Simple Doesn't Mean Easy

It's really simple for the Patriots. Win in Miami and they'll have the #1 seed in the AFC bracket and home field throughout the playoffs.

That doesn't mean it will be easy.

If there's a road venue that rivals Denver for the New England Patriots, it's got to be Miami.

Never Too Early To Get Ahead Of Ourselves

Monday morning and the gridiron cognoscenti are busy talking themselves into their favorite "Has a Chance to Beat the Patriots" team. There's Team KC and Team Steelers. The Raiders minus Derek Carr have been filed in the "What Might Have Been" folder and cross-tabbed with "Wait Till Next Year." Oakland can still secure the #1 seed and still no love for Matt McGloin! (I know what you're thinking; you're thinking Matt McWho?)

Miami and Houston, well, thanks for the regular season narratives. They were fun. Enjoy that first round home game, Texans!

Butt-Puckering Time

Most NFL fans find themselves somewhere between anger and acceptance at this point in the season. Denial was left in the rear view a few weeks ago. For others, though, there is still plenty of fear, uncertainty and dread left. Well, except for Cowboys fans, who have nothing better to do till the playoffs start than stuffing Salvation Army buckets with cash. Merry Christmas to (almost) all!

DIY Pigskins

Last night, Patriots fans were rooting for the Jets. If the Dolphins had lost, the Patriots would've clinched the AFC East. Today, Dolphins fans will be rooting for the Patriots as a Broncos loss would give them inside position for a Wild Card spot over the reigning Super Bowl champs.

The NFL. It's an emotional roller coaster that ends with most of us throwing up.

Oh So Wrong But It Feels So Right

I was wrong. So wrong.

Thinking Out Loud

The NFL season is, in and of itself, a small data sample. Just sixteen games over seventeen weeks. A key injury in week three can destroy a team’s chances to make the playoffs; a blown call in the 4^th quarter, a pass slips through a receiver’s hands into the waiting arms of a defensive back who takes it in for the winning score, a potential game-winning field goal hits the upright and falls harmlessly to the ground. All of a sudden, 10-6-0 is 7-9-0 and your fans are reenacting Act III of Oedipus Rex. That’s right; a tie is like kissing your sister and finishing out of the playoffs is like having sex with your mother.

Sorry, Bills’ fans.

Almost There

So much to play for, so little time.

The Next Game Matters More than the Last Until it Doesn't

It’s been said there’s no such thing as a meaningless game to those playing the game.

Well, until midway through the second quarter and you’re down by 21 points and you remember you’re 4-10 and so far away from the playoffs you can’t even see its tail lights.