The Entry I Didn’t Get to Write

I was hoping to write an entry called “You’re Only as Good as Your Last Game.”  I was going to write about the Redskins 20-16 win in San Diego to end the season.  I was going to write that the Redskins have laid the foundation for what promises to be a better 2010 season. I can’t write about that now.  I can’t write about it because the Redskins didn’t end on a good note.  They didn’t win 20-16.  They lost 23-20 with 37 seconds left as the Chargers’ backup quarterback threw a touchdown to the fullback and handed the Redskins yet another loss.  How many times does a fullback catch a pass?  Only against the Redskins…

Redskins fans, rejoice!  Not over the game, not over the season, but that Jim Zorn and the Bingo-calling offensive coordinator were finally shown the door.  Hopefully Dan Snyder will hire somebody who knows how to coach.  Don’t let Matt Millen anywhere near this organization!  That would be the kiss of death.  That would be the Waterloo of the Redskins’ organization just like losing to the Lions was the Waterloo of the 2009 season.

I hope the Redskins get Mike Shanahan to coach.  But if things don’t work out with him, I would like to see somebody with head coaching experience in either the NFL or the NCAA.

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2008 Division Round Predictions

If you bet the ranch on my picks last week, you no longer own a ranch.  I went 1-3 last week with the Eagles keeping me from being winless.  I wouldn’t bet the ranch, but I might be tempted to bet the ranch dressing.

Saturday 1/10

Ravens at Titans: – The hottest team in the league is going against the team with the best record.  The Titans faltered down the stretch, but they are home and they are rested.  Titans win 17-13.

Cardinals at Panthers: – This is the one game that could get ugly.  The Cardinals looked good against the Falcons, but they were at home and they were playing against a rookie quarterback and a rookie coach.  Like in nature, the Panthers will devour the Cardinals 41-8.

Sunday 1/11

Eagles at Giants:  Division games are always tough.  The trendy pick will be to pick the Eagles, but the Giants know what the Eagles are going through, the Giants played three road playoff games last year and will not underestimate the Eagles.  I would not be surprised if this game went into overtime.  Giants win 16-13.

Chargers at Steelers:  Common sense says the Steelers will win.  I still have issues with Norv Turner as a head coach.  Chargers will win this one just to prove me wrong about everything including my views on Global Warming.  Chargers 20 Steelers 13.

If you are going to any of these games this weekend, don’t forget to bring your sign and show it on TV.

NFL Playoff Predictions

Before I make my predictions, I would like to make a brief comment about the playoff seedings.  I think that if the NFL is going to allow a division winner to make a playoffs no matter how bad the team is, then the least they can do is seed all teams by their records.  Indianapolis and Atlanta should not be punished with a low seed just because they are in a same division as a great team that won their respective divisions.  I will comment more after I make my predictions.

NFC Wild Card Games:

Atlanta at Arizona:  This game is more interesting than it should be because the worse team is at home.  The worse team was rewarded for playing in a weak division.  The Falcons were punished for playing Carolina, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans twice and finishing with an overall 11-5 record.  Falcons win this game 38-13.

Philadelphia at Minnesota:  The Vikings lose this game because their biggest home field advantage is the brutally cold Minnesota air.  But since the game is indoors, the advantage is gone.  Eagles win a tough one 20-17.

AFC Wild Card Games:

Baltimore at Miami:  Everybody is afraid of the Miami Dolphins.  I think it is because people confuse Head Coach Tony Sparano with mobster Tony Soprano.  Dolphins win a close one, 17-13.

Indianapolis at San Diego.  This is the game Chargers fans see the coaching capabilities of Norv Turner.  Colts win 41-17.

MY PLAYOFF PLAN

My playoff plan is different than any any plan currently being used.  I would allow every team with a winning record to make the playoffs.  Since the number of teams with winning records varies from year to year, so would the number of teams making the playoffs.  My plan would have teams like the Bears, Patriots, and Cowboys in the playoffs this year while the Chargers and the Cardinals would stay home.  Winning the division wouldn’t mean anything, but the division format would stay for scheduling reasons.

With the 2008 standings, 7 AFC and 8 NFC teams would make the playoffs.  in the AFC, only Tennessee would get a bye.  The NFC would not have anybody with a bye.  Below would be my matchups for the first round:

AFC

1)Tennessee – Bye

2)Pittsburgh – vs. 7) NY Jets

3)Indianapolis – vs. 6)New England

4)Baltimore (They would have won the tie breaker) vs. 5)Miami

The lower number seeds are home.  The Titans would play the highest number seed in the second round and the two other winners would play at the team with the lower seed number.