A Decade of Football: 15 Best Playoff Games

The decade is nearly complete (yeah, decades run from 00-09, while centuries and milleniums and other shit run from 01-00), so in that nature, I'll be posting different lists (don't we all LOVE lists) of the decade that past. Now, football is a diffucult sport becuase the season happens in one year while the postseason happens in the next, so for the postseason awards, I will go from the '99 playoffs (in Jan 2000) through the '08 playoffs (in Jan/Feb '09). However, for team based awards and such, I'll wait until the '09 playoffs end in Feb '10. At that point, I'll release my Top 12 (no way am I selling out and doing a "Top 10") best Teams, Players, Coaches etc. Anyway, so here is the first installment of the NFL category: Top 15 Playoff Games of the Last Decade.

15.) 2002 AFC Divisional - Titans 34 Steelers 31 (ot)

You probably don't remember this one. In fact, outside of Nashville, Tennessee, probably no one does. It's the most forgotten classic of the decade. Pittsburgh fans probably permenantly deleted it from memory due to its shady ending, and the unfortunate fact that Tommy Maddox was the QB. However, the game was exciting. After the Titans played perfect football and jumped out to a 14-0 lead, the Steelers closed it to 14-13 at the half. From then on in, they traded points constantly, and with the help of Steve McNair at all his powers and Hines Ward manning up (also, Drew Bennett said "Hello World") it was tied at 31 entering OT. Tennessee kicker Joe Nedney (remember that name??) made a 41 yarder, but Cowher called timeout. Then he missed it, but Pittsburgh was flagged for offsides. Then, he hit his third attempt, prompting the classic line from Dick Enberg "Nedney will go for best 2 out of 3." Cowher was incensed at his own lunacy, Pittsburgh was drunk with Maddox-itis, people still did not know who Drew Bennett was, and Steve McNair and the Titans (who started out 1-4) were going to the Title Game.

14.) 1999 NFC Championship - Rams 11 Buccaneers 6

The strangest combination of teams for a game on this list, seeing as these two teams are currently 2-22. However, in their previous lifetime this was the ultimate battle of unstoppable force vs impenetrable brick/concrete/steel/pit of jaguars wall. The Bucs were in the midst of their second best defensive season, and the Rams were in the midst of exploding on everyone. The Rams were fresh off dropping 49 points on Minnesota in three quarters. The Rams were huge underdogs. That all ended on the first play when they intercepted Warner. What followed was one of the most devastating defensive struggles. Derrick Brooks nearly killed Isaac Bruce. Tampa-2 was never played better. The Rams, who boasted an underratedly great defense, punched back every time, including intercepting the Bucs three times. Then, with the Bucs clinging to a 6-5 lead (probably the weirdest possible final score ever), Warner floated one to Ricky Proehl, who had not caught any of Warners 46 TDs to that point, and the Rams had the lead. Shaun King nearly led a comeback when Bert Emmanuel's name became famous for his catch that was overturned (which was the correct call at that time!!!). The Rams continued their storybook, and Dungy still refers to that as his proudest performance of all time. The only reason it is not higher is that there was a certain level of offensive ineptitude on Tampa's part. I mean, Shaun King was their QB.

13.) 2002 NFC Wild Card - 49ers 39 Giants 38


Everyone remembers this game, as it was the most blatantly wrong call ever, but it was alot more than that. The Giants led 38-14!!!! In the 3rd quarter. They were playing perfectly. Honestly, looking at the box score, that was one of the great offensive explosions of all time, with both QBs throwing 3+ and 300+ tds and yds, and Terrel Owens having a beast game. Comebacks are special, but also pretty common. What makes this one memorable was that it really was the last great day of the 49ers 20 year dynasty, and also the call at the end of the game helped. I don't remember much of the actual game, but any game that features this kind of insane offensive production had to be fun.


12.) 1999 AFC Wild Card - Titans 22 Bills 16

It was a defensive struggle if there ever was one, as the two teams combined for 413 yards (that's combined!!), but I love defensive struggles. But, what makes this game memorable (and actually overrated, as most people would have put this game higher) is two things. 1 - Wade Philips benching Doug Flutie and starting Rob Johnson and 2 - the Music City Miracle. Wade Philips decision was idiotic, but it puts alot of intrigue around the game, and how the decision led to the loss (mainly because Rob Johnson sucks in any capacity, and Doug Funnie, let alond Flutie, would have been better). The Miracle is what makes this game a classic. The Titans had a certaing air of destiny that year, as they were 8-0 in their new home. Home-Run Throwback (the play on the kickoff) was actually a designed play, which makes it all the more amazing. Of course the lateral-not lateral will go on forever, but that keeps the game relevant. In my opinion, it was a lateral, as Whycheck's arm was across the 25 I believe, and Dyson caught it on the 24, but every camera angle shown seems to disprove that fact. Either way, it will be memorable as the first of many screwy playoff performances by Wade and the Music City Miracle that propelled a team one yard away from OT in the Super Bowl (more on that later).


11.) 2006 AFC Divisional - Patriots 24 Chargers 21


Another slightly underrated game, mainly due to the fact that neither of these teams even played in the Super Bowl, and it was overshadowed by the following weeks game, but it was a great game, with even better storylines. For all the ineptness of Wade Philips, Marty Schottenheimer is even worse in the playoffs (coincedently, Wade Philips was the Defensive Coordinator - I'm starting to understand why they won). The game pitted the best team in the NFL that year by many (for my money, the best regular season team was Baltimore, who was 13-3 and beat the Chargers earlier), a team that had the best offense (that was LT's 31 TD year), and winners of 10 straight against the most gritty Pats team in their run. The Patriots were 12-4, but under the radar, due to their awful receiving corp. They did have a great defense (#2 in points allowed), but were huge underdogs. What is stranger than the fact that the Pats won is the fact that they played badly. The Chargers could seemingly run at will, as both LT and Turner had great days and they held leads of 14-3 and 21-10. Then, the Pats did their usual magic, causing the Chargers to self-destruct. With about 6 minutes to go, and a 21-13 lead, the Chargers forced an errant throw on 4th down. Now, they should have knocked it down, but Marlon McCree picked it off and then fumbled. The Pats scored, tied the game, and kicked a FG to win it. However, it is also known as the day the world opened thier eyes to the fact that the Pats were not a bunch of choirboys after the postgame dance and classness controversy. It was definitely overshadowed by the Patriots game the following week, but it really was the last time we would see the Patriots mystique and the last great performance of their dynasty (the 2007-2009 Pats are not the dynasty Pats, a team-first defensive stalwart).


10.) Super Bowl XLIII - Steelers 27 Cardinals 23


There were fools who automatically labeled this the best Super Bowl ever. Let's calm down, it was the fifth best this decade (It has been an excellent decade, Super Bowl wise). What puts it lower is not necessarily the game, which had its fair share of great moments, but the pregame hype. Actually, there was little. People were still in church praying as many thought the world was ending since the Cardinals were in the Super Bowl. We had a 9-7 team in teh big game, which is never fun, and a defensive team on the other side, which is always perceived as boring. The game was mediocre to slightly above average for three and a half quarters. James Harrison's insane INT-return was really the only highlight. But, starting with the safety on the Steelers, through the Fitzgerald gallop and the great two-minute drill, it was a classic for the last 5 minutes. Larry Fitzgerald and Santonio Holmes proved great performers, and even Ben Roethlisberger had his usual quota of just amazing sack escapes and beautiful plays. This is not the best Super Bowl of All Time, but an interesting game that became a classic with one team's defensive collapse, the brilliance of Larry Fitzgerald, and the amazing combination of Roethlisberger to Holmes.

9.) 2005 AFC Divisional - Steelers 21 Colts 18


What a game this was. The Storylines were abound. Of course you had the Colts. For much of that year, they were the team chasing history. Now, they were the team that was trying to win one for the coach, as Dungy and the team was still reeling after his sons' unfortunate and tragic suicide. The Steelers were the team trying to win one for the thumb and for the bus, as Bettis was planning to retire after the season. Also, trying to make good after a 15-1 season ended in smoke the year before. Also, Nick Harper got into a fight that ended in his wife spearing his knee with a knife. That was pretty irrelevant before the game, but ended up huge. Troubled by the Dungy situation, and showing rust after not playing a game in four weeks, the Colts staggered and were pummelled by the Big Ben show and found themselves down 14-0 and 21-3 after three quarters. Finally, Manning and his boys got to work. Manning, although under pressure that mirrored the air near the Marinas Trench, was great and resilient scoring 15 points in the matter of minutes (sure, sure, they were helped with an awful call on Polamalu's interception). Then, after two consecutive sacks (both were on plays that Manning had approxamately .0002 seconds to react), the Steelers took over one yard away from a game ending TD. Of course, you all know the rest. Bettis fumbles, Harper slowed by a knifing, gets tackled by Big Ben, Vanderjagt shanks a kick so badly that it made everyone wonder if he was on the Steelers payroll. The Bus and the Thumb were satisfied, and every Colts fan was left wondering if their team was cursed (not, however, if Manning was a choker as he was the only player on the Colts who really played well). It was a great game, one that spearheaded the Steelers to the Super Bowl, and one that became all the more memorable to me after the Colts accomplished the job one year later.

8.) Super Bowl XXXVIII - Patriots 32 Panthers 29

Other than Janet Jackson's breast, this game alternated from a dud to a dandy. It was a dud for the first 16 minutes, but then on cue both teams started throwing the ball all over the place. As for the fourth quarter, all you need to know was that it started 14-10, and ended 32-29. These were two notable defensive teams, but evidently John Fox and Belichick got the memo that America cares about defense about as much as it cares about its weight. Brady was great, Delhomme was better. It had Linebackers catching touchdowns, it had Muhsin Muhammad catching an 85 yd bomb which led to an awkward Jake Delhomme vs Rodney Harrison trash talk session. It had DeShaun Foster with an amazing run, and Brady and Branch. It had Ricky Proehl scoring a game-tying touchdown. It had it all. It was the most amazing fourth-quarter ever. Now, why is it not higher? Mainly becuase for the first 26 minutes, and the entire third quarter, it sucked, and they scored so easily it seemed like a farce. I like my defense, I like teams to earn their points. It was like watching a Madden game end 52-49. I like my Madden games realistic (Go "Fair Play Mode"!!). This was not. Great game, great fun. But the ease of scoring, coupled with the anticlimactic ending after Kasay shanked the kickoff, and it just didn't do it for me.


7.) 2003 NFC Divisional - Eagles 20 Packers 17 (ot)

Another wholly underrated game, but memorable for four words: Fourth and Twenty Six. For most of the game, it was a shocker, with the visiting Packers jumping out to a 14-0 lead early. Then, little by little McNabb chipped away. McNabb was amazing, throwing for 248 yards and running for 107 (a QB record for a playoff game). The Packers were amazing on the ground themselves, as Ahman Green (fresh of a 1800 yd season) ran for nearly 7 ypc. The game was nothing ultra special for three and a half quarters, but its ending was amazing. First, there was the Packers punting on 4th and 1 with two minutes left up three. The Packers had run around 5.5 ypc up till that point, and were one yard away from winning. Then came 4th and 26. On the most improbably heave ever, Freddie Mitchell gained the requisite yards. Leading to a David Akers field goal that barely went in. Follow that up with a classic Favre pick in OT, and another squeaker by Akers, and you have yourselves a great game. Add in some wintry weather, Favre's destiny run after his father's death and the first playoff game ever at the Linc, and you have a classic.

6.) 2001 AFC Divisional - Patriots 16 Raiders 13 (ot)

Hate every mention of this game, but how could it not be on this list?? It springboarded a team to a dynasty, and brought everyone's attention to Rule 14.07(b). Throw in the last game ever at Foxboro, and the absolute Blizzard that made it the most visually appealing NFL game possibly ever, and you have yourselves one of the most memorable games ever. The game in a nutshell was the Raiders dominating much of play for 57 minutes, when up 13-10 they forced a fumble and effectively ended the game. It was overturned, as Walt Coleman (I still hate him to this day) used the "Tuck Rule", which stated that "if the quarterbacks arm comes forward in an attempt to tuck the ball back into his body it is still an incomplete pass", essentially making an obvious non-pass attempt into an incompletion. Of course, what is never noted was Brady had two hands on the ball when he fumbled, thus ending that precious little "tuck" motion, but what the hell? It's been nearly eight years. The real hero was Vinatieri who hit the most preposterous kick ever to tie that game, a 45 yarder into the wind in teh blizzard. It crossed over the crossbar by a micrometer, but it counted. That game started the Brady and Belichick legend. They would not lose a playoff game until January 2006, but they should have lost their first playoff game they ever played. Brady should have been known as the guy who fumbled away his first playoff game, but instead he became the guy who led a 10 point comeback in his first playoff game. Jon Gruden left after that to Tampa, and the Raider organization has really never fully recovered. It was the game that started a dynasty, the game that will probably make Adam Vinatieri a hall-of-famer, and it was the game that featured the greatest football conditions ever.

5.) Super Bowl XXXVI - Patriots 20 Rams 17

This game is also slightly overrated by most people, but it was a classic. It probably was not the game that Super Bowl XLIII was, but had the storylines, the hype and the ever-lasting meaning that the game seven years later did not. It was the ultimate David vs Goliath story, in that even David did not truly think they could win (Belichick was quoted as being absolutely stunned they pulled it off). It was the Rams at the hieght of their power, seemingly unstoppable, able to score at the drop of a hat. It was the Patriots, symbolizing America's heart and grit. It was glamour vs. guts in the first Super Bowl after 9/11. It was a celebration of America (so of course they invited Paul McCartney to sing pregame, and U2 to do a 9/11 themed halftime show), and the Patriots won. The Rams really dominated the game, except for three plays, two Warner INTs (one returned for a touchdown) and an Rickey Proehl fumble. The Patriots turned the three turnovers into 17 points. The Rams just piled up yards, but seemed to work for every inch. Finally, they exploded in a 10 minute strecth that saw them turn a romp (momentarily 24-3 before a penalty called back a New England TD) into a battle (17-17). Then of course, came the drive. With 1:21 left, and at the behest of John Madden, Brady dinked and dunked his way to set up a 48 yd field goal. Vinatieri did not miss (surprise), and a dynasty was born in true. The St. Louis Rams were never the same, as the loss seemed to kill Marshall Faulk's ability. Warner would leave, followed by Bruce and Holt. Books have been written about that game, and the defensive plan used by Belichick. But really, all that needs to be said is that in the backdrop of a stadium lit up like the American Flag, and with a halftime show featuring a wall displaying the names of the 9/11 victims, the Patriots won the Super Bowl.


4.) 2007 NFC Championship Game - Giants 23 Packers 20 (ot)


There is cold, there is freezing, there is fucking Siberia, then there is Green Bay, Wisconsin on January 20, 2008. -3 degrees, -27 Wind Chill, and not a degree more for the entirety of the game. It would be Brett Favre last game in front of the Packer faithful, and it was almost if the Weather knew, as it delivered the Frozen-est of Tundras. The Giants were fresh off their upset of Dallas, and entered as huge underdogs again. The Game played out as a battle that every football game should emulate. There was hard hitting, there was defense. There was the 90-yd TD to Driver. The punishing runs of Jacobs. The great battle between Plaxice Burress and Al Harris. There was Eli Manning continuing his mistake-free postseason. There was a crazy play where Favre threw a Favrian pick, but the Giants player fumbled. There were two missed game-winning field goals by Lawrence Tynes, who was one Favre miracle from being killed upon return to New York. There was overtime (what game should not end in overtime), there was Favre treating Green Bay to one last Favre special, and Lawrence Tynes redeeming himself in a way that will make him never have to pay for a beer in NYC ever again. Now, we all thought that this game had little point, as the winner was going to be the lamb set to be slaughtered by New England, but it was still dramatic. It went on late into the night, and Tom Coughlin's faced was nearly pronounced dead. But, it was all worth it. It was the perfect way to end Favre's time in Green Bay, with a frigid night, and a fitting interception to end it.


3.) 2006 AFC Championship Game - Colts 38 Patriots 34

I can write an entire essay on this game (don't worry I will), but there was no better non-Super Bowl played probably ever. It had everything. It had a classic Patriots start that led them to a 21-3 lead. It had the fleeting instant where every Colts fan thought "Fuck, really. This is happening again." Then, it had the comeback. They were dominated for 20 minutes, but int the insuing 20 minutes, the Colts would hold the ball for 18 of them, and score 18 points, rack up 232 yards (to the Patriots 7!!!!), and show the world that this was not 2003-04, and Peyton's Place was not Foxboro. Then it just turned into the duel between the best tw QBs. Brady made an incredible off-balance TD throw. Manning answered with pinpoint passing to Dallas Clark. The game also had two different fumbles recovered by the offense in the end zone, Reche Caldwell's deer eyes (special deer-eye picture at the bottom!!!), two huge returns, Manning injuring his thumb and joking to Sorgi to "get ready" (believe me though, no Colts fan thought it was funny). It had the epic Pats collapse with 3 minutes to go, and one first down all but guaranteeing a win. It had Bob Sanders nearly pick-six-ing Brady, and then the drive. Strike to Wayne, strike to Bryan Fletcher (of all people), Strike to Wayne followed by a near fumble. Then, in a fitting conclusion, the finesse Colts running it three straight times down the physical Pats throat for the killshot. It was the greatest game in the greatest rivalry of the decade. It featured the two best teams of the decade, the two best coaches of the decade and the two best QB's of the decade. It had every storyline, and it delivered. It's still hard to believe that the game actually happened, becuase of the sheer size of that comeback, and the team the Colts did it to, but it will live on forever. No Colts fan will ever forget January 21, 2007. Every Patriots fan would like to.


2.) Super Bowl XLII - Giants 17 Patriots 14

If a game could live on storylines and hype alone, this was it. You had the undefeated Patriots, the juggernaut of all juggernauts. The team with the perfect QB, the best coach, the most dangerous, most perfectly meshed receiving duo and of course the perfect record. You had the Giants, the underdog of all underdog. I said earlier that the perfect David vs Goliath win was Rams-Pats, and I believe it. Mainly because there were a fair share of people who just thought, for whatever reason, the Giants were going to win this game. Included in this group was most notably the Giants, who absolutely believed the Would win (while the 2001 Pats believed the Could). It was a boring game for much of it, but it was a beautiful game for those defensive football aficionados. To see a D-Line just terrorize what was thought of as the best O-Line in football was something to behold. The Giants scheme was brilliant on defense (Steve Spagnuolo, I will forever love you), and the Pats had no answers. Going into halftime, the usually morose Super Bowl crowd, was up in arms. Something special was about to happen. The fourth quarter was quite possibly the best quarter of football ever played. Start it with the Giants whistling down the field for a TD. Then, they traded punts, but of course there was a near missed TD by Burress thrown in there. The Pats got the ball, down 10-7, and finally looked like the record-setting offense. They just marched down the field, with an air of purpose that seemed most Patriot like. Brady to Moss capped what was supposed to be the first step into the ultimate coronation. No one, however, told David Tyree and Eli Manning. Manning to Tyree (with Manning escaping the pile as the first half to the play) automatically puts this game into the top-10. Here you had the consummate nameless NFL pro, a special-teams star, in David Tyree, battling for the football with an HGH-ed behemoth in Rodney Harrison. Tyree balanced the ball on his helmet, much like the crown the Giants would finally hold. The game itself, particularily the fourth quarter, merits a top-5 spot, but the conditions made it special. The Patriots were 35 seconds away from perfection. Boston was in the middle of the Greatest Sports run a city has ever had, and the Giants were now representing New York at a time when the city had the inferiority complex to Boston. It was a humorous role reversal, one that made the game and the outcome all more dramatic. David Tyree will never have to pay for a beer or a cab in NYC ever again. Joe Montana legacy as the greatest Super Bowl QB is now safe, and so is the legend of the '72 Dolphins. It was perfection going up against resiliency, and the battered, physical team from Jersey won. It was special, it was great, however it was not the greatest.

1.) Super Bowl XXXIV - Rams 23 Titans 16

One yard short. One measly yard. Mike Jones meet Kevin Dyson. Steve McNair and Eddie George meet the Fat Lady. Kurt Warner, meet a movie producer, as you have completed the Greatest Storybook Season in sports history. It was entertaining throughout (unlike the other SB's on the list that only had great quarters). Try one day to watch this game again. It was perfection. The Rams were the Rams, flying up and down that field. Offense has really never been made to look easier, at least between the 20's. The physical, gritty Titans shored up in the red zone each time. That's how the Rams were made to get 9 points out of 5 trips inside the Red Zone. Finally, after giving up a touchdown, and having their defensive leader taken out on a stretcher, came Jeff Fisher's memorable "They're Celebrating, they're celebrating. Go win the game!" speech. Evidently it worked. It lit a fire in the right arm and the legs of McNair, in the heart of Eddie George and in that Titans defense. Down 16-0, the Titans completed the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. For all of the yards that Warner piled up (roughly 330 to that point), it was meant for nothing. McNair (who set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards) led a TD drive. Then, Eddie George memorably ran in for another, plowing through two different Rams. Then we were tied. 58 minutes were gone, and it was even at 16. The Rams were the Rams, launching missles all across that field. The Titans were the Titans, rock solid, whose heart and grit carried them back in. We were then set up for the Greatest 2 minutes in Super Bowl history. In one last Greatest Show on Turf play, Warner heaved, Bruce received and then weaved through numerous Titans for a 73 yard TD. All that work, all that spirit and determination the Titans showed was for naught, as in 17 seconds and one play, Warner, who was blasted on that play, and Bruce put them on top. However, that was act 1 of 3. The Titans took over at the 12, 88 yards away from overtime. They got 87. McNair ran around, threw lasers, and was set up with a 3rd and 5 from his own 22. Then came act 2, a scramble of a lifetime, getting out of a two-pronged takedown, and scrambling some more and then he threw to Dyson. We were set up. 1st and Goal from the 7, six second to go. One play. Dyson ran a slant, McNair hit him perfectly, Mike Jones made the greatest, most famous tackle in NFL history. Dyson was one yard short.






Just Missed the Cut: 2002 AFC Wild Card - Steelers 36 Browns 33; 2003 NFC Divisional - Panthers 29 Rams 23 (2ot); 2003 AFC Divisional - Colts 38 Chiefs 31; 2003 NFC Divisional - Packers 33 Seahawks 27 (ot); Super Bowl XXXIX - Patriots 24 Eagles 21; 2006 NFC Divisional - Saints 27 Eagles 24; 2007 AFC Divisional - Chargers 28 Colts 24; 2008 AFC Championship - Steelers 23.





Bonus Ranking!!!!!! Top NFL Playoff Seasons of the Last Decade.

10.) 2000 (0 games in Top 15)


Just an awful playoff year all-around. It was a defense dominated season, which always makes for bad playoff games unless you get two of those teams against each other. Very few games were even close, none were really memorable except for the possibility of the Tennessee/Baltimore slugfest. This is one of two seasons not to have one game on the Top-15


9.) 2004 (0)

The other season not to have any games in the Top-15. The Jets/Chargers and Steelers/Jets games were the closest score wise, other than the Super Bowl, but are more memorable for their dual defensive coaches and missed field goals. The Super Bowl was probably the worst of any Super Bowl decided by just 3 points. 3 of the 4 divisional games and both Conference title games were duds. America was totally anti-Patriots at this point.


8.) 2008 (1)


Only notable for a great Super Bowl, the Cardinals finally doing anything in the playoffs, and the lack of home-field advantage. We had our first 6 seed vs 4 seed title game, as home field meant nothing in the divisional round except in Pittsburgh. We had 8-8 teams hosting 12-4 teams, and the mess of Tarvaris Jackson and Jake Delhomme hosting playoff games.


7.) 2002 (2)

The divisional games (except for #15) were all duds. The Title Games were worse and the Super Bowl was somehow worse. What makes this season interesting were the storylines of Vick going into Lambeau and being the first team to win a playoff game there, and the double comebacks in the Wild Card round.


6.) 2001 (2)


The Great Super Bowl saves this season from being further down. Other than that and the "tuck rule" this playoffs was memorable for Kordell Stewart, the birth of the Donovan McNabb legend (by legend I mean both his consistent playoff winning and his consistent losses in title games) and Brett Favre 6-int clusterfuck.


5.) 2005 (1)

Fun playoffs all around. There were some weird teams that year (like a 10-6 Washington and an 11-5 Tampa). There was the Sean Taylor spitting game, Brady's first loss in raucous Mile High, the brilliance of Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith (yes, I just said "Jake Delhomme" and "brilliance" in the same sentence). Also, a Super Bowl with comically bad officiating.


4.) 2007 (2)


This playoffs had major storylines, such as the chase for perfection (which led to two bad games),
and the inevitable Cowboys/Packers title game (oops!!). The Giants played in three consecutive good games, including two classics. The Super Bowl was amazing, and all four divisional games were good (including the 42-20 Packers win, becuase snow is fun in any capacity).


3.) 2003 (2)

Hated the outcome, but it was great from start to finish. You had two amazing Wild Card games. You had Manning playing QB at a level that has never been played for the first two weeks. You had the Pats winning a game in -18 degree weather. You had the run of the Panthers. A slugfest of a AFC Title game (marred with the dud of the NFC one), and one of the most thrilling, eye-pleasing Super Bowls ever (plus: Janet Jacksons Boob!!)


2.) 1999 (3)


This playoffs had the most games in our Top-15, but you were hardpressed to find any good game outside of those three. There were such bueaties as the Jaguars hammering Dan Marino's Dolphins 62-7, and a dud of a AFC Title Game. However, just for the Music City Miracle and the Greatest Super Bowl ever Played, it gets this high, high nod.

1.) 2006 (2)

It's not ranked this high just becuase of the Colts winning the Super Bowl. In fact, the last three quarters of that Super Bowl sucked (the first was amazing, highlited with three 50 yd plays, Devin Hester and 4 turnovers). All four divisional games were good (including three decided by 3 points). The AFC Title was a classic, and even some of the Wild Card games were great (Romo's bobbled snap).

Week 13 Power Rankings

OK. What a game last night. By "what a game" I mean that it was an incredibly enjoyable fun blowout.

32.) Cleveland Browns (1-10)

Its hard to remember them being 10-6 team two years ago. Its hard to remember Brady Quinn being hailed as the future of that franchise. Its hard to remember Romeo Crennel being alive. If I were Mike Holmgren I would kill my travel agent if he books me even one flight to Cleveland. This team has so little talent besides Joe Thomas (and Josh Cribbs, but Mangini is deadset on killing him by year's end) that there is seemingly no real future for the Browns.

31.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-10)

They fought and played hard, which is admirable, but again it was against Chris Redman. For those who don't know, Chris Redman is probably the most nameless QB ever, and was last spotted in the Arena League. He's so bad that the UFL passed him over for Luke McCown and JP Losman. The Bucs couldn't beat that team. Has any team fallen farther in seven years from a Super Bowl title?

30.) St. Louis Rams (1-10)

They continue to play tough, which is a good sign. The management there seems to know what it is doing, those players love Steve Spagnuolo, and Steven Jackson has not just walked out of practice (which any sensible man does from that hellhole), so there must be something appealing about St. Louis. That team, unlike Cleveland, has a future in the making, and you heard it here first.

29.) Kansas City Chiefs (3-8)

Sure I have them below the Lions, and that is becuase if they played tomorrow, I would pick the Lions. This team is still below average at EVERY position, and has a lunatic coach. Their running back who they thought was done just gained 5 more yards in Cincinnatti. It is sad when the Bengals are taking advantage of your castoffs.

28.) Detroit Lions (2-9)

Matthew Stafford gives this team hope. They played better the past few weeks (that Thanksgiving game aside) and they have a good coach. Much like the Rams, they are a much tougher out and a much more viable spoiler than all the other crap teams out there. They probably can't win any more games, but they won't embarass themselves and that city.

27.) Seattle Seahawks (4-7)

This team is just too banged up and too mediocre to do anything. Now, I was wrong, I thought they would be better. I thought Hasselbeck's return and the signing of TJ Houshmanzadeh would make this offense resemble the above average offense they had in 2007. However, I undervalued the loss of Mike Holmgren and the switch to Jim Mora. I know think that Jim Mora is simply not a good coach. He had a completely up and down career, and made only one trip anywhere in the postseason. This team had a long run of great management, and it is over.

26.) Oakland Raiders (3-8)

If they just limit their big plays, this is a league average defense. Bruce Gradkowski continues to give a great Delhomme circa 2006 impression, and compared to the shit impression (that is not an adjective, but an actual impression of shit) by J-Russ, it has this offense at least looking like one that would put up numbers in college. Their running game looked pretty good against Dallas, a team who historically is good against the run. They have the ability to play grear any given day, but just don't seem to be ever able to work on that apparent talent.

25.) Washington Redskins (4-7)

That was a nice performance again, but until they can finish these games, are they really that much better than the teams around them here? Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley are still out, and that makes Jason Campbell far less effective. Campbell is actually a good player (and if he is cut, as I assume he will be because Dan Snyder cannot see things that are pretty clear), I would be all over the Raiders (I like how I just thought I had some contact with the Raiders, but whatever) to sign him.

24.) San Francisco 49ers (5-6)

That was the first time they actually put up a nice win, but they have been playing close and good for 6 weeks now. That said, they have lost four of those six games and the Vernon Davis resurgence may not be all that it was cracked up to be. Alex Smith has continued to be a league average QB, and for that I commend him after all that he has been through.

23.) Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5)

Way to fucking sucker me in. This team is just average in any way. They had a great chance to set them up for at worst a 9-7 record, but absolutely crapped the bed. I never trust these teams that can put up nearly 300 yards of passing offense and only put up 3 points. Every time that redzone took us to that game, they were whistling the ball all over the field, but they, again and this is HUGE, put up THREE points.

22.) Carolina Panthers (4-7)

I picked them again. No, that's not me castrating myself after another time that Carolina snookered me in, but it is what Rex Ryan must have been laughing to himself for the past 60 minutes after the umpteenth Jake Delhomme interception. That was a pitiful performance. Sure he got one really bounce, but my God, that looked like Rodney Peete playing QB. Again, the biggest upset of the year is how Steve Smith has not cold-punched Jake after a pick.

21.) New York Jets (5-6)

Nice performance by a team that can still do a couple of things well, but Mark Sanchez and that passing offense is truly terrible. Braylon Edwards is living off that mirage of the Browns in 2007, and by the looks of Jamal Lewis, Kellen Winslow and the God of the schmucks Derek Anderson, every single member of that 2007 team was an absolute smokescreen.

20.) Chicago Bears (4-7)

Not sure why I have them this high. It's not logical, and they were horrible Sunday. So I'll just move on before I rethink this.

19.) Buffalo Bills (4-7)

It seems like if you give them a legitimate, alive, breathing leader, they will play well. Fitzpatrick doing well while Edwards looks to join ex-Bill Losman in the UFL is probably giving every Harvard grad a major hard-on for finally besting Stanford in something manly. Their defense is a takeaway machine, especially rookie Jarius Byrd who is doing a fine Ed Reed impression. Terrel Owens finally awoke from hibernation, and Ralph Wilson finally awoke from cremation, and they are now off to Toronto!!!!! So, after possible the highpoint of the year, they leave town for a divisional game. Toronto would sell out a Bills scrimmage, so why did they not pick the Cleveland game to go there??

18.) Miami Dolphins (5-6)

That was the epitome of dropping the ball. I bet my future wife that Ricky Williams will never throw another goal-line wildcat pass for the rest of his NFL career. Also, I am soon rethinking my bullish outlook on the career of one Chad "why does my face resemble a blender" Henne. Hopefully he can go out and put up a nice performance over that playpen of a New England secondary, but either way, he may not be better than the Sanchize.

17.) Tennessee Titans (5-6)

I'm still not buying it. They vastly outplayed the Cardinals and yet they needed a last minute TD drive of miraculous porportions to beat a Matt Leinart QB-ed team. I'm not sure if Jeff Fisher and that defense got the memo, but Matt Leinart and his geriatric speed feet and delivery suck. That was not a good performance. If anyone looks past the Vince Young sheen that is blinding every media member, even in the five game win streak, they have two three point wins against mediocre teams (ARZ is at best mediocre with Leinart) and a touchdown win over San Fran. Not exactly the '99 Rams.

16.) Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

Matt Ryan's turf toe may submarine this team if he misses more than the upcoming week. Also, Michael Turner having been run into the ground a year ago may also help bring this team to who they are right now: average. They have a good GM and good QB, but right now they have tons to work on. Somehow, they are the '72 Dolphins at home, but turn into the '08 Lions on the road, so until they get over that, it is occasional splashes of brilliance and continual rabid love for Matt Ryan and his overrated right arm.

15.) Houston Texans (5-6)

They have had roughly 25 "most important games of the franchise" this year and lost them all. Now, that is not a good sign, but apart from yesterday, they were in every game late (for all the talk of the last game being another "close Colts win" they were up 35-20 in the fourth). They remind me of last years Saints, a team that had the offensive firepower to win any game, but were lacking the ability to play great in late moments and hold onto close games. Now, the Saints are now a juggernaut, and honestly, if this Texans team learns to win games next year, the AFC better look out. They are coming, honestly.

14.) New York Giants (6-5)

That was a totally embarrasing performance. Something about this team changed when they entered the Superdome at 5-0. Now, that's being exceptionally dull-headed since they are 1-5 since then, but that Denver game was the game that they would just take care of all of last year and through the first 5 weeks this year. They did not lose these winnable games against mentally distraught teams. Now, they are a mentally distraught team in every way. They were a special group through last year and the first five weeks, a more defensive form of the Colts. They were just a team that took care of business at any turn. That is gone. They can regain it, hell the 2007 Giants did (for all the talk about that team turning on the heat, they were FAR better in the first half).

13.) Baltimore Ravens (6-5)

This is what they are, a good team but one right outside of that playoff window. Sure they won, but that game said more about Pittsburgh than it did about the Ravens. A good, playoff bound contender would have smacked a third-string QB into oblivion, forced him into mistakes and even return a couple for TDs. This team let the Steelers hang around. Flacco seemed far worse than his final numbers indicated, and there were still a couple shoddy coaching decisions. John Harbaugh is still on his coaching honeymoon after last year, but I think it is fair to question him as a coach.

12.) Philadelphia Eagles (7-4)

In the NFL, you play flat every now and then. A team who is substantively worse than you are can put it together, especially a division rival, and put a scare into you (even one coached by Jim Zorn). It happens to the best of teams. Good teams win those games, when you, for whatever reason, play your C game and your opponent gives their A games. The Colts and Pats have been doing it for years (Pats... not so much this year). The Eagles did that on Sunday.

11.) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)

Again, that loss said alot more about the Steelers mental fortitude than some Ravens resurgence. Had the Ravens lost that game against Dennis "Why are all thes 350 lb Samoan men running faster than my ex-running back" Dixon, that town would have turned murderous. Congrats to the Steelers for manning up and rallying around Dixon. Now, they have suddenly lost three straight games, but probably they would have won the last two with Roethlisberger for the full game. Much like in 2005, when they dropped three straight to go from 7-2 to 7-5, and then next loss in September... 2006. Now, I don't think they are Super Bowl bound this time, but I believe Mike Tomlin when he says that they will not "go gently into the night."

10.) Denver Broncos (7-4)

Great win for them. As much of it was a sign of the Giants lacking what had made them great the last two years, it was a sign of the Broncos rising like a Pheonix from the Kyle Orton beard-shavings ashes. They may just have life yet. They have finally manuevered past that death march of a schedule, and have come out better than anyone thought they would before it started. It may be a let down after that 6-0 start, but after their cake 3-0 start, if you told any Broncos fan that they would leave the DAL-NE-SD-BAL-PIT-WAS-SD-NYG stretch at .500, I'm sure most Broncos fans would have been ecstatic. They have the inside track to playoffs if they take care of business in their three remaining easy games (the duo of KC and hosting Oakland), and 10 should be good enough. Amazing what a week can do for a team's outlooks.

9.) New England Patriots (7-4)

Sure, it is a precipitous drop, but they deserve it. That was just horrendous, just pitiful in so many ways. Sure, the Saints are just a better team, but that was a team not even at full strength. If anyone thinks this team is anything like the 2007 team, just take a gander at this: The Saints were missing BOTH of their starting QBs, and Moss and Welker combined for 9 catches for 102 yards and no touchdowns. Brady was awful. The Saints were rushing just three or four on like 80% of the snaps and still getting Super Bowl XLII like pressure on Brady. That defense had absolutely no answer. Here are the QBs they have faced this year: Edwards - Sanchize - Ryan - Flacco - Orton - Collins - Johnson - Henne - Manning - Sanchize - Brees. To me, only three of those are good (Ryan is just above average), and Flacco put 21 points, Manning put 35 (inclluding 24 in one quarter) and Brees put up 38, but could have easily put up 50 if he wanted. Maybe, just maybe, these "young, fast" defenders just plain suck. Colts fan's have been saying for years that Belichick is average at drafting, and all of his great players (except for Brady, and the occasional first round pick like Mankins and Seymour) were acquired via Free Agency. Their recent bad drafts have left that team old in their good positions, and young at their bad ones. Not a good combination.

8.) Dallas Cowboys (8-3)

Still not buying them to be any higher. They have probably the toughest final five games, with three division games and a trip to New Orleans (just ask New York and New England how fun that is). They are clearly the biggest paper tiger of any of the teams 8-3 or better (Minnesota is a close second), and I would not be surprised if they were 8-6 in three weeks time. However, they are what they are today. Miles Austin has somehownot returned to the mediocreness that he was, and that running game is finally healthy. It will be an interesting next three weeks.

7.) Green Bay Packers (7-4)

They are 7-2 outside of the Vikings games. I think people assumed they sucked after they lost to the Bucs, but after what they have done the last three weeks they deserve to be up here. Their o-line has ben alot better in recent weeks, and that defense is surprisingly running smoothly (i'm pretty sure that those last three words in such order was not nearly grammatically correct, but whatever) without Kampman and Harris. Clay Matthews is a stud and they have playmakers all over the defense. They will be amazing if they can ever get some protection of a Minnesota or a New Orleans.

6.) Arizona Cardinals (7-4)

Can't fault them for barely losing without Warner. That probably ends my prediction of the two seed, but they will still be a dangerous out come playoff time especailly on that carpet in the Humph. This all assumes Warner gets his Lasik in his recent visit to the opthamalogist. The key is that defense which is vastly underrated and can make plays. They hemmorhage yards, but make key stops in the redzone (top-10 red zone defense). That offense (with Warner) can still be prolific. Next Sunday night should be good.

5.) San Diego Chargers (8-3)

I hate giving them credit, but the 2007-2008 Chargers would have lost that game to the Chiefs. They absolutely destroyed that team, and ended all hope of mine that these are the old Chargers. Now, I can still hold out hope when they inevitably lose to the Bengals at home and beat Dallas in Jerry-Mahal, then the real Chargers will be back. However, I think they are the new and improved Chargers, but that means that they will finally LOSE to the Colts in a big game. Also, Philip Rivers seems like he is shot-putting passes, and always makes throwing a football seem like operating vascualr surgery in its diffuculty, but it gets there. It works. By the way, LT is still nowhere near good.

4.) Cincinnatti Bengals (8-3)

Good solid win, especially after last week. What is amazing is that if the Raiders just decided to be the Raiders, and the football Gods did not reward Brandon Stokley for his whiteness, they would be 10-1. This is a great defensive team (and by great I mean tops in the league in scoring defense), one with two great corners and an underrated D-Line. I would be worried going into Cincy on a cold January night with that defense, and those two linebackers (Rivers and Maualuga - fuck knows how to spell that). It seems like they are the new Broncos the way that they have put two castoffs (and by castoffs, I mean people who were rejected by the Salvation Army) at running back and immediately turned them into Barry Sanders. It is amazing. Also, Carson Palmer can always play better than he has, and if he does, watch the fuck out. This team is still going places.

3.) Minnesota Vikings (10-1)

I'm not jumping on yet. First, they still have yet to beat anyone besides Green Bay, and both of those games were close. They needed a miracle hail-mary to beat the 49ers. They needed a missed-chip shot field goal to beat the Ravens. Sure, they have made money out of the Lions and Rams and Browns, Bears and Hawks of the worlds. Any self-respecting team does that. They have two tough games coming up, against a good Cards team and a better Bengals team. If they leave that strecth 12-1, then I'll buy in, but if not, I don't see them beating the Cards come divisional time. Also, Favre has been amazing, just stunning. Having only 3 interceptions is absolutely mindblowing. However, I still don't trust him in a big game to take full care of the ball.

2.) Indianapolis Colts (11-0)

I want them for once to just beat a team soundly. No need for 4th quarter comebacks, or great turnarounds, or sluggish games against subpar teams. Sure, they are winning all of them, despite missing their top cover corner and second best wideout (if you have forgotten Anthony Gonzalez is a stud). They are both expected back in the next couple of weeks, and thank the almighty God for that. This team can get better, and I think it will. Now, I don't see a true loss on the schedule, but the Colts have shown the love for resting up. It hasn't worked too well for them in the past, but historically it is just as effective as playing everyone throughout. All in all, this is a great team, playing their B football four five weeks but winning every game in sight. They just win games, and when they get Hayden and Gonzo back, they have room to improve five-fold.

1.) New Orleans Saints (11-0)

I'll write more about them later, but Holy Shit. That was amazing. If they were pushed at all by the Pats offense, they could have scored 50. They were toying with the Pats defense the way Florida toys with Troy A&T or some shit. More surprisingly, I have never seen a team take away both Moss and Welker and still get pressure. Even in the Super Bowl (heretofore the best way to beat the Pats), Welker ran free. They key was they got pressure with just three people sometimes, and now there is no real good third option for Brady so they could double them both. Also, remember they were missing both Lance Moore and Reggie Bush (who are two of the top-5 targets for Brees in the passing game) and still rolled against the Pats. That was a man-against-boys performance. They truly are the best team in the league right now.


Playoff Projections

AFC
1.) Colts 15-1
2.) Chargers 12-4
3.) Bengals 12-4
4.) Patriots 11-5
5.) Steelers 10-6
6.) Broncos 10-6

NFC
1.) Saints 15-1
2.) Vikings 13-3
3.) Cardinals 11-5
4.) Eagles 10-6
5.) Packers 10-6
6.) Cowboys 10-6

Week 12 Picks

Green Bay (-11.5) @ Detroit

Packers 30 Lions 10 (GB)


Oakland @ Dallas (-14)

Raiders 14 Cowboys 21 (OAK)


New York (n) (-6) @ Denver

Giants 17 Broncos 20 (DEN)


Tampa Bay @ Atlanta (-11.5)

Buccaneers 14 Falcons 20 (TB)


Miami (-2.5) @ Buffalo

Dolphins 27 Bills 20 (MIA)


Cleveland @ Cincinnatti (-13.5)

Browns 10 Bengals 28 (CIN)


Indianapolis (-3.5) @ Houston

Colts 27 Texans 30 (HOU)


Chicago @ Minnesota (-9.5)

Bears 17 Vikings 30 (MIN)


Carolina @ New York (a) (-3)

Panthers 24 Jets 20 (CAR)


Washington @ Philadelphia (-9.5)

Redskins 14 Eagles 27 (PHI)


Seattle (-3) @ St. Louis

Seahawks 28 Rams 17 (SEA)


Arizona @ Tennessee (-2.5)

Cardinals 27 Titans 17 (ARZ)


Kansas City @ San Diego (-13.5)

Chiefs 14 Chargers 31 (SD)


Jacksonville @ San Francisco (-4)

Jaguars 20 49ers 14 (JAX)


Pittsburgh @ Baltimore (-2.5)

Steelers 13 Ravens 24 (BAL)


New England @ New Orleans (-3)

Patriots 31 Saints 28 (NE)

Week 12 NFL Power Rankings

Quickie version (really, a real quickie) because I have to go bake some cheesecakes.

32.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-9)

Reason to Smile: Josh Freeman looks like a real NFL prospect. If this were baseball, he would be the Steven Strasburg like prospect that will get those old Tampa Bayans (say it in a Will Ferrell/Ron Burgundy voice and it makes sense) to the games.

Reason to Frown: They just fired their Defensive Coordinator, thirteen weeks after firing their Offensive Coordinator. They might be the first team ever to start training camp and reach thanksgiving with different coordinators and a coach that has not yet had his balls descended.

31.) Cleveland Browns (1-9)

Reason to Smile: That was actually offense on Sunday. Brady Quinn might not suck eggs for his whole career and Josh Cribbs (the Strasburg of Cleveland) is still playing football and not hurt in Mangini's schemes.

Reason to Frown: Mangini is a total douchebag, and they are still named the Browns. They are the most boring team ever, they are named after a color (screw Paul Brown, as he created the Bengals, so its stupid to still honor his name). They have no logo. WHY NOT THE CLEVELAND DAWGS??

30.) St. Louis Rams (1-9)

Reason to Smile: Steven Jackson is a fantasy Zeus, and he is charging up those "best player on an awful team" rankings. He is way, way up there.

Reason to Frown: the latter half of that ranking: their an awful team. Also, Marc Bulger broke his leg, so that puts us back into the god-knows-who era in St. Louis. Man, did Martz curse that team with his "Marc Bulger is our quarterback" press-conferences?

29.) Detroit Lions (2-8)

Reason to Smile: Matthew Fucking Stafford. I told you he was good? Did people never believe me?? Well, he had the greatest game statistically of any NFL rookie, with an overrated running back and only one legitimate threat. That is a massively amazing impressive.

Reason to Frown: Matthew Fucking Stafford's shoulder. Honestly, do the Lions fans have to be subjected to Daunte Culpepper after that game?? Come on, football gods, have you any sou?

28.) Buffalo Bills (3-7)

Reason to Smile: Terrel Owens decided to play for once. It is amazing that he actually could "run" with that walker all of 98 yards. That was more impressive than his not busting out a nice "who the fuck are you, go play with a sliderule" face to Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Reason to Frown: You still lost on a two-minute drill to the Jaguars. Come on.

27.) Seattle Seahawks (3-7)

Reason to Smile: Well, Seattle's a bueatiful place, right? Seattle is a bueaty, with great landscapes and great coffee, and great music.

Reason to Frown: Your teams run of great years are done, and that only means that there is about a six year suck period and this is only year two. Matt Hasselbeck is aging faster than Favre. TJ Houshmanzadeh is evidently a production of Chad's brilliance.

26.) Kansas City Chiefs (3-7)

Reason to Smile: You just beat the World Champs!!!!!!! That is the first time where you could put the words "Kansas City Chiefs" and "World Champions" and not laugh uncontrollably and lose control of your bowels.

Reason to Frown: You were still outplayed, and got lucky with some fluke breaks to win that game. Matt Cassel is still the definition of mediocre (up from the definition of overrated - a title that is now permanently clamped to the mug of Matt Ryan).

25.) Oakland Raiders (3-7)

Reason to Smile: Bruce Gradkowski. It does not take much to impresse the faithful of the black hole. After JaMarcus Russell, I probably would have been a step up (I throw a mean right-out). Also, that defense might be not terrible.

Reason to Frown: Good lord, where to start. How about the virtual certainty that we will pick "the rocket arm" of Ryan Mallett in the draft, when he is just a white form of J-Ru (Russell ate the "ss").

24.) New York Jets (4-6)

Reason to Smile: That defense showed some life in the second half. They played with a pride they have not shown since that Saints game back in Week 4.

Reason to Frown: They are now 1-6 in their last seven games. Mark Sanchez is doing an excellent mexican J- (damnit, JaMarcus, stop eating letters!!) impression.

23.) Washington Redskins (3-7)

Reason to Smile: That defense was all over the place in that game. They deserved that win. They played amazing. The team probably loves o-coordinator Sherm Lewis as much as a neo-nazi, but they love Greg Blache as much as a rainbow-spotted puppy.

22.) Chicago Bears (4-6)

Reason to Smile: Jay Cutler didn't throw an interception until desperation time!!!

Reason to Frown: Jay Cutler overthrew two easy touchdown passes (I'll give him a pass for missing the bomb to Johnny Knox as hitting a 60 yard passes is not easy for even good quarterbacks). Also, that defense continues to give up big plays, which is specifically what the defense is designed to LIMIT.

21.) San Francisco 49ers (4-6)

Reason to Smile: Michael Crabtree finally caught his first touchdown pass, and it was a nice veteran type near-pushoff catch. It would make the king of the pushoffs, Randy Moss, proud.

Reason to Frown: They are 1-5 since that Crabtree signing, and also there is the fact that Alex Smith may be what we thought he was. He became overrated after that cameo in Houston, but maybe he's just not that good.

20.) Denver Broncos (6-4)

Reason to Smile: God knows, that defense is still not the worst defense in teh NFL as it was last year.

Reason to Frown: Josh McDaniel's is now trash-talking linebackers, and the team is know losing by 29 at home. Also, they are still over .500 so maybe the fans have some gigantic false hope.

19.) Atlanta Falcons (5-5)

Reason to Smile: They showed nice cajones in that quick comeback in the Meadowlands. Lost in that game was the comeback. They played well without Michael Turner and Matt Ryan had a game that almost made him not overrated.

Reason to Frown: They lost their biggest game of the year. Now, all the Falcons fans probably know they are not playoff-bound, so they can return to not caring about sports.

18.) Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)

Reason to Smile: They are somehow over .500, they are finding ways to win games. Mike Sims-Walker and Maurice Jones-Drew is giving great hope to all those kids of divorcees, and other hyphenated last named humans.

Reason to Frown: Right, how about they are clearly playing over their head, and were being outscored for 59 minutes by the Bills.

17.) Carolina Panthers (4-6)

Reason to Smile: DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are sick right now. They are in pure 2008 form, and are making 5-7 yards every carry seemingly.

Reason to Frown: Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith connection has not returned to 2008 form. They can still make the playoffs, but they will need a great run to finish out the season. Losing to the Dolphins at home did not help.

16.) Houston Texans (5-5)

Reason to Smile: Andre Johnson is seriously like a fucking tiger playing football out there. He is a tyranasourus rex. He is a giant mastadon. That man can catch everything, run by everyone and kill anybody in his path.

Reason to Frown: They just cannot win close games. Winning close games in a skill (ask Indy), and they don't have it yet. They are the youngest team in teh NFL, so they have time to learn and when they do, look out. Right now, they need to win a single close game.

15.) Baltimore Ravens (5-5)

Reason to Smile: Ray Rice is the fourth most exciting running back in the NFL. That little speeding bullet is a ball of fun to watch play. Plus, he is hope for all those suckers at Rutgers.

Reason to Frown: They cannot win close games either. Their field-goal kicker is playing in Indianapolis, and it seems they are giving away that job in some fan competition. Matt Flacco has returned to normal and that defense is still average.

14.) Miami Dolphins (5-5)

Reason to Smile: My lord, this team has heart. They lose their best player, and go into a hostile environment, and kicked ass. That team is everything San Diego should have in the heart department.

Reason to Frown: They still have a long way to go for the playoffs, and, did Ted Ginn even play in that Carolina game. Was he out there, was he CGI'd on the field. Really, what a wasted pick.

13.) New York Giants (6-4)

Reason to Smile: They won a game, a big game. Sure they did not play well, but that was a game they needed badly, and they showed up and sprung out a lead. Of course they blew it, but they regrouped and got a win they needed.

Reason to Frown: They blew that lead. This team should be D-first. They have the deepest D-Line ever. They cannot blow 14 point leads to teams missing their best player at home.

12.) Tennessee Titans (4-6)

Reason to Smile: Vince Young is making plays. The defense is playing well. The.... oh, who the fuck am I kidding, Chris Johnson is the Andre Johnson of running backs.

Reason to Frown: They screwed themselves by waiting so long by playing that geriatric of Kerry Collins. Jeff Fisher should get credit for turning this team around, but he wanted Collins to keep playing and needed to be overruled by their obscene owner.

11.) Dallas Cowboys (7-3)

Reason to Smile: They found a way to win a key game and stayed a leg up on that division.

Reason to Frown: What the hell happened to that offense. Its not December, Tony. Its definitely not December. They basically scored 7 points in two games, because the TD against the Packers was in garbage time. They are not ready to take control and make a case that we have to take them seriously.

10.) Green Bay Packers (6-4)

Reason to Smile: Aaron Rodgers has been kepy upright, and that defense is making PLAYS. Greg Jennings and Ryan Grant have seemed to wake up from their hibernation.

Reason to Frown: Aaron Kampman is gone for the season. They can cover up the loss of Al Harris, but Kampman was a huge part of that team's scheme. That is not going to help them at all. They still have a managable schedule, but it just got alot harder.

9.) Philadelphia Eagles (6-4)

Reason to Smile: Michael Vick actually did something, and DeSean Jackson is the new Devin Hester. That man can make huge plays seemingly at will.

Reason to Frown: That game was a little too close. Something just felt off on Sunday Night. Maybe it was that the Bears were fighting for their lives, but they seemed sloppy and unprepared.

8.) San Diego Chargers (7-3)

Reason to Smile: They are now in control of that lame division. They have their shot at the two-seed. LT looks alive (although for anyone else those are mediocre stats at best the last two weeks).

Reason to Frown: Chargers fans probably don't have anything to frown out right now, but I'll say that Vincent Jackson has been a little quieter the past couple weeks.

7.) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)

Reason to Smile: The Bengals lost a winnable game so they have a shot again at that division, and Big Ben seems to not be seriously hurt from that knee to the head.

Reason to Frown: They give up huge turnovers in the Red Zone, they give up returns every week. And, oh by the way, let's not gloss over the hard to forget fact that THEY LOST TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS!!!!!!

6.) Arizona Cardinals (7-3)

Reason to Smile: They are now roadbeaters, they would have crushed that team if Warner stayed in the game. They could play at 50% level for a solid half and still win the game.

Reason to Frown: Just seeing what Matt Leinart could accomplish against one of the worst defenses in football is probably scaring the Jesus out of every Cards fan (all three of them). If Kurt Warner gets hurt, they will be killed.

5.) New England Patriots (7-3)

Reason to Smile: They crushed a team they hate, and their Wes Welker 15 catch game had a classic 2007 swagger. Laurence Maroney actually looked like a NFL caliber back.

Reason to Frown: They are just not that good in the second half of games. They have been held to 10 points in their three losses, but even in the Dolphins and Jets games, games that were really never in doubt, they just lacked any sense of urgency and explosiveness in the second half.

4.) Cincinnatti Bengals (7-3)

Reason to Smile: Pittsburgh lost so they still control the division. Since NE, SD and CIN are all in virtual locks to the fourth tiebreaker, they control that since they play San Diego in two weeks, and it will be extremely hard for New England SOV to get up to them.

Reason to Frown: That was a classic Bengals loss. They have had two of them, and that is scary. Now, credit them for beating every good team they have played, but they cannot drop even one more of their winnable games.

3.) Minnesota Vikings (9-1)

Reason to Smile: Brett Favre is playing the best football of his career. 21 tds to 3 ints after 10 games is sick. It makes me want to throw acid in my face after he hold the NFL's media hostage again and this time it looks like it will not all shit in his face like last year.

Reason to Frown: Other than those two wins over the Pack, they still have not beaten a good team. That was an impressive domination, but really it was the Seahawks.

2.) New Orleans Saints (10-0)

Reason to Smile: That was the Saints of the first seven weeks. That was pure dominance on the road. Their running game is the most underrated running game in the NFL, and Robert Meachem is a legitimate threat.

Reason to Frown: With a loss on Monday, they drop to a virtual tie with the Vikings and home-field is suddenly in jeopardy.

1.) Indianapolis Colts (10-0)

Reason to Smile: They just keep winning. This is classic 2003-2004 Pats, but they know they can reach a higher level. Winning four straight games with B level performances is impressive.

Reason to Frown: Can they win in dominant fashion again. Those games were so much more easy on my heart and my arteries. I don't want to die in the AFC Title Game this year, I really don't.

Week 11 NFL Picks

HEEERRRREEEE WWEEEE GOOOO!!!

Miami @ Carolina (-2.5)

Ronnie Brown's injury reminded me of something very, very important about my "10 predictions for the second half" column, and that is everything is void if one of the major players on that team has a season-ending injury (other than Favre, because, come on, the guy's on borrowed time). Ronnie Brown is arguably the most important Dolphin, because he is the guy who makes that Wildcat work. I just don't think Lusaka Polite taking direct snaps are the same. On the other side, DeAngelo and J-Stew are supposed to play, so there is no injury problems there, other than Jordan Gross. However, the Panthers looked mighty fine even after losing Gross against the Falcons. Consider that home teams historically do very well on these Thursday games and the Panthers fans will probably be at their loudest and most violent becuase they realize that with a win the Panthers are right back into it. Honestly, I love this Panthers team right now, love them.

Dolphins 13 Panthers 24 (CAR)


Washington @ Dallas (-10.5)

I would love to pick the Redskins to give the Cowboys a game, but I just can't. The Redskins suck, they just suck. Portis is still hurt, Chris Cooley is still hurt, Jason Campbell is still Jason Campbell, Jim Zorn is still a foolish figurehead. Dallas on the other hand will want to make the fans know that they are not the Eagles after that awful performance in Green Bay. I could see a classic Romo 4 td game to sucker all the fans back in again. It's scary that they will be 8-3 after their slaughter of the Raiders next week and this win. Now, there is no better way to kill off every remaining Cowboys fan than to miss the playoffs for a second straight year after a good start.

Redskins 17 Cowboys 31 (DAL)


Cleveland @ Detroit (-3.5)

What is the point talking about this? Here we have two teams, one whose fans would rather fight and curse each other than care about the goings-on on the field, and the other who just injured their best player with a silly trick-play at the end of the game. Detroit is at home, they have a better coach, they have a better QB, they have a better team.

Browns 13 Lions 20 (DET)


San Francisco @ Green Bay (-6.5)

Alot of half-point lines this week. I always love those, since you can't tie those. Ties are honestly the most devastating thing in the world. Worse than swine-flu, or bird-flu or even Belichick-disastrous-semi-correct-flu. Anyway, Green Bay is alot better than San Francisco. Even the porous (and by porous, I mean fucking Saran-Wrap thin) offensive line couldn't stop this team from just owning Dallas. That defense was suffocating, and Charles Woodson finally played like the old Charles Woodson for the first time in years. Al Davis may be bad at many things, namely running a football team, picking players, pumping blood out of his heart, but the guy can draft cornerbacks. The niners on the other hand are now not playing a team whose QB will throw 5 ints to them. Except for those teams, and the truly crap teams, that 49er team is just not very good. Blame it on Mike Crabtree, blame it on Alex Smith, blame it on the Gods paying them back for their run of luck. I blame it on the coach.

49ers 10 Packers 27 (GB)


Buffalo @ Jacksonville (-8.5)

Teams usually play well the first week after a coach firing to show support for the interim. Now, since the interim is actually an alive man, as opposed to the zombie-ghost form of the guy formerly known as Dick Jauron, that should even improve more. Also, Fitzpatrick is back, and that also has to be an improvement over Trent Edwards, whose ability seemed to die when Jauron did. Jacksonville is easily the worst team in the race, and will continue to be after beating this happless Bills team, but I think it will be closer than expected. That is a high line for an average team whose record is above their skill level of play.

Bills 20 Jaguars 24 (JAX)


Pittsburgh (-9.5) @ Kansas City

After having their manhood stripped from their manly souls last week on their home turf, there is really nowhere to go but up. A little nugget: in 2005, they lost to the Bengals at Heinz which basically conceded the division. They never lost another game that year. Now, I don't think they will run the slate and win the Super Bowl again, but this game is totally in the bag. Kansas City cannot block for shit, they can't protect for double shit and they can't defend for triple shit. Add that up, and you have a full-fledged ass-kicking in Arrowhead. I will be fearing for Matt Cassel's life. Honestly, he might join Dick Jauron in heaven after this game. Over/Under 7 for times Matt Cassel asks out of the game.

Steelers 27 Chiefs 6 (PIT)



Seattle @ Minnesota (-10.5)

Just a hunch, they give Minnesota a game. I still can't trust this Viking team. Also, indoors Matt Hasselbeck and his bunch can go to work. Minnesota still has not beated anyone great, and the only big games they had were a close special-teams induced win in Lambeau and a sloppy loss in Heinz. Seattle is still a very, very frisky 3-6 team and can give a good team fits, like they did with Arizona last week. Also, Detroit had the ball down 7 in the fourth quarter last week, and Detroit could not lick Seattle's coffee-soaked balls.

Seahawks 20 Vikings 26 (SEA)


Atlanta @ New York (n) (-6.5)

Giants are coming off a bye. Falcons are off a Michael Turner injury. Eli Manning has a broken foot, and Matt Ryan has a broken gold-aura-of-brilliance. Honestly, things like Matt Ryan's "sudden slump" are the type of things that make me feel so much smarter than nearly every media member. That guy was never that great to begin with. The Giants have to show that they are for real, and that the four-week losing streak is over with. A good way to do it is against the primary rival for the wild card, and they will. That defense is better than that ballet show they put on the last four weeks, and certainly good enough to get pressure on a now-suddenly below-average Falcons offense. The Giants should be able to run wild on the Falcons front, especially after seeing how a Jordan Gross-less Panther team run roughshot on them. This is a perfect matchup for the Giants to get back on track, and put massive pressure on a Cowboys team that still has to come to the Meadowland Mausoleum.

Falcons 17 Giants 27 (NYG)


Indianapolis @ Baltimore (PK)

This is the dumbest line I have ever seen. Honestly, the disprespect shown to the Colts is absolutely stunning. They just ran off their 18th straight regular season game by destroying the Patriots in the fourth quarter. Sure, they were outplayed in quarters one through three, but there are four quarters for a reason. On the other hand, the Ravens are missing Suggs, and their offense is not clicking like it was early in the season when they were putting up 30 on the Chiefs and Browns of the world. Also, there is the historical advantage that the Colts have. What historical advantage, you ask. The Colts have won the last 7, including their 31-3 drilling of a better Ravens team last year, and their 15-6 slugfest over them in the 2006 playoffs. The Colts are just the better team, in nearly every statistical and analytical way. Every way.

Colts 27 Ravens 13 (IND)


New Orleans (-11) @ Tampa Bay

Now this is an interesting line. This, like last week, is a perfect trap game for the Saints, with the Pats showdows looming on Monday. However, I have a feeling the two-week honeymoon is over for the Bucs. We are now back to your regular-scheduled Tampa Bay Buccaneers programming. And I can't wait. New Orleans needs to show up in close to full flavor, just to get back on track. Ask the Colts, you don't want to enter really big games playing less than your best. I say they show up, throw the ball all over the place, and return to the Greatest Show on Turf that they are.

Saints 34 Buccaneers 14 (NO)


Arizona (-8.5) @ St. Louis

St. Louis looked spoiler-y last week, but after years of watching football, you learn that there are two types of spoilers: 1.) Teams that are legitimately good, but just too far behind the race to get in; Miami and Tennessee are good examples; 2.) teams that suck that will get up once a month and give a earnest effort against a good opponenet; Oakland and St. Louis are good examples. So, St. Louis gave their monthly appearance last week. It was a good show, boys! Arizona is 4-0 on the road, and some of those are against teams that, how do you say, do not suck. In an interesting matchup, this is the Mike Martz QB bowl, as Warner and Bulger square off in the Home that Kurt Warner built. Honestly, every time I watch the infamous clip of an arrogan SOB Martz mocking reporters and disclaiming "Marc Bulger is my quarterback" I have to be resucitated after passing out due to laughter clogging my pipes.

Cardinals 38 Rams 17 (ARZ)


San Diego (-2.5) @ Denver

Come on, people. Is San Diego really all that great. They just beat Oakland by a measly 8 points two weeks ago (and if you think, "8 points, that's pretty impressive", just to remind you, it was the Oakland Raiders). Denver is still a good team. Denver beat San Diego easily in Qualcomm, this is in Denver. Denver at home has beaten New England. They were just outclassed by Pittsburgh at home, but this is not Pittsburgh, this is the worst 6-3 team in the league, a team with no heart and soul. (Yeah, my "Chargers have no heart and soul" parade is back!)

Chargers 16 Broncos 20 (DEN)


Cincinnatti (-9.5) @ Oakland

Bruce Gradkowski is now the starting quarterback. If Russell was still the starter, I would give you some Raider biased spiel about how Russell will play well, and the Raiders get up for every other big home game, and all that crap. However, I can do no such thing. Bruce Gradkowski is just all kinds of garbage. He is the worst. Yes, worse than the fatty remains of JaMarcus Russell. Cincinnatti on the other hand is a team that is still underrated, and even though I feel that they are clearly the second best team in the AFC, probably underrated by me. Good teams win this game with a professional cool, and that's what they will do.

Bengals 31 Raiders 14 (CIN)


New York (a) @ New England (-10.5)

I don't believe this whole "The Pats will be motivated after losing last week and being beaten by the Jets earlier". That's shit, that's what that is. The last time Tom Brady lost a regular season game to the Colts, they lost the following week hosting the Jets. Also, two years ago I was force fed this whole line of "The Pats will want to beat the Jets 100-0 after outing them for Spygate" and the Pats beat them 20-10. Honestly, the only thing more overrated about this team is the Pats supposed vengeance. Every time I am told how the Pats will kill some team or the other becuase of some alleged disrespect, nothing major happens. Same thing here. Rex Ryan has always had success against this team. Now, even after all that, I don't think they will win, keep it close or even cover, but it won't be some 30 point beatdown that all the same idiots who think that the Colts got lucky will expect from this game.

Jets 17 Patriots 28 (NE)


Philadelphia (-2.5) @ Chicago

Why did NBC not flex this? Seriously, Baltimore Indianapolis would have been much, much better (I believe CBS protected Jets @ Pats so that was not an option). That is seriously dissapointing to me. Now, the Eagles are a dramatically better team and the Bears are experiencing a complete team-wide meltdown. It's not all Jay Cutler's fault, as even most of those picks were due to slipping wide-outs and umpire's getting in the way of receivers. That said, they stink. Matt Forte is the biggest fantasy bust (that's right, Steve Slaton, you can't even win that title). Devin Hester has gone from being the scariest, most exciting player in the NFL to a marginally good receiver. Congratulations, Lovie Smith. That's great management.

Eagles 24 Bears 17 (PHI


Tennessee @ Houston (-4.5)

Much of the media seems to like Tennessee in this game. I think it is mainly due to the fact that Houston did not play last week. Byes make people forget teams, but I am not "people." I fucking remember the Texans, and what they are capable of doing, and what they did to Tennessee in Week 2. That was in Tennessee, and the Texans are quite good in home primetime games. Those Texans fans, like the Panthers fans, are great when the Texans are good. Now, the Texans are rarely good, but they finally are. It will also, I assume, be Battle Red time in Houston, and they are undefeated in those. This will also be a very entertaining game.

Titans 20 Texans 31 (HOU)


Enjoy the Games!!!!

War of 18,12 - aka 4th and 2

However, this is not all about Bill Belichick's decision. Not at all. This is more about the Colts getting outplayed for three quarters, looking like paper tigers, and then DOMINATING the Pats in the fouth quarter.

That said, I feel compelled to start with the 4th and 2 decision. It was an extremely risky decision, but one that was mathematically defendable. This was their scenario: punt and let the Colts drive 70 yards in two minutes and win the game, or go for it and either win the game or give it back to Manning at the 29 with two minutes to go. Now, the chances of the Pats winning (either making the two yards or stopping the Colts) are basically the same either way in a vaccuum, taking away the account of who they were playing and game scenario. The math states that converting a 4th and 2 is done roughly 63% of the time. Adding that to the chances of the Pats stopping the Colts if they do not convert the fourth down, which is roughly 40%, gives the chances of the Pats winning by going for it at a clean 77%. The Chances that the Colts drive 70 yards for the touchdown are roughly 30%, so the Pats have a better chance of winning going for it. That said, that does not adjust for the fact that the opposing QB is Peyton Manning, or that the Colts defense was winning nearly every important play in the fourth quarter. Anyway, it is a debatable call, but definitely not a brilliant move or a idiotic one. It was a risky one, and one that would have either coronated Belichick as the ballsiest coach of all time or the loser in the greatest football-related version of Russian Roullette.

Now, let's get to the actual game. Leaving the game, the general public's perception was "Pats Dominated", "Colts were lucky", "Belichick cost his team the game." This is complete bullshit. Complete. The Pats dominated a one and a half quarter portion of this game starting from the middle of the first through the end of the half. Their drives in this portion netted them touchdown, field goal, touchdown, touchdown and Indy's drive netted them Punt, Punt, Punt, touchdown (I'll throw in that touchdown just to make the amount of drives even). The Pats got 273 yards and the Colts got 91. Now, that is Florida vs Alaska A&M type domination but was just one and a half quarter. Here was the end of the third through the end of the game: Pats: touchdown (after the long Welker punt return), punt, field goal, downs. Here is Indy's drives in the same part of that game: touchdown, interception, touchdown, touchdown. In that part of the game the Pats got 54 yards and the Colts got 153. Pretty much equal domination. People always seem to overrate the team that jumps out to a big lead and underrate the team that made the comeback. Just becuase the Pats outscored the Colts in one stretch 24-7, does not mean the Colts cannot outscore them similarily. The Pats did not outplay the Colts for the entire game. Also, the Colts were not lucky. They probably score on that drive even if the Pats punted it to them. Finally, Belichick's decision was not the reason the Colts won, it was the reason the Pats did not win easily. Also, many of the big plays by the Pats early were schematic problems by the Colts, as they played a deep zone against Moss, instead of manning him up with safety shadow help like they did in 2007 when they held those Pats to 24. They can correct those problems. We all know that the arrogant Pats would not simply play ball-control, clock-draining offense and still try to pour on, and they were held to 10 points in the second half, when the Colts made the defensive adjustments.

The game was a total domination in the fourth quarter by the Colts and a total breakdown by the Patriots. The Patriots were simply outplayed for the entirety of the fourth quarter. The Patriots managed two first downs in the fourth quarter, and the Colts scored three touchdowns, spanning 153 yards in a total of five minutes and forty seconds. Contrary to popular belief, the Pats were not playing prevent for either of the first two touchdown drives. Manning made adjustments to what Belichick was doing, which was essentially doubling Clark and Wayne and forcing Garcon and Collie to beat them, and then Belichick had no answers. The only negative play was the interception which was a result of lack of communication. As for the Pats offense, what people failed to remember due to Belichick's boner, was their inability to gain yards when it mattered. Four times Brady threw on third or fourth down in that quarter, and he was 0-4. The Pats ran the ball six times for three (yes, THREE!!!) yards in the fourth quarter. The Colts defense dominated them. The Pats are one of the better teams at playing smart, clock-draining football in the fourth quarter (remember the 07 Title game against San Diego when they ran out the last 9 minutes of the game), but were simply awful. Even when the Colts handed them a short field, they went 5 and out, and kicked a field goal. It was awful. The Colts dominated when it mattered, in the fourth quarter. The reason the Colts were totally outplayed early on was schematic, and of course the Pats playing exceptional defensively and Moss playing like Moss. The reason the Colts dominated was great adjustments by the offense (again), and the defense changing schemes and dominating an awful Pats running game and suddenly plodding passing game. The Pats blew it, the Colts earned it. The Colts dominated them in the fourth quarter, and as anybody will tell you, that is the quarter that matters in a close game.

Now, this is where I will start to wax poetic about the rivalry at this point.

It is absolutely stunning how the dynamic of this rivalry has completely changed in the past four years. From 2001-2004, and mostly in 2003-2004, the Pats were the team that had the no-name defense, with street defensive backs like Randall Gay and a young Asante Samuel, and Jarvis Green, and the quadro of stout, smart linebackers. The Colts were the flashy team with high-powered offense and a defense that was fine against the Dolphins or the Titans but could not hold up against the big boys. The games, at least the regular season games in 2003-2004, played out to a diametric opposite of Sunday Night's. In both meetings the Colts "outplayed" the Pats, coming one yard away from winning the 2003 game, before Willie McGinest stoning Edgerrin James on the one yard line (if anything personified those Pats teams, and how the physically and mentally intimidated the Colts, it was that McGinest tackle and the play in the 2004 Divisional when Tedy Bruschi literally ripped the ball out of the hands of Dominic Rhodes). Then, a year later in the 2004 game, the Pats were outplayed, except Manning threw an interception in the red zone and James fumbled at the 2 yard line (much like Maroney did), and missed a 48 yard field goal to send it into overtime. Now, all the Colts fans, including myself, thought "they got lucky, the Colts were two plays away, they will win come playoff time." Then, come playoff time, it did not happen. Belichick's defense was in Manning's head. Our defense was helpless against Brady. Each time we played, regardless of how the stats played out, how the game played out, when we looked at the scoreboard, the Colts had fewer points than the Patriots. It was a matter of life, we could roll against the Bengals, and the Bears, but when we needed to man-up and fight, the Colts wanted to fence, the Pats wanted to box.

It is crazy how it has changed. The Pats are now the high-flying team, with the insanely good receivers and the QB with all the stats. They are now the team whose defense could shut down the Titans and the Bucs, but are just average against good offensive teams. The Colts are a team missing many offensive and defensive starters, but have Manning. They play next-man-up to a Patriot level on defense. They are now the smarter, more focused, more tough football team. The Colts are the team now who execute in crunch time. Save for the 2007 game, where the Pats came back valiantly from 10 down in the fourth quarter, which can be contrasted with the 2003 game when the Colts nearly came back from a 21 defecit in the last 20 minutes as the exception to the norm, the Colts have dominated since 2005. For all the "Manning can't beat the Pats" stories that circulated the media-world much like swine-flu is supposed to infiltrate the human-world, there should be similar "Brady can't beat the Colts" headlines now. It was not Manning, but the Colts that could not mentally play smart in late, close games, and now it is the Pats, not Brady. Much like Belichick was clearly in Manning's head in 2003 and 2004, Manning is now in Belichick's head. Belichick can say what he wants, but if the team they were playing was 30 other teams, he punts on 4th and 2. It might be respect, it might be abject fear, but it is really both. Manning has owned Belichick in late game situations, save for that 2007 game. Remember, Manning came within one yard of leading the Colts back from a 31-10 deficit with 20 minutes left in 2003, and then overcame a 21-3 deficit in the 2006 Title Game. Now, he has done the trifecta, coming back from a 34-17 4th quarter deficit. Belichick now knows that games are NEVER over against Peyton. Never. He supposedly preached "60 Minutes" till the cocks crowed after the 2006 meltdown, but it is stunning that it happened again, and although the stakes were certainly greater than, the order of diffuculty of the comeback was more this time. These teams may very well meet again in the playoffs, but I am sure that Manning and the Colts have the mental edge.

In 2003 and 2004, we entered those playoff games with an offensive arrogance, "we cannot be stopped... pffft Patriots defense". We entered those games with the knowledge that we were centimeters away from winning the earlier game. We were slaughtered like lambs in those playoff games (although it must be said that the 2003 Title game was amazing, since even though there was really shoddy officiating, and we handed the Pats 5 turnovers and a safety, Manning had the ball with the opportunity to tie the game in the fourth quarter). This is now the opposite. Pats fans can console themselves in their perceived domination, the can console themselves that they nearly beat the Colts, that they should have, would have. They can enter their game off thier 31-20 beating of Cincy or whatever it may be. They will not win. We have the mental edge. The players know it. If the Pats would win a game against the Colts, it would have been this one, with Gonzalez and Hayden out, with Garcon playing one of his worst games, with Manning throwing two picks of uncharacteristic natures, and with the defense playing a scheme so irrational that it deservedly lended us to spotting them a 24-7 advantage. Yet, at the end of the day, the same team was ahead. The same team pulled out the game. The same team won every critical fourth down battle, stopped the high-powered Pats offense when it mattered late, and took advantage of mistakes and stuck a stake in the Pats home-field advantage aspirations. I could have written those last five sentences and switched "Pats" with "Colts" and I could have been describing a 2003 game, when there was, as we know now, a mental edge that the Pats just had. It has all changed, and it is so sweet. Now, the Pats want to fence, and we want to box.