NFL Divisional Round Playoffs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It was the NFL's version of the Elite Eight, but in reality, four of the teams did not look very elite. Once again, the first three games of the weekend were varying degrees of blowouts as the favored home teams pretty much had their way in those games. Heading into the home stretch, the Saints, Colts, and Vikings all had tickets in hand for next week.

Then came the fourth game. Could the top two seeds in each conference possibly advance to the championship games? Of course not. The Jets put together another fine defensive effort, and coupled with a solid running game, the Chargers and Norv Turner came up short.

The end result of all this is that each of the eight teams contributed to their own fate.  There was some good, some bad, and some ugly.

The playoffs are a time when relatively evenly-matched teams square off against one another and it is entirely possible for a team to play well and lose or play less than well and win. However, that was not the case this week.

Now on to the Final Four.

The Good

Indianapolis: The Colts' defense held the Ravens to three points (a franchise low for an opponent's score in the playoffs) after Baltimore put up 33 the previous week. The Indy offense put up enough points in the second quarter to go on cruise control for the rest of the game.

In Caldwell's first playoff appearance as head coach he showed good decision making and clock management. The use of a timeout allowed a second quick score by his offense before half-time. It was another quiet victory for a team that seems to have a resolve and determination that has not been seen in previous years.

Minnesota: Many agreed before the game that it was almost an even match between the Vikings and the Cowboys, so it was not surprising that the home team triumphed. What is a bit surprising is the total domination exhibited in almost every facet of play.

I wouldn't go so far as to call Brett Favre ageless, but did even the most die hard Viking fans expect anything quite like this at the start of the season? Meanwhile, the defense withstood three early Dallas drives and yielded only three points in the process. They pressured Romo all day, sacking him six times, five by the defensive line.

New Orleans: The Saints' performance was dominant on both sides of the ball. The performance was at worst, good enough to silence the ranks of their detractors, both new wary faces confused by the 0-3 finish and many season-long critics who have accused the Saints of being paper tigers throughout.

I can understand why many feel that Minnesota has the edge in the upcoming NFC Championship Game, but if nothing else, New Orleans has proven that they belong in the game. How terrible for the Vikings' defense that this offense, already pretty menacing, now puts Shockey back into the hopper (love him or hate him, you have to admit he brings another facet to an offense) and has Reggie Bush seemingly finding a groove at the best time possible.

New York Jets: You can't help but tip your hat to the Jets' defense almost every week they take the field, and they did it again against one of the tough offenses in the league. During the game, an announcer commented after a three-and-out for the Chargers that it was only the third time all season the Chargers had done so. The drive itself was of minor consequence in the grand scheme, but that stat stood out as the perfect punctuation point on the statement of how out of sync the Jets defense made Rivers and company look throughout the game.

The Jets' offense was a bit more sluggish out of the gate, failing to achieve a first down until midway through the second quarter, but they found a comfort zone and started producing on the ground. Sanchez, while not putting up eye popping stats, played a solid game and staved off the typical rookie QB implosion in the playoffs that many expected.

The Bad

Arizona: This team would have pulled a "Good" if NFL games were only nine seconds long. Tim Hightower's run was a thing of beauty and a lot of Saints fans had to have a knot in their stomach after Arizona hit pay-dirt on their first play from scrimmage. Unfortunately for the Cards, the other 59:51 were not so kind to them.

It goes without saying that the Arizona defense decided to take the postseason off, but the offense certainly doesn't get a pass here either. Hightower's 70 yard touchdown run accounted for over two thirds of their rushing yards on the day, and Warner/Leinart and the receivers didn't fare much better.

Baltimore: The Ravens seemed flat after a big win in New England. Their execution was sloppy and lifeless, leading to turnovers and penalties on key plays. Indianapolis played a solid game, but left the door open for Baltimore to jump into it at any point. Baltimore failed time and again to make any kind of a move. You aren't going to win a lot of road playoff games stepping on your own feet the way the Ravens did.

The Ugly

Dallas: By game play alone I would only have given them a "Bad", but it's a matter of conduct that pushes them into the ugly for me. I realize that a playoff loss is particularly frustrating and embarrassing when it is a rout like this and emotions are running high; but it somehow makes defeat even more embarrassing when players from the losing team whine on-field right after getting beat.

There are documented cases of NFL teams scoring two or even three times in very short order and you just don't mess around with that in the playoffs over a matter of chivalrous face saving.

San Diego: The Chargers looked unprepared, sloppy, and arrogant. They didn't take their competition seriously and that falls on the head of Norv Turner. They went from the sideline telling Jets players they didn't even belong in the game to getting flogged down the field by a relentless run game and a rookie QB that looked calmer than the "pro-bowler" Rivers on the other side.

The Jets' defense kept Sproles and LT in check, allowed zero big plays, forced dumb turnovers and penalties, and generally made the "best offense in the league" look like amateurs. The hottest team in the league looked like they dismissed this game and were already on their way to the AFC Championship Game. Instead, they are on their way to the golf course.

Honorable Mention

Gary Brackett : Maybe the most underrated Colts player ever had another great performance.

Drew Brees: Brees was 23-of-32 for 247 yards and three TDs. He looked sharp after a long layoff from meaningful play.

Reggie Bush: Bush had 84 yards rushing and a touchdown on five carries. But it was more impressive how he did it, choosing to run through traffic instead of trying to run around it.

Ray Edwards : The Viking DE registered three sacks, five total tackles, and a forced fumble.

Brett Favre: Rather pedestrian numbers, completing 15-of-24, but he threw for 234 yards and four touchdowns.

Pierre Garcon : The play of the day was forcing a fumble on a pass picked off by Ed Reed.

Shonn Greene: Greene rushed for 128 yards on 23 carries, including a big 53-yard TD run. Add in his four yard reception and you have more than half of the Jets' total offense and the bulk of the work in this win.

Sidney Rice: Another great performance by Rice. He had six catches, 141 yards and three scores, including the initial 47-yarder.

Written by: H2H Staff writers, Coordinated by FourthStooge