Why They Play the Game

There’s always something on the line.  Like, your job, for one thing.

Bills vs. Patriots – The Patriots are playing for the #1 seed and home field throughout the playoffs.  Some Pigskin Pundits and Bobbleheads have downplayed the need for the Patriots to secure home field based on their back-to-back losses to the Ravens and Jets in 2009 and 2010.  This is factual information; however, it is utterly irrelevant (as in, that was then, this is now).  Far more relevant to the Patriots quest for home field would be the 2011 road records of the Steelers (4-3-0) and Ravens (3-4-0), their obvious competition for the AFC Championship. 

The Bills are playing to sweep the season series with the Patriots; a classic case of “this is their Super Bowl.”  Except deep down, the Bills know this isn’t the Super Bowl.  I also can’t see Bill Belichick or Tom Brady tolerating a year in which they go 0-2 to the Bills (or any other AFC East opponent).  The starters will play for the Patriots for as long as it takes.

Patriots > Bills

Jets vs. Dolphins – The Jets are playing for the last remaining shreds of their self-respect and an unlikely playoff spot.  Sure, the Bengals could lose to the Ravens and the Raiders and Broncos could both lose and yes the Titans could lose, too, but all of them?  Doesn’t it just seem like the Jets to have every team they need to lose cooperate except one and that one to win in the final seconds of overtime?  You know, so they can watch it in the locker room after their game is over. 

The Dolphins are playing for their jobs, which, on the whole, is much easier to understand.

Dolphins > Jets

Titans vs. Texans – This is probably the game that forces Rex Ryan to guarantee the Jets will win Super Bowl XLVII.  (Don’t ever change, Rex.)  The Texans have absolutely nothing to play for; they are locked into the 3^rd seed win, lose or draw.  This is their bye week.  They need to rest/protect starters.  Their best shot at a win in the Wild Card round is losing this game. 

The Titans are playing for that Wild Card spot.  Who saw that coming?  Matt Hasselbeck is hoping for one last playoff hurrah while the Seahawks team he led to an improbable win over the Saints last year will sit at home, sipping their caramel brulee lattes and watching “Thor” on their 55” 3D TVs. 

Titans > Texans

Ravens vs. Bengals – The Ravens are playing for the second seed and a bye week; failing that they would fall to the #5 spot and play in the Wild Card round, trading places with their hated rivals, the Steelers.  Unfortunately for the Bengals, this game provides the Ravens with a chance to beat the Steelers by proxy, an opportunity they will relish.  Also, division game, division rivals, etc.

The Bengals win and they’re in.  Not bad for a team picked by many (yours truly, included) to challenge for the #1 pick in the 2012 draft.  The Ravens have been terrible on the road, so, the Bengals do have that going for them.

Bengals > Ravens

Steelers vs. Browns – Pittsburgh is playing for that #2 spot, hoping Baltimore stumbles in Cincinnati. 

Cleveland is playing to, um, well let’s see…  Oh, right!  Division game, division rivals, etc.  And yes, jobs are on the line.

Steelers > Browns

Chiefs vs. Broncos – The Broncos are playing for the AFC West caps and t-shirts.  They also have an opportunity to validate their decision to listen to the voices in their heads that told them to cut Kyle Orton and start Tim Tebow.  Inspiration?  Insanity?  Did someone leave a television on in the next room?  At the end of the day, people will believe what they want to believe. 

The Chiefs are playing for next year.  It’s a divisional game and they have a shot at knocking a divisional rival out of the playoffs (so negative!) so there’s that.  I don’t think a win or a loss in this game alone will determine if Romeo Crennel will be the non-interim Head Coach of the Chiefs and I think the players have already forgotten how much they hated Todd Haley so that story line is really a non-factor.  As for Orton vs. Tebow, just how many friends do we think Kyle Orton has made in his few weeks with the Chiefs?  One?  Two?  Is the Chiefs offensive line talking in their meetings about how they want to win this one for Kyle?  Both of these teams have strong defenses and inconsistent offenses.  Has an NFL game ever ended in a 4-3 score?

Broncos > Chiefs

Chargers vs. Raiders – The Raiders are also playing for those AFC West caps and t-shirts.  Carson Palmer is hoping to keep himself off those “Worst Trades in NFL History” lists and avoid the prospect of sitting on a couch for the playoffs, watching the Cincinnati Bengals, the team he refused to play for.  Head Coach Hue Jackson is hoping to avoid the 8-8-0 record that sent Tom Cable packing. 

I’m not sure what the Chargers are playing for.  I mean, Norv Turner is done, right?  Still, divisional game, long-time rivals, etc.  The Raiders need help even if they win, of course, but I expect Kansas City to put up more of a fight in Denver than San Diego will in Oakland.   

Raiders > Chargers

Lions vs. Packers – I get the feeling these two teams really don’t like each other in a biting, kicking, refuses to stay down for nap time kind of way (divisional game, divisional rivals, etc.), but the Packers and the Lions really have nothing to gain in terms of playoff positioning.

Detroit would be seriously crazy to play the historically fragile Matt Stafford in this game. 

Packers > Lions

Cowboys vs. Giants – This is another caps and t-shirts game but where’s the juice?  Who loses their job here?  Nobody!

Cowboys > Giants