Tagged As: NFL, Playoffs, Giants, Steelers, Dolphins, Eagles

The buzz for the next few weeks is going to be about the NFL Postseason. The pre-postseason, also known as the regular season, is over and the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos can relate. They have maverick quarterbacks (Tony Romo and Jay Cutler), susceptible defenses (Dallas gave up 365 points and Denver gave up 448), both have had problems with healthy running backs, and both played themselves out of the playoffs.

In fact, both teams lost to the very team that replaced them in the postseason. The teams can buy a block of playoff tickets or sit on their couches and curse each play they are not on the field. The Dallas Cowboys needed to win. The Bears and the Bucs did not take advantage of the weak opponents. But the Philadelphia Eagles wanted it more and decimated America’s Team 44-6.

The Denver Broncos slowly and painfully played their way out of the seemingly assured AFC West title. A playoff caliber team cannot withstand three straight losses to end the season, especially a loss to the very team that emerged as the threat for the division title in the first place. The Chargers held the explosive Broncos to 21 points and managed to find their running game for four rushing touchdowns and 52 total points.

The rest of the field was set with the Minnesota Vikings compelling 20-19 win over the second string of the postseason-bound New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens 27-7 shellacking of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The other interesting news was in Pittsburgh where the Steelers won 31-0 over the “football” team known as the Cleveland Browns. Ben Roethlisberger proved two things in this game. First, his concussion in the proved that there is a reason coaches rest players in the final week of the season when there is nothing to play for. Second, he proved that with his performance this season tat not all quarterbacks are pansies.

In recent years with all the rules to protect the QB, it seems like only the kicker and punter are less of true, tough football players. Roethlisberger has played through an arm injury and through a season without much of an offensive line. I still think the injuries and the paper machete line are going to lead to an immediate loss despite my respect and doe-eyed adoration for the throw back behind the center.

A few other games meant a great deal for teams going to the playoffs. The Miami Dolphins won the AFC East with a major win over the New York Jets. Brett Favre looked old and Chad Pennington looked smug in the football soap opera.

Also, the Arizona Cardinals looked much better in a needed tune-up game against the Seattle Seahawks. They had lost two straight before and Kurt Warner was beginning to submit to age like Favre. Now the offense can build off the win and hopefully shock the Atlanta Falcons in the wild card round this coming Saturday.