Dave2112
Level of Cherry Feather
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2001
- Messages
- 10,292
- Points
- 0
What a strange playoffs in the NFL this year, eh? Not only did we have the first win by an 8-8 team in the playoffs, we had BOTH of them win on the road!
Here's the point of discussion.
I see it as not only mathematically possible, but pretty much a 50-50 shot that these two 8-8 teams could play for the NFC title. Here's my reasoning:
Minnesota at Philadelphia - Philly is completely untested without the deep threat of Terrell Owens. They phoned in thier last two games, having already clinched. The upside to this is that you don't get your starters hurt. The downside is that Philly has no real-game experience in running an offense without a deep threat. Minny's defense isn't the best, but without Owens, they put 8 men in the box against the run without fear of single-covering a speedy receiver, and shold be able to contain McNabb. Philly is also hurting at RB. Home-Field advantage didn't stop the Vikings at Lambeau, a stadium that's brought down a lot more opponents than the Linc. If Minnesota brings half of the defense they had against the Packers, it should be pretty even. If they manage to dominate, Philly has few weapons left to counter it. Then, there's the infamous Philly Choke Factor as an intangible.
St. Louis at Atlanta - You know how every year there's a team that squeaks into the playoffs that nobody wants to play because of the big-game potential? That would be the Rams this year. Regardless of what happened in the regular season, the Rams can explode at any given moment and have the entire field to work with. Probably one of three teams in the NFL that isn't a sure stop at 3rd and 20. They'll be on the road, but in thier element...in a dome and on a fast field. Atlanta's imporved on D, but is still iffy. The Vick factor will play greatly into this game. If Vick has one of his many "down" games, the whole team will fold. I'd be very surprised to see odds-makers give Atlanta much more than the three-point home field advantage.
So, what would it mean to the NFL if two teams played for the Super Bowl at 8-8? I think that we've finally seen parity come full circle. You can't get any more even than 8-8. Maybe it's a bad thing that we don't get to see the Monsters of the NFL go at it in the big games, but on the other hand, I think it would prove to all teams next year that there is NO giving up. Everything counts. Parity and the league realignment have already made divisional games crucial, and maybe next year we'll see teams stop laying down when they think they've got everything they need.
Sure makes the season more exciting, doesn't it?
Here's the point of discussion.
I see it as not only mathematically possible, but pretty much a 50-50 shot that these two 8-8 teams could play for the NFC title. Here's my reasoning:
Minnesota at Philadelphia - Philly is completely untested without the deep threat of Terrell Owens. They phoned in thier last two games, having already clinched. The upside to this is that you don't get your starters hurt. The downside is that Philly has no real-game experience in running an offense without a deep threat. Minny's defense isn't the best, but without Owens, they put 8 men in the box against the run without fear of single-covering a speedy receiver, and shold be able to contain McNabb. Philly is also hurting at RB. Home-Field advantage didn't stop the Vikings at Lambeau, a stadium that's brought down a lot more opponents than the Linc. If Minnesota brings half of the defense they had against the Packers, it should be pretty even. If they manage to dominate, Philly has few weapons left to counter it. Then, there's the infamous Philly Choke Factor as an intangible.
St. Louis at Atlanta - You know how every year there's a team that squeaks into the playoffs that nobody wants to play because of the big-game potential? That would be the Rams this year. Regardless of what happened in the regular season, the Rams can explode at any given moment and have the entire field to work with. Probably one of three teams in the NFL that isn't a sure stop at 3rd and 20. They'll be on the road, but in thier element...in a dome and on a fast field. Atlanta's imporved on D, but is still iffy. The Vick factor will play greatly into this game. If Vick has one of his many "down" games, the whole team will fold. I'd be very surprised to see odds-makers give Atlanta much more than the three-point home field advantage.
So, what would it mean to the NFL if two teams played for the Super Bowl at 8-8? I think that we've finally seen parity come full circle. You can't get any more even than 8-8. Maybe it's a bad thing that we don't get to see the Monsters of the NFL go at it in the big games, but on the other hand, I think it would prove to all teams next year that there is NO giving up. Everything counts. Parity and the league realignment have already made divisional games crucial, and maybe next year we'll see teams stop laying down when they think they've got everything they need.
Sure makes the season more exciting, doesn't it?
