Who Rocked?
After propping up my opinions for the last few weeks, the Seahawks finally get it right when it matters. By beating the Rams this week they are the champions of the NFC West, despite having only won 7 games all season. This is the first time in history a losing-record has made it into the playoffs and, by virtue of winning their division, the Seahawks take the 4th seed, which mean they will host the number 5 seeds and defending world champions, the New Orleans Saints. Can they turn over an 11 win team and progress to face either Chicago or Atlanta? Yes they can. Will they? Wait and see…
Green Bay finished off a tough schedule with an essential win over division rivals and winners, the Chicago Bears. Green Bay were the most fortunate of the Giants, Bucs and themselves: all three needed a win to have any chance of progressing, but only the Packers were assured a spot if the score came up in their favour. As it happened, all three teams won, but the Packers top the Wild Card standings on tiebreakers and go forward to play the dangerous Philadelphia away from home.
Whose chances were knocked?
The Rams lost an effectively sudden-death game to end rookie of the year, Sam Bradford’s hopes of leading this up-and-coming unit into the playoffs in his first season at the helm. They can take heart from his performances and Steve Spagnolo will have these boys in the playoffs next year, or the year after at the latest.
The Bucs lost out at the last and, after a great season, have nothing but the anguish of missed opportunities and a low draft pick to show for it. Shame about how it worked out for them – they deserved better.
But I never really took them seriously and I think their presence in the top 6 would’ve been at the expense of someone far better and more talented.
Like the Giants, for example: the surprise Champs of 2007 were looking so very good after 8 weeks that I had already ordained them as the team to beat. The Giants AND Green bay were my favourites to make it to the NFC championship game for a rematch of the 2007 game that saw Brett Favre’s storied career n Wisconsin come to a dramatic close with an overtime interception that allowed the upstart road warrior Giants to get into the Superbowl, where they beat the 18-0 Patriots.
Eli Manning will have to go home and polish his ring until September comes. But he’ll get chances…the Mannings always do…
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