One more game to go in Week 16, but with the Philadelphia Eagles already clinching the NFC East crown and the Minnesota Vikings already clinching a spot on their respective couches for the playoff season, we can all agree to start looking ahead to the final week of the season and the playoffs in a couple of weeks.
I was watching the games yesterday and paying particular attention to the Bears/Jets match-up in Chicago as the Bears already had a spot secured and the Jets were fighting to get a spot with a win. Despite losing, the Jets were able to get in because of the Jacksonville loss to lowly Washington, but even if they had got in with a win at Soldier Field, I would have still been left with the same ugly taste about this team and others that I’ve had for a while now.
Unlike past years in which it seemed like the playoffs were wide-open because there was so many talented teams, it seems as though there’s way more teams getting into the post-season tournament by default and back-door avenues. Because of that, it seems like the playoffs are wide-open due to mediocrity.
I think a big part of why I feel this way has to do with the various teams that have made it in this year as opposed to last season. Maybe I still look upon Kansas City, Chicago, Atlanta and whoever comes out of the NFC West more like pretenders than I do contenders. I would be wrong to do so on three of the four teams, but everyone wants these teams to show something just to give us that final piece of evidence that they are for real and truly among the elite in the league.
However, there are two teams that have really stood out to me this season and have proven time and time again that they are for real and will be an absolute force in the AFC. Get ready to see the New England Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game. I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll see these two storied franchises lock it up once again.
What Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are able to do with journeyman and rookie/no-name players every single year is truly remarkable. At this time last year, no one knew who Danny Woodhead, Rob Gronkowski or Devin McCourty were, but all have had significant impacts on the offensive/defensive sides of the ball this year in making them an elite team once again.
As for the Steelers, Mike Tomlin has received the most out of his players. Despite major injuries and the suspension to Ben Roethlisberger to start the season, this group has given us some dominating performances that make you stand up and take notice.
It’s a shame that these two teams will have to meet in the semi-finals and not the championship game, but it would only be fitting in a season full of mediocre teams getting rewarded for being in the right place at the right time.