Dec 29th 2008 9:15AM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Chargers, Colts, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Ravens, Vikings, NFL PlayoffsWinning an NFL division championship means a playoff spot, a home game and nothing else. All four teams that will be hosting the wildcard round of the playoffs are underdogs.

The lines for the four wildcard games has been set:

Eagles (-3) at Vikings
Falcons (-2.5) at Cardinals
Colts (-2.5) at Chargers
Ravens (-3) at Dolphins

The Falcons have two more wins than the Cardinals. The Colts have four more wins than the Chargers. The Ravens and Dolphins have the same record. The Eagles finished with just one less win than the Vikings but the same amount of losses.

Since the NFL has established the current playoff format in 2002, this has not been rare. In both the 2004 and 2005 playoffs, three of the four road teams won their wildcard matchups. This year, we have our first 8-8 division champion since 1985.

Dec 26th 2008 3:30PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Giants, Vikings, NFC East, NFC NorthC’mon, Tom Coughlin. We — Bears fans — need you to do the right thing. You’ve even written a book in which it was stated that NFL teams should all play hard for all 16 games. Now, today, I see that you are starting David Carr over Eli Manning, and I’m perplexed.

It would be easy for me to sit here and discuss the virtues of playing hard all 16 games and how that overtime win at home last weekend still wasn’t enough momentum for the playoffs — not to mention the fact that the Giants will have a bye next week anyway and that everyone keeps discussing how hard they played in Week 17 last year.

I’m not gonna do that. Instead, I’m going to tell you that the Chicago Bears are not near the playoff team the Minnesota Vikings are at this point. The Giants should be wanting a victory this weekend over the Vikings — and hoping for a Bears win as well — because the Vikings could be a scary NFC Championship game foe. That third week in January is one game for the chance to go to the Super Bowl.

In that game, do you wanna see:Continue Reading

Dec 26th 2008 4:00PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, Vikings, NFL Fans, NFL Eliminated Teams, NFL Media Watch, NFL RumorsHad Philadelphia taken care of business last Sunday and beaten the Redskins, the Cowboys-Eagles game was set for primetime, Sunday night, must-see, WIN OR GO HOME football. Instead, the ‘Guls lost and the game suddenly became “Cowboys win = in” as far as the playoffs go.

Naturally, the game would be bumped back to 1:00 EST because it’s in Philadelphia. Only it wasn’t — now it kicks off at 4:15 EST … which is what happened, and also which makes little sense. Or, if you’re Tim Cowlishaw and/or freaking love conspiracy theories, a whole lot of sense.
Tampa Bay, Chicago and Minnesota all play noon games. If the Bucs win, or if the Bears and Vikings both win, the Eagles are eliminated from playoff contention.

[…] But the Eagles are going to prepare all week in hopes that a victory will get them into the playoffs. To learn after you have warmed up and just before kickoff that you have been eliminated can be devastating.
Fiction can be funny … but seriously, this is kind of a stretch, no? Sure, that could potentially be an advantage for Dallas, but the Eagles hate the Cowboys, and people are still going to be screaming for Tony Romo’s head. Additionally, as Cowlishaw notes, the 4:15 slot with an NFC rivalry game and the Cowboys’ playoff hopes on the line for huge ratings.

Besides, why would Roger Goodell bother “pulling a Stern” and landing the Cowboys in the playoffs when they’re only going to play one game anyway? Just seems like a little too much effort.

Dec 24th 2008 4:20PM by Bruce Ciskie (author feed)
Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, NFL Police Blotter, NFL RumorsI try not to get too involved in gossip-type stuff, but this one is too rich to ignore.

Minneapolis Star Tribune “gossip” “columnist” C.J. writes regularly for the newspaper and its website. You may have read about some recent journalistic work of hers.

Needless to say, she’s not going to threaten to steal Charles Gibson’s job or anything like that. She fills her role at the newspaper, and the newspaper is smart enough not to assign her to cover anything serious.

In her latest hard-hitting investigation, C.J. tracked down Vikings safety Darren Sharper as he was showing up for a television appearance at a Twin Cities station.

Sharper must have been late, because he parked in a handicapped space. While he didn’t respond to C.J.’s repeated attempts to get comment, she did track down a P.R. guy for the Vikings, who offered up a perfectly rational explanation.

Or not.Continue Reading

Dec 24th 2008 2:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Giants, Patriots, Vikings, Pressing Issues, NFL Coaching, NFL Real TalkIt’s entirely arguable that the way the New York Giants played in Week 17 against the Patriots, despite losing, propelled them into the postseason and eventually to a Super Bowl win.

Of course, you could also argue that such a discussion is pointless. Whatever. My main point is that Tom Coughlin typically — as he wrote in a book — does not believe in resting players in the final week of the season if there’s nothing at stake.
“It is a difficult decision,” Coughlin wrote after noting that many NFL coaches bench their stars in similar situations. “It becomes clear that the media and fans care more about a playoff game and therefore don’t want our first-teamers to play. But I feel differently.”
Naturally, then, you would expect to see every single Giant — including Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs, both recently banged up — playing full games against the Vikings this Sunday. Or perhaps not; it appears, judging by the somewhat hemming nature of a recent statement to the media, that Coughlin might have changed his tune.
“My answer to all of your questions will be that in conjunction with the medical people and with the idea of improving our game, having individuals perform at a higher level than we did in the last game, which is always our theme, we will do the best thing for our football team,” Coughlin said.
“What’s best for the Giants” and “Play every game like it’s win or go home” are two different statements. And while Coughlin isn’t the type of guy to go back on his word, I don’t think, he would be doing exactly that if the Giants don’t pull out all the stops to beat the Vikings on Sunday.Continue Reading

Dec 22nd 2008 12:45PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Packers, Vikings, NFC North, NFL Real TalkAs if the Chicago Bears needed an extra boost of motivation for tonight’s rivalry game against the Green Bay Packers. It’s been provided anyway, courtesy of former unproductive Bears’ wide receiver, Bobby Wade, who is currently a Vikings wideout. “We need the Bears to blow it,” Wade told reporters in Minneapolis with a laugh. “Where are they playing, at home? Great. They’ll definitely blow it.” I don’t know what’s so funny. The Bears beat the Vikings 48-41 earlier this year in Chicago, and the Vikings blew the opportunity to control their own fate this week by losing to the Falcons at home. In fact, if you wanna talk about blowing it, the Vikings fumbled the ball seven times and lost four of them. This translated into a loss despite significantly outgaining Atlanta and winning the time of possession battle. If the Vikings didn’t blow that game, the Bears wouldn’t even presently matter to them.

Maybe Wade’s laughing about how he’s never mattered in the NFL, or that casual fans wouldn’t recognize the difference between him and a used car salesman?Continue Reading

Dec 21st 2008 2:55PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Bills, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Ravens, Titans, Vikings, NFL Media WatchLast year, the NFL started this flex scheduling thing, which allows them to alter the schedule late in the season so that the more meaningful games are broadcast on national television.

While there are rules that the NFL follows for selecting these games, they do Week 17 a bit differently. No games are off limits for the switch to NBC, aside from picking teams that have reached televised limits. They also only have to give six days advance warning about the change, instead of the normal 12 days.

That means the NFL will place the game with the most riding on it as their season finale on NBC.

So which games look like they could be a possibility?Continue Reading

Dec 21st 2008 7:54PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Falcons, Vikings, NFC North, NFC South, NFL PlayoffsMinnesota got a Pro Bowl caliber performance from Tarvaris Jackson, the best game of Visanthe Shiancoe’s life, won the battle of time of possession and outgained Atlanta by nearly 130 yards.

But as the clock hit zero on Sunday night, Minnesota still needs one win or a Bears loss to make the playoffs, and they can thank their own mistakes for that. Jackson threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 76 yards, but he also fumbled four times with Minnesota losing two of them. Bernard Berrian fumbled a punt that the Falcons recovered and Adrian Peterson fumbled twice, losing one of them. In all, Minnesota lost four fumbles while Atlanta didn’t turn the ball over at all.

Continue Reading

Dec 22nd 2008 7:34AM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Ravens, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Playoffs

This was the week when seemingly everyone decided they didn’t want to go to the playoffs. For three weeks, the injury-ravaged Broncos could have earned a playoff spot by simply winning one game. But here we are with a week to play and the Broncos still need one win.

In the NFC wild card race, Dallas came into the weekend controlling its own destiny, but they lost. That then put the ball in the Falcons and Bucs’ court. Atlanta did come through with a win to clinch a playoff spot, but the Bucs also punted their chance with a loss to the Chargers. That meant that the Eagles could put themselves in the driver’s seat with a win over the Redskins (the same team that just lost to the Bengals). Of course Philadelphia lost that game, which means that Dallas is right back where they began the weekend–win next weekend and the Cowboys are in the playoffs.Continue Reading

Dec 20th 2008 10:40PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Falcons, Vikings, NFC North, NFC SouthIt may not get as much notice as Cowboys-Ravens or Steelers-Titans, but there aren’t many games this weekend bigger as far as playoff implications than the Falcons-Vikings’ game.

With a win the Vikings will wrap up the NFC North division title. With a loss, the Falcons will likely kiss their playoff hopes good-bye. And if you needed a little extra incentive, this will be an infrequent chance for the Vikings to get a little revenge for the 1999 NFC Championship loss to the Falcons. In that game, the 16-1 Vikings saw their Super Bowl trip derailed when Gary Anderson missed a field goal for the first time all season. The loss was crushing enough that nine years later, CBS’ How I Met Your Mother was able to use it as the focus of its most recent episode.

This one matters a lot.
Continue Reading