A lot of college football fans will tell you the BCS is terrible, unfair, and the goofiest invention sports could create. They’ll point to the 65-team college basketball bracket, praise March Madness, and tell you a playoff system is the way to go.

But too often overlooked is the NFL’s playoff system and its flaws. As much as I love the NFL, it’s hardly perfect, and one of the league’s most glaring issues is a postseason system rewarding teams that do well enough to win their respective division, while telling other teams with better records, tough luck but maybe next year.

After this weekend, either the Denver Broncos or San Diego Chargers will make the postseason with fewer than ten wins. If the Chargers win, they’ll have eight. Now, neither of these two teams has shown it is a legitimate playoff team. Yet one will host a playoff game the first week of the postseason because it was the “best” team in a bad division.

Is this fair? Shouldn’t we be bothered by the fact another team with a better record and a better shot at winning in the postseason will not be afforded an opportunity because it was in a more competitive division?

In the NFC, too, we can look at the Cardinals in the NFC South. They have an 8-7 record and the division is wrapped up. They were taken to the woodshed this past weekend and thrashed, 47-7, by the New England Patriots, who may not make the postseason but have a better overall record this season. The Cardinals have the 9th best record in the NFC, but they’ll be one of six teams playing in January.

In the BCS, a late season blowout like the one Arizona received would no doubt take them out of any sort of consideration. But not in the NFL. In the NFL, they played well enough to make the postseason because the 2nd best team in their division has six wins. In any other division in the NFC, the Cardinals have, at most, the 3rd best record. In the East and South they’re tied for dead last.

Or consider this final glitch. The Indianapolis Colts could win this weekend and wind up with a 12-4 (.750) record, and they’ll still play their first game on the road. But if the Chargers can beat the erratic Broncos, they’ll finish 8-8 (.500) and play their first game at home. If nothing else, shouldn’t a team with four more wins be rewarded with home field advantage?

Perhaps the BCS isn’t a perfect system, but neither is the NFL’s playoffs. In the NFL, the regular season is important, but its important is dependent on the division. Some teams can afford to lose half their games and still find themselves in the playoffs with the same opportunity as a team that won 75 percent of its games. Others will scrap for 10 or 11 wins and wind up snubbed because they can’t win their division or finish with the second best record among non-division winners.

Where’s the fairness? Where’s the reward for teams who proved they can win down the stretch? It’s nowhere to be found in the NFL, so perhaps, rather than focus on adding more regular season games (terrible idea) the NFL can instead opt to adjust its all too flawed postseason system. It certainly needs a tune up.

Not too long ago I wrote an article essentially guaranteeing the Denver Broncos a spot in the postseason.

I was wrong.

Nothing is locked up for the Broncos, though they do control their own fate and should remain the odd-on favorites to win the AFC West. But with two weeks left in the regular season, there remains a very real opportunity for San Diego to squeeze past Denver and vault itself into the postseason with loads of momentum.

How can the Chargers make the postseason? Simple. If Phillip Rivers and Co. win next week (a tough road game against Tampa Bay) and Denver drops the ball at home against Buffalo, the two will face each other week 17 to decide the division. The Broncos lost this weekend by a blowout 20-point margin to the Carolina Panthers, while San Diego looked slightly more impressive, squeaking out a win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Assuming week 17 is the clincher, San Diego will enter the game with a three game win streak while Denver limped through two consecutive losses. In that game San Diego will have at least one factor in its favor besides momentum: homefield advantage.

Now, how likely is this scenario? Honestly, it’s tough to decipher the Chargers or Broncos at this point. San Diego has won its last two games against poor teams (Kansas City and Oakland), and prior to those wins it had lost three consecutive games to quality opponents (Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Atlanta), albeit by close margins (an average of just over 3 points per contest). Denver, meanwhile, is among the most inconsistent teams in the NFL, losing games it most certainly should win (see week 12’s thrashing at the hands of Oakland), defeating quality opponents (week 13 against the Jets, for example), and simply following the odds in other games, just for good measure (i.e., week 14’s win over Kansas City).

It’s easy to draw parallels between the two. Without stating the obvious (Cutler and Rivers, *cough*), both teams have a lot of talent and firepower on offense, but neither has a good running game on offense or a solid defense. The Broncos have dealt with more than their share of running back injuries this season, whereas the Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson has simply disappointed. Defensively, injuries have hurt both clubs. San Diego lost linebacker Shawn Merriman, arguably the best in the league when healthy, for the season, while Denver has been without a healthy Champ Bailey, considered by many to be the league’s best cornerback, for weeks.

Both teams can be considered disappointments this season. It’s a bit backward to consider the AFC West’s division leader has been outscored by 40 points this season, while its second place team, which is two games back, no less, has outscored opponents by 45. The Broncos have scored 42 fewer points on offense and allowed 55 more on defense, in direct comparison with the Chargers. The Chargers have even managed a better division record, losing just one AFC West game, week two at Denver, by one point.

I’m not suggesting the Chargers are a better team than the Broncos. No, if that was true they would be leading the division. God knows they’ve been given plenty of opportunities to make up ground or pass the Broncos, but it simply hasn’t happened. One of these two will make the postseason, though neither franchise stands much hope once there. Which team is anyone’s guess, but really, does it matter?

Never doubt a team coached by Tony Dungy and led by Peyton Manning. That’s a lesson the rest of the NFL is quickly getting reacquainted to. Just over four weeks ago it would have been easy to discard the Colts in the same vein as San Diego. Stumbling to 3-4, on the heels of two consecutive losses, and in a division in which the leader was 7-0, this was hardly a team worth considering for the postseason. But four weeks and as many wins later, it may be worth jumping back on the Colts bandwagon.

Indianapolis isn’t winning in the fashion of a rout. On the contrary, the Colts are hanging with their opponents - among them, New England, Pittsburgh, Houston, and San Diego - until the very end before pulling ahead with little time on the clock. Against San Diego last weekend the Colts fell behind with 1:35 showing on the clock. Eight plays and ninety seconds later and the Colts regained the lead. Manning drove his offense down the field as he has so often this season to set up Adam Vinatieri for the game-winner.

Looking at the Colts now, with three relatively easy games in succession next on the schedule (Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit), and it’s not hard to imagine ten or more wins. Is that enough to make the postseason in the AFC? It very well could be. The AFC West certainly won’t more than the division winner (Denver currently leads with a 6-5 record), leaving Indianapolis to basically contend with two others: New England and Baltimore, both of which have a more difficult remaining schedule.

Then again, one can’t necessarily rule out Indianapolis winning the AFC South. Understand that it’s a long shot, but Tennessee, which was proved vulnerable this weekend in a blowout defeat at the hands of the New York Jets, could potentially lose its final three games (at Houston, vs. Pittsburgh, and at Indianapolis). If that does happen and the Titans fall to 12-4 and the Colts win out (to improve to 12-4), the Colts hold the tie-breaker. Because Tennessee would slip to 8-4 in conference and the Colts would improve to 10-2, Indianapolis holds the NFL’s fourth tiebreaker: the best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.

Is it likely? No, of course not. Is it possible? Absolutely. The NFL always sees something crazy happen down the stretch. You can count on it happening every season. And what would be crazier than a 10-0 team with a four game division lead dropping four of its last six, including one against the team four games behind, to ultimately lose the division due to the NFL’s fourth tie-breaker?

Of course, it’s far more likely Indianapolis makes it as a Wild Card team. What does that mean? Basically, to make the Super Bowl the Colts would need three road games and a game played on neutral turf. The Colts have actually won more often on the road this season (4-2) than they have at home (3-2). More interesting is Peyton Manning’s progression this season over the course of three months. His passer rating in September was a very un-Manning-ish 73.1. But in October it improved to a more respectable 84.0. And in the month of November he began putting up numbers you’d expect: his rating hit 100.9 and he threw 9 touchdowns and 1 interception in four games.

Obviously the Colts have weaknesses. The running game is laughable, averaging less than 80 yards per game and ranking 32nd in the NFL, whilst the defense continues to struggle stopping the run. Of course, it’s worth pointing out that Indianapolis has allowed only two opposing backs to break 100 yards since its week four bye and only one in the last five weeks. Again, this is a team that has dealt with injuries at key positions this season (Manning in preseason, Joseph Addai and Bob Sanders during the season, to point out the most notable) and still has a pulse. I still believe that Tony Dungy is in the same company as Bill Belichick when it comes to dealing with injuries; both coaches have an uncanny ability to accept what they can’t control, get the team to accept it, and push forward without losing too much footing.

Eight weeks into the season, I wouldn’t have faulted someone for writing off the Colts. Now, just four short weeks later, I can hardly blame that person if he or she is ready to jump back on the bandwagon. Note to the rest of the NFL: heads up; the Indianapolis Colts are not going to walk quietly into the night.

Fantasy football is played over the course of an NFL season, but as any owner will tell you, it’s weeks 14-16 that really count. It’s fantasy playoffs time, which is why I’m certain you’ll be looking for an edge. That’s why you’re on this site, right?

That’s what I thought.

Now the best thing to look for when approaching fantasy postseason is trends among individual players. The Sports Data Hub free tool set makes checking these trends wicked easy, and this article takes a look at just one example of what is possible.

Take a look at these 6 players, three of which show positive (or improving) trends and three of which are experiencing negative (or downward) trends.

Positive

DeAngelo Williams - Carolina Panthers

Looking at Williams’ last five games reveals an overall positive trend. He took a bit of a bit last week, but it was still a more-than-satisfactory gameas he rushed for 120 yards. It’s also good to see that he’s carried for at least 100 yards in each of his last three starts. Something you don’t see here: Williams has rushed for 4 touchdowns in his last three starts and his yard per carry average in those weeks was 6.4, 7.4, and 8.6. In short: start him if you’re lucky enough to have him.

Thomas Jones -New York Jets

I love players who score touchdowns and Thomas Jones has been doing that plenty this season. Consider his last six starts: at least one rushing touchdown in every game (except week 7, when he rushed for 159 yards) and two or more in a couple others. And consider this: when the Jets’ running back rushes for a touchdown New York is 6-0. When he doesn’t, the team is 1-3. Translation: expect Mangenius to get Jones some goal line carries as the Jets make a run at the postseason.

Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars

Here’s another running back who has been finding his way to the endzone on a frequent basis this season. Maurice Jones-Drew has 11 touchdowns under his belt, 5 of which he scored in his last two starts. That’s a trend I love to see - especially when it’s coupled with the fact he’s failed to score just twice in his past eleven starts.

Negative

Matt Forte - Chicago Bears

See that? This was a trend search for the number of touchdowns Matt Forte has scored in his last three starts. “No data to display” is never a good sign. The good news is that he has been getting enough touches (20+ per game every week this season) to pick up a fair amount of yards each week. Still, yards alone might not be enough come postseason. Lesson learned: “No data to display” equals “don’t start.”

Marion Barber - Dallas Cowboys

See those lines going up and down, up and down like a rollercoaster? That’s a bad sign. Looking at only weeks four and on, you can see that perhaps overall the trend is up if you look with a glass half full attitude. But seeing a running back’s rushing yards climb above 100 just twice in a seven week span isn’t enough to make him a solid start. It’s also disheartening that he rushed for two touchdowns those weeks, too.

Clinton Portis - Washington Redskins

Okay, I admit, it’s pretty doggone difficult to find fault with Clinton Portis. He’s been the heart and soul of the Redskins offense and he hit a streak of five consecutive 100 yard games earlier this season. But just consider: he has not scored a touchdown in his last three starts. He’s had at least 20 receiving yards once this season. And he has failed to rush for at least 70 yards in his last two starts. Portis carried 187 times in his first eight games this season, and at least 21 times in each game. That will wear down any running back, and, as a result, he’s carried a combined 28 times his last two starts. Remember: no matter how great a player appears on the surface (and Portis does appear spectacular … and he is) it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on him and view him with a healthy dose of skepticism.

The Green Bay Packers are 5-5, but the record doesn’t do justice to the team’s talent. It’s hardly a stretch to suggest the Packers could quite easily have three more wins when considering three losses were within three points.

Unfortunately, talent can carry a team just so far. It doesn’t matter that Aaron Rodgers is a fantastic quarterback or that Green Bay has one of the league’s most underrated defenses; when it’s all said and done, the record is what counts. Nothing else.

Of course, there is some very good news for cheeseheads reading this. Green Bay might have a 5-5 record, but that’s enough to keep it atop the NFC North. Minnesota and Chicago have the same record, but both teams are shaky at best. It’s heartening to consider that the Packers are 3-1 in division games, the most recent victory being a rout over the Bears. It is also worth noting that Green Bay’s one division loss was a one-point loss at Minnesota, a game that Green Bay would have won if Adrian Peterson wasn’t so darn impressive and Mason Crosby had nailed the game-winning field goal.

Are the Packers good enough to make a run in the postseason, assuming they get that far? Well, it’s a bit complicated.

Green Bay is not without weaknesses, but some have been a bit exaggerated. For example, many pundits are quick to point out that the offense has had trouble running the ball. While this is true to some degree, it’s a flawed argument. Consider Ryan Grant’s last six starts: in each he rushed for at least 75 yards. And in three of Green Bay’s last four games he found his way to the endzone. His yard per carry average this season is also deceptive; he has kept it at a level of 4.3 or higher in his last three starts.

Watching the Packers, I’ve picked up on two more troubling observations. First, Green Bay’s offense moves the ball down the field but sometimes has trouble scoring touchdowns; it seems that Coach Mike McCarthy has no problem settling for field goals. That wouldn’t be a big issue but it has kept the Packers from pulling away and winning several games. The most obvious of these was the loss against Tennessee. Green Bay’s offense had 390 yards but scored just one touchdown. Green Bay was able to move the ball; in fact, all three of the field-goal scoring drives were of at least 51 yards. Not scoring touchdowns allowed Tennessee to hang with Green Bay in a game that could have been won by the Packers.

Second, Green Bay has an outstanding defense. I don’t know anyone who would deny that. But near the end of close games, fans can witness it changing its gameplan to avoid giving up anything too big. This “prevent defense” cost them victories against both Tennessee and Minnesota. In the former, Green Bay couldn’t stop Kerry Collins from driving the Titans straight down the field at the end of the fourth quarter, nor could the Packers stop the run in overtime. Against Minnesota, Adrian Peterson picked the Packers apart in the fourth quarter. Somehow - I’m not certain how this could happen - the Packers appeared to forget Peterson is the Vikings’ best player.

To return to the original question, can the Packers make a run in the postseason? Absolutely, but it will take the right coaching. The defense is loaded with ball hawks in the secondary and has little trouble forcing turnovers. On offense, as pointed out earlier, the Packers running game has been improving in recent weeks, whilst Aaron Rodgers may be considered the best first year starter in the NFL this season in not one of the league’s best starters. Green Bay’s fate this season is heavily dependent on Mike McCarthy. He has been given a great group of athletes - now it is his responsibility to steer them to a championship.

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On a side note that is completely unrelated to this post, I’d like to thank everyone who has read this blog. I looked at my profile today and noticed that my blogs have drawn one million views.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my thoughts on the NFL and fantasy football.

Sincerely,
Tom Van Wyhe

Was the 2008 season a fluke and do the Browns have a shot at the AFC North this year?

Do you want to know the truly remarkable thing about last season? The Browns finished 10-6 - a very respectable record - despite having one of the NFL’s worst defenses. The Browns allowed 30+ points in seven games last season, hitting a patch in which they allowed that many points in five-of-six games. The season wasn’t a fluke. This is a team that should have made the postseason and would have if Cleveland possessed a solid defense. If the offense can repeat and the defense improves, this is a team that can give the Steelers another serious run for their money in the AFC North.

Is Anderson the real deal?

I think Anderson is for real because most quarterbacks don’t put together seasons like his unless they are for real. I might be more suspect if he played for an offense that could produce a quarterback with a great season because of the talent around, but that isn’t the case with Anderson. True, he has very good teammates, but no one expected a season like last year. Anticipate another very good season for Anderson with at least 3,500 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions and draft him as a backup.

Is Jamal Lewis’s career back on track?

Yes, and here’s why: the Browns have a good offensive line. Last season this team allowed Anderson to be sacked just 14 times while the running game finished 6th in the league in rushing average with a combined 4.3 yards per carry. At age 29 Lewis isn’t so old that I’m concerned and he hasn’t had enough carries over the past few seasons to make me concerned with that, either. I’m not expecting him to repeat last season’s totals, but I do expect him to have another very good year with at least 1,200 rushing yards, 30 receptions, 200 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.

How will Donte Stallworth affect this offense?

He’ll make it better by giving Edwards another big target to hit. He might not post great numbers, but he’s a good sleeper pick because he’s in an offense with a pair of top-tier targets - Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow - which will draw coverage away from him. Expect a season with at least 50 receptions, 750 yards, and 5 touchdowns.

Is Braylon Edwards an elite fantasy wide receiver?

You bet. Edwards has made considerable strides over the past three years and I fully expect him to improve his totals again. He and Edwards formed a great rapport and will continue to hook up on the field this season. He’s certainly a top five wide receiver and I would draft him immediately after the big three - Moss, Owens, and Wayne - expecting a year with at least 85 receptions, 1,300 yards, and 13 touchdowns.

*My favorites in each conference are marked with an asterisk

The Best Odds

New England Patriots (3/1) - Not surprisingly, the Patriots are once again the NFL’s Super Bowl favorite, only weeks after losing what would have made the 2007 season historic. 2008 won’t see the bullseye pulled from their backs, though, and Bill Belichick’s reputation as a “genius” has been replaced with “cheater.” How the team reacts and pulls together will be interesting, but you can bet they’ll be tough to beat.

San Diego Chargers (7/2) - It’s somewhat surprising to see the San Diego Chargers favored this much after a season in which LaDainian Tomlinson stumbled out of the gate and Philip Rivers struggled throughout the season, whether it was on the field against opposing defenses or on the sideline screaming at opponents’ fans. That said, the Chargers are an immensely talented team with high expectations.

*Indianapolis Colts (7/1) - With the announcement Tony Dungy will return for 2008, the Colts remain one of the most dominant teams in the AFC. Led by future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning, the Colts show few weaknesses and are a lock to win 12 games year in and out. Don’t be shocked to see Indianapolis in the AFC Championship game next season.

Dallas Cowboys (7/1) - The Cowboys hopes for a title hinge on the performance of Tony Romo and the attitude of Terrell Owens. While T.O. impressed critics this season by standing at his quarterback’s side during the good and bad, no one is ready to let him off the hook yet. And with Tony Romo’s romantic escapades ending up on the front page of grocery store tabloids, the Cowboys appear to be the one favorite that should be bracing for a meltdown. 

The Almost There’s

New York Giants (12/1) - After an amazing run in 2007, made all the sweeter by hometown columnist’s expectations for implosion, the Giants are, for the first time in years, a favorite in the NFC. Thanks to the maturity of Eli Manning and the phenomenal performance on the defensive end, the Giants won the Super Bowl. It was even more satisfying that Tiki Barber, who retired prior to the season, was a constant critic of Eli Manning’s leadership skills and Tom Coughlin’s coaching.

*Green Bay Packers (14/1) - The Packers shocked the football world last season by making it as far as the NFC Title game with the youngest team in the NFL. Assuming Brett Favre returns, the Packers will once again be a formidable foe in the NFC. And with almost a full year experience under Ryan Grant’s belt and the constant growth at the receiver position, the Packers are a good bet to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Jacksonville Jaguars (15/1) - Jack Del Rio coaches a physical team that runs the ball effectively and shuts down opposing offenses. Unfortunately, a team like his doesn’t often win the Super Bowl in today’s game because it has troubles against teams like the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, franchises with great quarterbacks and fast offenses.

Pittsburgh Steelers (20/1) - Mike Tomlin’s first season as a head coach can be considered a success. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger exceeded expectations and bumped his status to being considered among the elite at his position while Willie Parker was brilliant on the field and Pittsburgh’s famed defense continued to play solid football. Not bad for a rookie. 2008 will only see improvement, which is a bit scary for opponents.

For more odds, check this out. Leave your own predictions and thoughts in the comments.

Let’s start with some of the keys on the offense and go from there:

Eli Manning - Eli Manning capped a statistically shaky season with an absolutely brilliant postseason in which he threw 6 touchdowns and just one interception which, by the way, was a drop that probably shouldn’t have happened.

But for all his inconsistencies during the season, at least one thing was fairly constant for Eli. His 23 touchdowns came over 14 games in which he threw at least one touchdown pass. Interestingly, he also threw an interception in 12 games last season and two or more in 6 games.

All things considered, 2007 was a season that improve Eli’s stock. Not to the status of Peyton, but it does make him a good enough starting fantasy quarterback, though only a lower-second to mid-third tier player at his position.

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw - This is a case of one player making a stronger case in the postseason while another showed up admirably during regular season. The first player is Bradshaw, who picked up over 200 rushing yards during the postseason and Super Bowl on a 4.3 yard per carry average, while Brandon Jacobs sputtered to some degree, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry vs. his mark of 5.0 during the regular season.

That said, Jacobs scored the bulk of the touchdowns in both the regular season and postseason. He picked up six scores during the first 16 games of the year and another 4 after week 17.

Plaxico Burress - In the Super Bowl recap, I believe it was Keyshawn Johnson who said that Burress’s performance made him one of “the two or three guys at his position.” Now, I’ll interpret that to believe Burress is an elite wide receiver who comes through when it counts. Can the same be said of him in fantasy football?

I have to believe the answer is yes. Burress may not have shined in the Super Bowl (he had just two catches) but he did score when it mattered (the game-winner). And though that was his only touchdown of the postseason, his regular season numbers definitely justify him as a top-tier wide receiver: 70 receptions, 1025 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He won’t get picked ahead of guys like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, but Manning relies on him when things matter most - maybe you should too.

Defense - The New York Giants had an absolutely dominant defense during the postseason after a strong showing during the first 16 games of the year. Their greatest strength is the defensive line, which takes pressure off the defensive backs and their weaknesses (mostly speed) by applying pressure to quarterbacks. The future of Michael Strahan will determine a lot, but I think the Giants can be considered a second-tier, top 10 defense at this point. 

1. They’re hot off a win over the Colts. The Indianapolis Colts were heavy favorites over the Chargers, but San Diego didn’t back down. They played a solid game of smart, physical football and despite a pair of critical injuries (Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson), the offense managed to put up more points than the Manning-led Colts.

2. LaDainian Tomlinson. No, he’s not infallible, but he’s darn close. It’s tough to find his Kryptonite, and that will open up the passing game for Philip Rivers, something the young (and perhaps too passionate) quarterback will need.

3. San Diego’s defense. They don’t give up a lot of points — Sunday was the first time since week 11 the team gave up more than 17 points. The team’s linebacking corps is one of the best in the NFL and will open the door for a lot of blitzing schemes that may just get to Tom Brady.

4. The offense is rolling. Over the past seven games it’s averaged more than 30 points per contest, never scoring fewer than 23 over the span.

5. They can learn from the mistakes of other teams. The Chargers may be facing the Patriots at the worst time of the year for a few reasons (it is the postseason, after all), but at least they have this advantage in their favor: they can review what teams have done right against the Patriots this season (blitzed a LOT, passed effectively, took chances) and what past opponents have done wrong (let up blitzing, failed to move the ball in critical situations, backed down from risks). 

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New England hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that failed to consistently apply pressure to Tom Brady. Offensively, however, David Garrard came out throwing the football, and doing so effectively. The result was another minor scare for the now 17-0 New England Patriots and an exit for the Jaguars.

Jacksonville had matched the Patriots point for point going into the second half. In fact, it seemed as if the Jaguars had a real shot to win the game. Unfortunately, the team failed to run the football effectively while Tom Brady coolly played one of the best games of his career, throwing only two incompletions (both of which were drops that could have been caught). And though the Jaguars defense is known especially for its great physicality, New England had little trouble running the football as Laurence Maroney sprinted for 122 yards on 22 carries. The Patriots committed no turnovers.

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Green Bay received a serious scare early on, as running back Ryan Grant fumbled twice in his first three carries of the game. As a result, the Seahawks jumped out to a 14-0 lead five minutes into a game where conditions were anything but perfect.

Fortunately for the Green and Gold, Brett Favre lives for these games. Watching the game, there was little doubt in anyone’s mind that Number Four was going to bring the Packers back into it. Those thoughts were realized when Favre led the Packers to a rout, outscoring the Seahawks 42-6 during the final 55 minutes of play.

Seattle, by the way, had one of the best scoring games in the league during the regular season. And Ryan Grant? He finished with 201 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Talk about putting his mistakes behind him.

Also, the Packers outgained the Seahawks 408 to 200, allowing just 28 yards rushing.

I sure wouldn’t want to play the Packers at Lambeau this time time of year.

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Looks like the San Diego Chargers do have Indianapolis’s number. Though the Indianapolis Colts jumped out to a 7-0 lead and were driving downfield midway through the first quarter, the tempo of the game was changed when Marvin Harrison, after not playing a game during the regular season, fumbled the football on a first down reception. Though it was early on, that miscue set the tone for the game, as Indianapolis made costly mistakes at critical moments. Peyton Manning finished with 402 yards passing and three touchdowns, but his two interceptions (neither of which were really his fault) gave the Chargers opportunities.

Offensively, San Diego looked effective. Philip Rivers, prior to his injury, threw the football fairly well and finished with 264 yards and three touchdowns on 14 completions (though he didn’t exactly build on his reputation when he got into a passionate shouting match with some fans late in the fourth quarter, as he watched Billy Volek lead a scoring drive on which he himself scored on a quarterback sneak).

And despite no LaDainian Tomlinson for the most part, San Diego seemed alright, coping, thanks to the efforts of Michael Turner and Darren Sproles. Sproles especially contributed on a flat-route-turned-56-yard touchdown that took Indianapolis’s crowd out of the game.

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Something tells me Jessica Simpson was checking the score at critical points in the Dallas-New York game Sunday (she thought she could get away with picture-in-picture). At least, that would help explain why the team looked so flustered at home against a team it swept during the regular season. 

New York flat out handled Dallas’s offense in a bend-but-don’t-break fashion. Yes, Marion Barber powered his way through defenders and typically couldn’t be dragged down by fewer than three Giants. Yes, New York lost the time of possession battle by 13 minutes. But really, Dallas scored just 17 points and Tony Romo’s completion percentage was held to an even 50%.

The biggest factor in the game was New York’s defensive line. Tony Romo was constantly on the run from defenders, which forced him into bad decisions. Once he refused to throw the ball away, despite being out of the pocket, settling for a 14 yard sack. A drive or two later and he drew a penalty by throwing the ball to no one in particular, despite having adequate time in the pocket.

Ultimately, this game was about one team preparing and eventually playing harder and smarter than another.