NFL Playoffs 2011: The Second Season and a Fresh Start for Everyone

I am in the process of moving right now, gathering up all my stuff, getting new stuff I need and getting ready to start fresh in a new place. It’s pretty exciting, looks like a nice area I’m going to, and I hope it all goes well. Although, I got a little rattled the other day. As I was going back and forth to my car moving stuff in, a women, who was pushing around a shopping cart full of cans, and who was looking through everyone’s else’s recycling, asked me if I as just moving in. I said “Yea, ma’am, I am.” She comes back with “Good, this is a really nice neighborhood“ as she pushes her cart full of cans off as I say, “O that’s, good???” I really don’t know how to take that one, but I guess I’ll find out. While I was moving stuff, I was thinking about the NFL playoffs and realized that the playoffs are really just like moving. A fresh start for everyone, teams seeding are the homes they are moving into and they have all the same players they’ve always had.  The Patriots would be moving into a beachfront house for the playoffs and the Seahawks are the equivalent of moving back into their parent’s house. Some are better off than others but just because someone has the best house or seed doesn’t mean they are going to win.

Here are the teams moving on...

Seattle Seahawks – I’m a big believer that anything can happen at least once. The problem here is we would have to use that phrase four separate times in describing a Seahawks playoff win for them to win the Super Bowl. While Qwest field is one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, it would have to be so loud that Drew Brees’ head could explode for them to get this win.

Kansas City Chiefs – No one really thought they would make the playoffs let alone have a wining record, but here they are. They looked great lately until they lost last week at home to the Raiders, although to be fair everyone else in the division lost to the Raiders at home this year too. They have a very strong running game, a top-flight receiver in Dwayne Bowe, and a very hot (all this does not include last week) QB. With that home crowd it should be quite a game against the Ravens, but as soon as they hit the road the Chiefs seem like a completely different team. Anything beyond a home victory is a blessing.

New York Jets – This team has not looked good lately. Their backups beat the Bills last week, but other than that their defense has really been struggling. What’s the worst thing (other than the Patriots) for a struggling defense? Facing Peyton Manning on the road. Big help is that the Colts can’t stop the run. They couldn’t even stop Ladanian Tomlinson right now so this may not be that bad of a match up for them. If they win in Indy, I can’t imagine them getting past New England in Foxboro.

Indianapolis Colts – Sometimes it looks like they only have 9 players on defense, but they have Peyton Manning leading them so they will always have a chance. Getting Joseph Addai back is huge for this team, but I think their Super Bowl lights went out when Austin Collie received his third concussion, Peyton was and is a much better QB when Austin is in the game, and is probably going to be too much to overcome for this squad.

Baltimore Ravens – As long as Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are in the lineup they can play with anyone. The offense is what’s going to make or break them. Ray Rice looks like Marshall Faulk from his Rams days in some games, and other times he looks Marshall Faulk if he were playing right now. Joe Flacco is really going to have to make some plays for this team to make it the Super Bowl. If only someone could remind him that Aquan Boldin is on his team.

Philadelphia Eagles – As Mike Vick goes, so goes the Eagles. If he starts making plays then the whole team gets fired up and they can perform like they did in the second half of the game against the Giants. If he’s not making plays then they can lose at home to Minnesota by 10. There is just too much riding on one guy to win it all here, although if he stays healthy, he’s certainly proven he can pull off almost anything. Maybe even a Super Bowl run?

New Orleans Saints – The defense has actually looked better than their offense this year, which is a great sign if their offense can start clicking. More great news is that they essentially are getting a bye, by facing the NFC West champions, if (when) they win, they get to face a Chicago Bears team whom nobody outside of Chicago seems to like. Win there and they most likely get to play at Atlanta where they couldn’t have played much worse and still pulled out a victory. Add the fact that they are defending champions I’d say it sets up very nicely for them.

Chicago Bears – How much respect are they getting? They are the two seed in the NFC, have a bye, and get to host a game, yet they have the same odds to win the Super Bowl as the Packers who are a six seed and who have to win three road games in order to get to the Super Bowl. I get it, I don’t see the Bears winning it either, well that’s it, I just don’t see it.

Green Bay Packers – Right now I have no cable in my house. They came out to hook it up, but of course there was a problem and I had to reschedule. I am going nuts, no cable no Internet, it was supposed be hooked up today and now it won be hooked up for 5 more days. I’m not sure how ill survive. The Packers have no running game, they have everything else to survive, great QB, good defense and receivers, stuff they can help them win in the playoffs. But with no running game and me with no cable, the both of us won’t last long. I can’t wait to see Aaron Rodgers go up against Michael Vick, not just because of the match up but because I get to watch live T.V! 

Pittsburg Steelers – Every team would love a bye, but it couldn’t have been more important to this team. Ben Roethesburger has been moving around the pocket like Abe Vigoda lately and Troy Palulmalu has to be healthy and on the field or this team has no chance. With both of these guys out there and healthy they have as good as shot as anyone.

Atlanta Falcons – They have the NFC top seed, are next to unbeatable at home, and everything seems to be clicking for them. I’d say as long as they don’t have to face the Saints again I think they should be able to win two games at home, get to the Super Bowl where anything can happen. I like their chances.

New England Patriots – Not sure what Bill Belichick did to this defense mid year but they looked like an unstoppable force the second half of the year. Tom Brady is coming off his best year in his career and he once threw for 50 td’s in year. The law firm is running the ball effectively and it doesn’t matter who is at receiver for this team, Brady will find them. Anything short of a Super Bowl Championship is going to be very disappointing.

These teams are now facing a new test and it should be exciting to watch. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch it at home but who knows. The Pats are the favorite it’ll be a tough road for anyone to win it all and it wouldn’t surprise if any of these teams won the Super Bowl. Well, except if the Seahawks win, but if they do I’ll check out my window to see if the lady with the cans won the lottery.

TheSportsGospel.com