Football fans in a few cities will face Christmas in their best holiday spirits as their teams are playoff bound. Others will be smarting as surely some teams’ hopes will be dashed this weekend. Almost certainly, some contests will be determined on the final Sunday. What a peculiar but exciting year this has been. Three cities are playoff contenders with rookie coaches: Baltimore, Atlanta, and Miami. Baltimore and Atlanta both have progressed with rookie quarterbacks. New England has remained competitive without their all-star quarterback injured in the first game of the season. The New York Jets have enjoyed new life from a fellow too old for his old team while their former QB is leading the once hapless Dolphins to a likely winning season. Meanwhile, pity sports fans in Ohio. First, the Cleveland Indians were considered the favorite to win the AL Central in baseball. They endured a miserable losing season casting off high priced salaries. However, hope was high for the Cleveland Browns, a team many of the media hipsters selected as the sexy pick for the NFL playoffs. As the football season went from bad to worse and the NBA season began, focus was on local superstar Lebron James chitter-chatter about leaving town for greater fortunes when his contract with the Cavaliers expires. It could be worse. One could travel to the far southwestern end of the state and look at Cincinnati. Not only did their baseball team suck but few expected much from the “Bungals” er ah Bengals. No team has looked uglier losing than the Bengals. Further, both Ohio teams lost their starting QB’s for the season while Cleveland also lost their chosen one for the future for the rest of the season. Few states have had a rougher time than Ohio in 2008 given their dependence on the automotive industry and that Ohio was ground zero for all the shouting and finger pointing of a high intensity Presidential sweepstakes. The escape value local sports can provide has been replaced by fumbles, foals, big mouths barking, and losing. Just a short drive north of Toledo is the capital of the United States auto industry. When has there ever been a more pathetic team than the Detroit Lions? Matt Millen might be gone, but a miserable team remains. How many years has this team had excellent draft picks and needed to start over? Here they go again as they have all but locked in the worst record in the NFL for this year. Meanwhile, Oakland is another franchise in shambles with faint hopes of quantum leaps. When it comes to NFL football the state of Missouri is really misery given the fortunes of the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams. Both teams have recent ownership changes necessitated by the deaths of their former owners. Their ability is uncertain for now.
Right now, life is good in Pittsburgh and Nashville as the Steelers and Titans have clinched first round byes. The New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals have locked playoff spots. Only a serious meltdown and all kinds of quirks could deny the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers from playoff spots. Life is livelier in Minnesota where they hold a one game advantage over Chicago. Craziness is the rule in the AL East where three teams are tied with 9-5 records, but in reality, one will win the division. One will lose to one of the others. The third team is dependent on Baltimore losing to get in as a Wild Card. Got that? If the Jets or the Dolphins win both remaining games, the winner is in and the loser is probably out. New England needs the Ravens to lose. That covers the wild card possibilities barring an unlikely collapse by Indianapolis who stand at 10-4.
In the NFC, the wild card picture is a little wider open, but if Dallas and Atlanta win their two remaining games, they are in as wild cards. Dallas faces Baltimore and Philadelphia while Atlanta faces Minnesota and St. Louis. Tampa Bay shares a 9-5 mark with Atlanta and Dallas but with tie-breakers needs one of them to lose. They play at home against San Diego and Oakland. Much has been made of west coast teams playing poorly when coming east. Philadelphia stands with 8-5-1. They need two slipups by two teams above them but face one of them. That leaves Chicago, perhaps in better position to win their division at 8-6. A lot of things have to happen above them to clinch a wild card, but catching Minnesota for the division might be the easier route. Other teams like the Redskins have the old snowball’s chance. Forget them.
Let’s look at this week’s games. We were 10-6 last week, our season average. That’s a lot better than the ESPN gang especially the “Swammi.” The hell with the point spreads. That’s to keep the Mafia happy. Aren’t those point spread, over/under conversations tedious? Fantasy football – lots of work, eh?
So kick back, relax, and enjoy some good football this weekend. Here’s our preview and expectations.
Indianapolis (-6 ½) at Jacksonville
A Florida vacation this is not in Florida’s northern most coastal city, but for Payton and the boys the results should be pretty!
Baltimore at Dallas (-4 ½)
How tough is the Dallas defense and are they ready for Baltimore’s growing efforts on offense? Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and the gang need to play hard, brutal defense and the win will be Baltimore’s.
Pittsburgh (1 ½) at Tennessee
This looks like the game of the week if it’s not Carolina visiting the New York Giants. The winner of this game stands to enjoy home field advantage through out the playoffs and Pittsburgh looks healthier than the Nashville Cats.
Arizona at New England (-8)
Eight points looks a little high for New England but Arizona, already in the playoffs, plays in a softer division and has less at stake than the Patriots. They have their playoff berth and can’t win a first round bye.
Cincinnati at Cleveland (-3)
The “Toilet Bowl” is in northern Ohio. Cincinnati perhaps a lousier team but Cincinnati seems to have a little more life left in them as witnessed by beating the Redskins last week while Cleveland is on a short week after getting slaughtered by Philadelphia.
New Orleans (-6 ½) at Detroit
Duh! New Orleans may be out of it, but they won’t let Detroit ruin their season.
San Francisco (-5 ½) at St. Louis
San Francisco has been pretty frisky since Coach Singletary’s tirade. They should have enough kick in them to conquer the down and out Rams.
Right now, life is good in Pittsburgh and Nashville as the Steelers and Titans have clinched first round byes. The New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals have locked playoff spots. Only a serious meltdown and all kinds of quirks could deny the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers from playoff spots. Life is livelier in Minnesota where they hold a one game advantage over Chicago. Craziness is the rule in the AL East where three teams are tied with 9-5 records, but in reality, one will win the division. One will lose to one of the others. The third team is dependent on Baltimore losing to get in as a Wild Card. Got that? If the Jets or the Dolphins win both remaining games, the winner is in and the loser is probably out. New England needs the Ravens to lose. That covers the wild card possibilities barring an unlikely collapse by Indianapolis who stand at 10-4.
In the NFC, the wild card picture is a little wider open, but if Dallas and Atlanta win their two remaining games, they are in as wild cards. Dallas faces Baltimore and Philadelphia while Atlanta faces Minnesota and St. Louis. Tampa Bay shares a 9-5 mark with Atlanta and Dallas but with tie-breakers needs one of them to lose. They play at home against San Diego and Oakland. Much has been made of west coast teams playing poorly when coming east. Philadelphia stands with 8-5-1. They need two slipups by two teams above them but face one of them. That leaves Chicago, perhaps in better position to win their division at 8-6. A lot of things have to happen above them to clinch a wild card, but catching Minnesota for the division might be the easier route. Other teams like the Redskins have the old snowball’s chance. Forget them.
Let’s look at this week’s games. We were 10-6 last week, our season average. That’s a lot better than the ESPN gang especially the “Swammi.” The hell with the point spreads. That’s to keep the Mafia happy. Aren’t those point spread, over/under conversations tedious? Fantasy football – lots of work, eh?
So kick back, relax, and enjoy some good football this weekend. Here’s our preview and expectations.
Indianapolis (-6 ½) at Jacksonville
A Florida vacation this is not in Florida’s northern most coastal city, but for Payton and the boys the results should be pretty!
Baltimore at Dallas (-4 ½)
How tough is the Dallas defense and are they ready for Baltimore’s growing efforts on offense? Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and the gang need to play hard, brutal defense and the win will be Baltimore’s.
Pittsburgh (1 ½) at Tennessee
This looks like the game of the week if it’s not Carolina visiting the New York Giants. The winner of this game stands to enjoy home field advantage through out the playoffs and Pittsburgh looks healthier than the Nashville Cats.
Arizona at New England (-8)
Eight points looks a little high for New England but Arizona, already in the playoffs, plays in a softer division and has less at stake than the Patriots. They have their playoff berth and can’t win a first round bye.
Cincinnati at Cleveland (-3)
The “Toilet Bowl” is in northern Ohio. Cincinnati perhaps a lousier team but Cincinnati seems to have a little more life left in them as witnessed by beating the Redskins last week while Cleveland is on a short week after getting slaughtered by Philadelphia.
New Orleans (-6 ½) at Detroit
Duh! New Orleans may be out of it, but they won’t let Detroit ruin their season.
San Francisco (-5 ½) at St. Louis
San Francisco has been pretty frisky since Coach Singletary’s tirade. They should have enough kick in them to conquer the down and out Rams.
Miami (-4) at Kansas City
It’s chaos in Kansas City so Miami is poised to win in their journey to the heart of the heartland.
Atlanta at Minnesota (-3 ½)
Atlanta is playing with a lot of heart and enthusiasm despite their lack of experience while Minnesota has some key injuries and appears to be running out of gas. This one goes to the Georgia Birds.
Philadelphia (-4.5) at Washington
If the Redskins had any history left to be written, they left it in Cincinnati last week. This is a team that is finished for the year. Things looked so good in the first half of the year, but Act 2 has been a tragedy.
Buffalo at Denver (-7)
Denver needs to sure up their playoff skills while Buffalo continues to fall apart. The Broncos can’t take this game for granted but should win.
Houston (-7) at Oakland
Houston is showing a lot of growth in the second half of the season. They should feast on the misery-laden Raiders.
New York Jets (-4 ½) at Seattle
Which Jets team will show up this week? They have the talent and track record to win this game but they must endure the cross country journey and play with all they’ve got. If so, they’ll come home with only Miami remaining for a division title.
San Diego at Tampa (-3 ½)
Tampa Bay must win this game and probably will following how west coast teams collapse when flying to the east coast. San Diego has players playing for jobs but Tampa has a shot at the post season. Their defense should be strong enough to hold off a battered Changers team.
Carolina at New York Giants (-3)
The Giants need this game to assure all they haven’t peaked too soon and looking Plaxico Burris has not weakened their competitive strength. Carolina needs this game to continue their lock on the playoffs. The winner gets the top seed. If both teams are on top of their game, give New York the slight edge.
Green Bay at Chicago (-4 ½)
Is Green Bay better off without Brett Favre? Last year, they were playoff bound seen by many as the pick to go all the way in the NFC. This year has shown a slow, steady decline. The Bears must win to keep their playoff dreams alive and should have the soldiers on Soldiers Field to do so.
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