knows what tomorrow may bring.

In other departures, Marv Levy retired as GM of the Bills. Hopefully, Marv will visit the stadium often in the near future to see how his handy work plays out when the team stays healthy.

Here is another reason why the Colt organization is the one to be emulated in the NFL. The Colts recently gave Edgerrin James a Super Bowl ring. The Colts won it all the year after James left for greener pastures in Arizona. But the Colts felt strongly about James and gave him the ring for all of his hard work and everything he did for the Colts team and organization, as a sign of honor, respect and a thank you. That’s just a first class move by some first class people.

Bill Belichick was awarded the NFL Coach of the Year award, beating second place finisher Mike McCarthy of Green Bay. In receiving the award, Belichick said, “This is definitely a team recognition, but one that I appreciate very much on a personal level." I think that’s the most humble Bill has been all season, nice to see he knows how. And considering what he has done with the team, it definitely is an earned honor. Shame character was not one of the factors in voting, though.

And speaking of character, I must admonish John Madden and Al Michaels. Guys please do not compare Tony Dungy and Bill Belichick ever again. While both are masterful coaches and motivators, they are complete opposites when it comes to who they are as men. By comparing Belichick, a caught cheater and classless jerk, to Dungy, a good man of high character that works hard to teach those in his charge to be better people, is completely insulting to Dungy. Being the type of person he is, he would never say it, and I dare say probably not even think such things. But I will.

Titles should be won not by playing intentionally for stats, but in something approximating the natural flow of the game. – Peter King in his I Think this is what I didn’t like about Week 17 section of his weekly column, referring to Cincinnati’s obvious attempts to get T.J. Houshmandzadeh the receptions title over Wes Welker.

Hey Peter, I think you are absolutely correct. They should not be won by playing for stats; it takes away from the effort and accomplishment of achieving such records. And considering the work Wes Welker has done this season, it would have been a big dishonor for him not to get the proper recognition. Now, if you could take your head out of the clouds for a few minutes, wipe off your mouth from your constant salivating over New England and try to explain to myself, and America, how Brady’s single season touchdown record, and Moss’ single season touchdown record, come anywhere close to approximating titles won in the natural flow of games. Especially since more than a handful of their touchdowns together came from the two of them continuing to play in meaningless contests and running up scores late in complete blowouts, most notably against the Redskins. Can you really justify these titles as won by scoring in the natural flow of the game, or does it seem more like playing intentionally for stats, much like Cincinnati’s ham fisted attempts last Sunday? I know the correct answer; I just want to hear you waffle about it for a while.


Upon Further Review

As regular as someone on a high fiber diet, NFL teams with nothing more to gain for the playoffs will always rest starters in the last week of the season. This maneuver has benefits; players can heal up injuries, backups get some much needed game time experience and coaches can focus their energy on the upcoming challenges.

And while those benefits are good, I think they are negated by losing that last game of the regular season. I never think you should play half speed or at half strength. No matter the game, no matter the benefits, you should go all out. By giving up, or not giving your all, you create a losing mentality. The loss may have no meaning in the standings or for playoff position, but by easing up and becoming willing to accept a loss, no matter how trivial, affects mental preparedness and physical readiness for when the playoffs do begin. I feel by losing your last game, you set yourself up for early failure in the playoffs.

Now, this is just my opinion. I feel every game matters and that losing will affect a team. Or perhaps I am merely just a good consumer, demanding the most of my product of choice. But does my opinion have any validity? What do the results say? Good question. So to find out, I did a bit of digging and looked at all the teams that played in Wild Card Weekend since 2001. I looked at what they did in the playoffs, and what they did the week before in week 17 to see how their end of the season results matched their playoff fortunes. Here’s what I found out.

Wild card Winner results in Week 17
17-7

Wild card Loser results in Week 17
18-6

It would seem, by sheer numbers, it’s better to lose the last week of the season than win, if only by a slight margin. Goes to show how much I know. But for fun we’ll look at the teams playing this weekend and compare they how they did this week with their end of the season game next week. Here is how they fared in Week 17. Keep a note, this will come up again.

Chargers – won (creamed Oakland)
Steelers – lost (played only one decent quarter)
Jaguars – lost (creamed by non playoff team)
Titans – won (beat the Colt scrubs to make the playoffs)

Seahawks – lost (in a mailed in performance in Atlanta)
Buccaneers – lost (played not to lose as hey have for a few weeks)
Giants – lost (put up a fight and played a stellar game against New England)
Redskins – won (handled the Cowboy backups to make the playoffs)


Saddle up!

Strap on your spurs! It’s time to pick your playoff horse kids. Sad your team did not make the playoffs? Lost about whom to root for over the next few weeks? Wondering who you can get behind for the big games since your team is sitting at home eating Doritos. No problem, much like last year, we’ve got you covered. All you have to do is pick your playoff horse.

If your new from last year, I’m sure you’re scratching your head wondering, what the deuce is a playoff horse? A playoff horse is merely your temporary team for whom to root during the playoffs if your boys are sitting home in January.

Unsure how to pick a playoff horse? Well, you’ve come to the right place, since we’ve got you covered. All you need to do is pick one team from each conference, and root for them all the way to the Super Bowl. If one goes down, no problem you still have the other team. And if one of your horses makes it to Super Bowl Sunday, it is almost as tasty as if your team did. Ok, it is not nearly as good, not even remotely close, but it does give one a certain amount of satisfaction and it is a fun way to watch the playoffs. So, here is what you need to know.

1) Avoid teams from your division – This has too many incestuous ramifications, and could create bad karma for your team the next year. Plus, if they won it all, would you really be able to live with yourself? Avoid division teams at all cost.

2) Avoid traditional rivalry teams – This is paramount, and can create as much bad karma as a division rival, perhaps more. If you are a Raiders fan, you do not root for Denver ever. You would never see a Cowboys fans rooting for Philadelphia either. Plus, if you did that, wouldn’t you just feel sleazy, like you slept with your best friend’s girlfriend?

3) Avoid teams that beat up on your team – Sure, your team had a bad year, but why rub their noses in it by rooting for a team who tortured them. Plus, you could possibly look like a band wagon fan, and you want to avoid that at all costs.

4) Never buy any merchandise of your playoff horse – This is a very short term commitment, no need to invest any money in it. Plus, you could be labeled as a band wagon fan or even bring bad football karma to your team. You never want to split your true loyalties. And, if any of your family or friends who know nothing about football sees this merchandise, it could lead them to believe this is your favorite team and the next thing you know you find Seattle Seahawks Salt and Pepper shakers under your tree next Christmas. Always a bad thing.

5) Look for teams that did not play yours - This makes it easier to cheer for your playoff horse, since you cannot create bad karma or look like a band wagon fan. Plus, you will not be reminded of when they played your team this season, which could be a bad memory.

6) Try to find a positive connection to your favorite team – Does your playoff horse play in the same state as your team? That works. Are their former players from your team on their roster? Probably, so why not root for those guys, you liked them at one point in their careers. Well, unless that player is T.O. Do you have a friend who is a big fan of a team? Go with his or her team. They would do the same for you, and maybe they have recently, like when they cheered on the Steelers and congratulated you on Pittsburgh’s Super Bow victory.

7) Look for the sleeper – This is a great one, since if you pick the right team, and they go all the way, you look like a genius. And if they lose, well, you have lost nothing. There is always one team lurking and ready to pounce; the only question is if they could go all the way. Maybe they just need some extra cheer. Hint, this year the sleeper team represents our nation’s capital.

8) Pick one team from each conference – Always have two, it increases your odds for making it through the playoffs. Plus, if they both happen to make it to the big game, then you look like an uber genius. On the off chance this should happen, switch all support to the team representing your conference. It’s always good for your real team to be in the more powerful, and Super Bowl laden conference. Trust me, the 80’s and 90’s were rough on us AFC folks.

9) You must pick your horses before the playoffs begin – Yes, I know, this only gives you a week to mourn your season’s end and then find someone to root for, even if it’s only half heartedly. But you cannot cheat by peeking at Wild Card weekend and seeing who might really have a shot.

10) If your horses lose before the Super Bowl, you are done – Just like if your own team were eliminated from the playoffs, so too go your temporary allegiances. After that, you can only pick winners for each game. Well, if you have a few bucks on the game, then cheer away. But if not, then just watch as an objective party. Now, if you want to root still, my advice is to root against the teams you cannot stand. If you are any true fan, I’m sure there will be more than a few of those around, even when there are only two remaining combatants.

Remember, this is only for the short term and just for a little fun. You are just rooting for a team so you can create a little vested interest in the playoffs. After the team is done, or the playoffs end, so does your support for your playoff horse. Any cheering for them after that means you are either gleaming off of their success and that would compromise your own team, or you are a band wagon fan, and that would really hurt your team and your credibility. You never want to do anything that would compromise your true allegiances. With that in mind, go out there and find your playoff horse.

Obviously, this season I am picking no playoff horse. Pittsburgh is hosting a playoff game this weekend, and I’m rolling with them live or die. But for those fans out there whose team did not make a trip, and I’m looking at you Saints fans, please feel free to tab a couple of contenders and go full tilt. Enjoy


Idiot of the Week

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms get co honors for going into a long discussion during the third quarter about the Patriots, their season and their playoff chances as they were calling the Pittsburgh at Baltimore game.

I know game was crappy. I know things got away fast, a blow out began to bloom and they needed to do something to keep things interesting. And I know the story of the year is the Patriots, who the day before had finished the regular season 16-0. But to lose attention from the game you are supposed to be focused upon to talk about another team that was not even playing that day? A team that is bitterly hated by the fan bases of the two teams on the field? Idiots.

In an amazing bit of symmetry, Simms and Nantz managed to close out last season as well by capturing Idiot of the Week honors. At least they’re consistent.


Super Bust Watch

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints, who thanks to a sub par season and a terrible showing versus the Bears have locked up their spot in the first ever Super Bust.

Their opponent, however, still needs to be determined. The Patriots thus far have done absolutely everything to avoid the honor of playing in the inaugural Super Bust. They still have two chances to make the game, but our first alternate, the Colts, may need to be tabbed. There is a chance the AFC Championship game could be between the Colts and Patriots. That game will prove who wants the Super Bust more. More to come soon!


The Contenders

So our playoff fields are set. In a weird bit of coincidence, half of the NFC field is seeded by the NFC East (Cowboys, Giants and Redskins) and half of the AFC field is seeded by the AFC South (Colts, Jaguars and Titans.) Neither division finished under .500, with the teams left out in each division (Eagles and Texans) both finishing a division worst 8-8. It would seem moving mountains would be an easier task than coming out on top of either the AFC South or NFC East.

But without further ado, let’s take a look at the teams vying to become the champion of the football world.

AFC

New England Patriots – Winning every game of the regular season, the Patriots come in as the odds on favorite to go home with the Lombardi trophy. But an aging linebacking corps, suspect run defense and an inconsistent running game could hurt them in the playoffs. However, they still have Brady to Moss, an aggressive secondary and a tenacious defensive front and they have taken them pretty far to this point.

Indianapolis Colts – The Super Bowl champions are back in the playoffs to defend their crown. They have the confidence, they know the path and what it takes, and they have been blessed in facing no pressure or scrutiny during the season thanks to the Patriots and their amazing season capturing the media spotlight. They are the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

San Diego Chargers – Also returning to the playoffs after a bitter defeat last year are the Chargers. This season started slow but they found their vaunted running game and came on as the season progressed, finishing at an impressive 11-5. However, Philip Rivers is still their quarterback and Norv Turner is still their coach, so that should tell bettors everything they need to know.

Pittsburgh Steelers – After a one year absence, the Steelers return to post season action. A strong, seasoned team, they also know what it takes to win it all. But a late season swoon has overcome the team, with their running defense losing its luster, their running game suddenly suspect and a rash of injuries that has crippled them in key positions. If they find ways around their weaknesses, their playoff experience should help them. If not, they may not last long in the tournament.

Jacksonville Jaguars – They sat home last year and bided their time after getting crapped on by New England. This year they seem ready. The Jags have torn teams apart. Tenacious defense and powerful running have allowed David Garrard to have a stellar opening season as starter. They match up well with their prospective opponents, and could be a dark horse to win the crown. I bet they’d love a playoff rematch against a few teams.

Tennessee Titans – They squeaked into the post season with a defeat of the Colt backups. The Titans have been steadily improving over the last few years, with infusion of talent such as offensive stars Vince Young and LenDale White leading the way. A slowed Vince Young, if he is able to start next week, will hurt their chances to go further in the playoffs. Having a successful season such as this and separating themselves from the Pacman Jones drama goes along way toward the franchise going far in the future.


NFC

Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys suffered a bitter defeat last year in Seattle, and watched Bill Parcells call it a coaching career afterward. After an infusion of new ideas and vigor from Wade Phillips, the Cowboys ran roughshod over the NFC. Tony Romo recovered nicely from his field goal gaffe to explode onto the NFL scene. Dallas comes into the playoffs as the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers – The Packers have gone from last year’s darkness of 8-8, sitting home and wondering if the Favre era was over to becoming the toast of the NFC, division champions and starting each week the most decorated quarterback in NFL history. Their one glaring weakness, a running game, has been corrected with the emergence of Ryan Grant. Now they stand primed, with Favre and a tenacious defense, to get Brett to the top of the hill one last time.

Seattle Seahawks – They lasted until the divisional round last year, but were bounced by the eventual NFC champion Bears. Unlike their nemesis, they are back in the playoffs. Their running game took a hit with the retirement of Mack Strong, and Hasselbeck is prone to hot and cold streaks. If things are clicking, they can make a run deep into the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – In again after an absence of a year and a bitter loss in 2005 to the Redskins. Tampa Bay has had resurgence with what has been their stalwart, strong running and good defense. But their running game has suffered bad losses throughout the season, and their offensive line has shown some weakness, making a long run a tough mountain to climb.

New York Giants – Last year the Giants squeaked into the playoffs due to a late season collapse. This year they suffered no such fate, playing strong down the stretch and taking the Patriots to the wire in their season finale. They lost Jeremy Shockey for the season with a broken leg, but have found ways to overcome his lost production. If Eli can minimize his mistakes, they may be able to give Tom Coughlin his first playoff win as head coach.

Washington Redskins – Washington screams into the playoffs, riding a 4 game winning streak that propelled them past several teams and into the post season. The Redskins are playing on high emotion, finding inspiration in the death of Sean Taylor and pulling together as a team. Losing starting quarterback Jason Campbell could have crushed them, but reclamation project Todd Collins has been playing like this decade’s version of Frank Reich. With their unity in place and riding a hot streak, the Redskins will be dangerous for any opponent they face.


On Tap This Week

With our final tally, we did not make the top three in the poll. But I still finished decently.

Last week 10-6
Season to date 167-89

That’s how we rolled. But at the end of the season last year, I said I would finish better this season. How about we do a comparison and see if I backed up by big talk.

2006 Regular Season Record 150-106
2007 Regular Season Record 167-89

You bet you’re sweet bippy I did. 17 games better with a winning percentage of 65%. And next season, oh, I anticipate an even better season.

Now, the reason I started all of this was because I figured your average fan like me could pick games just as good as those who get paid to do it. I watch football, I understand the strategies and tactics and trends with teams, and I bet I could do just a good of a job. So as a gas why don’t we compare my season to those at ESPN.com? Here’s how they did for the season in order of final standings. I tucked myself in there for comparison.

Mark Schlereth 171-85
Keyshawn Johnson 171-85
Emmitt Smith 169-87
Tom Jackson 169-87
Me 167-89
Mike Ditka 167-89
Merrill Hoge 167-89
Ron Jaworski 166-75 (Does not pick Monday Night games)
Chris Mortensen 164-92
Seth Wickersham 161-95
Sean Salisbury 161-95
Eric Allen 150-106
Mike Golic 149-106

Ah HA! Only 4 “experts” did better than I. Now, if only I could get other people to notice my football acumen, and perhaps send some scratch my way. Anyone? Anyone?? Eh, maybe next season. For now, why don’t we concentrate on the upcoming action of Wild Card Weekend?


Saturday

Washington (9-7) at Seattle (10-6)

Seattle started the season slow, but came on strong as the season progressed, grabbing the NFC West division once again. Home has always been good to Seattle, with fans making it a difficult venue for opposing teams to visit. Qwest Field will be rocking with the 12th man when the teams hit the field. Unfortunately for Seattle fans, Washington has a 12th man of their own, the memory of Sean Taylor. The tragedy that struck the team galvanized them, and not even the loss of their starting quarterback could deter them from forging a special season for Sean. The hot hand on a mission prevails.

Redskins over Seahawks


Jacksonville (11-5) at Pittsburgh (10-6)

"That field is terrible. That's a lawsuit pending. That's ridiculous." – Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor

"Sure it is (an advantage), if he feels that way. I don't know anybody on our team that hates our field." – Steeler head coach Mike Tomlin

Odd words coming from a guy who ran for 147 yards last time he played on the same field. Last time these two met, Jacksonville handled the Steelers, easily. Obviously, I’m apprehensive of what may happen again. No team has ever defeated the Steelers twice in Pittsburgh in the same season in their 75 year history. Hopefully history holds, but they’ll have trouble keeping history in line. Max Starks, who was replacing Marvel Smith at left tackle, is done for the season with a knee injury. We’re on our third left tackle, the underused Trai Essex. 10 bucks says Ben spends a good portion of the day in transit. Add to that their mini swoon at the end of the season and losing Willie Parker, it could be rough sledding for the boys from Steel Town. But as long as there’s a team, and a game, there’s hope.

Steelers over Jaguars


Sunday

New York Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay (9-7)

Tampa Bay reclaimed the NFC South while the Giants could do no better than second fiddle to the Cowboys. But while Tampa Bay has faded as the season came to a conclusion, the Giants played strong, especially against the undefeated Patriots. Amazingly, I think I’ll go with Eli Manning on the road. I must be sleep deprived to think this is a good idea.

Giants over Buccaneers


Tennessee (10-6) at San Diego (11-5)

I keep hearing there is no love lost between these teams. Ummm, since when have these two become bitter rivals? They had one chippy game with each other, which occurred earlier this season, and now suddenly we have Pats versus Colts? Are people that desperate for a story line? Give me a break, like Philip Rivers intimidates anyone. Heck he couldn’t even intimidate Jay Cutler. Fortunately for Mad Dog Rivers, San Diego pulled Tennessee in the first round. Albert Haynesworth has been playing with a tricky hamstring, Vince Young is now coming up gimpy leaving the possibility of Kerry Collins starting at quarterback and to top it off, Roydell Williams broke his ankle in practice and is gone for the remainder of the Titans season. Even Norv Turner cannot lose this one. Of course now that I said that…..

Chargers over Titans