thoughts on week 17...2005 wrap-up...Black Monday...and looking ahead to the playoffs

ready to talk some football?

first of all i can't believe that this season is over. done. in the books. history. didn't it just start??

the final week of regular season play was a good week for watching if nothing else. some exciting games for sure. i was stunned by the way the Chargers looked after smacking Indy around 2 weeks ago that's for sure. how do you beat the only undefeated team left in the NFL & then look so profoundly like crap to end your season?? probably lucky for them they aren't heading for the playoffs...not in the AFC anyway. maybe they could have handled taking on a team or two in the NFC.

i was glad to see Carolina looking a bit more like their potent selves. of course their inconsistency won't serve them well in the playoffs should they choose to take that route. i enjoyed watching them push the Falcons around though.

the Colts didn't impress me at all. they are no longer the daunting team they were earlier in the season. due to the tragic event in Tony Dungy's family, some injuries to key players (finally they join the ranks of the mortals!) & back-to-back losses, they have lost that swagger. sure they won yesterday. against THE CARDINALS--who though improved are still not that big a challenge when they play on the road & their starting QB is out with injury. they wind up their season with 2 losses, a win against a team just beginning to show some growth, they sat their starters, they have a first round bye--which in my opinion will do nothing to boost their confidence on top of letting them get rusty & out of sync. i still say the AFC is wide open & the team to beat is once again the reigning champion Patriots.

i was shocked to watch the Chiefs pummel the Bengals. that doesn't bode well for Cinci going into the playoffs. i realize they were playing a somewhat meaningless game against a team that was still fighting for a ticket to the post season, not to mention send their coach off into retirement in a blaze of glory...but still. they need fire & momentum to contend with the big boys. or at least to be somewhat in the game...or even just appear to WANT to win.

bummer that the Bucs made the playoffs this year. think they are looking forward to the potential of a rematch against New England? (i refuse to laugh...laughing comes back to haunt you in cases like this)

i thought Jacksonville looked strong & the Steelers could have done a little better on the D-side but 3 Bettis TDs still make them pretty scary in my opinion. which is why the Patriots loss to Miami didn't bother me AT ALL. i would rather face the Jags at 4th seed than the Steelers at 3rd. that ought to be a nasty game between the Bengals & Steelers...and the Bears?? whoa...i wonder if they'll actually show up to play in the postseason...

speaking of New England though. after a questionable opening, the starters looked good offensively...and i thought the defense did ok considering they were sitting some major players. i know they lost but they played that back-up QB & they were in it right to the end regardless. i have a feeling that Belichick was not disappointed in a loss for aforementioned reasons. if he had really wanted that 3rd seed, he could have put his starters back in the game when it started coming down to the wire. i don't know how i feel about Cassel being Brady's back-up--seems kinds of shaky but maybe he'd settle down with some experience & he did finally make some connections in his passing game. not really hoping to find out the true scope of his abilities any time soon though. ;-)

highlight of the week across the whole NFL though had to be Doug Flutie's drop-kick point after when everyone thought Belichick had lost his mind & was going for a senseless 2-point conversion. i love when he pulls these crazy trick plays out of midair. i swear i've never seen the man smile like he did when Flutie looked better than Vinatieri even, splitting the uprights--not even after his 3rd Super Bowl victory. i personally think the serious man on the sidelines lives for these ridiculous moments that will go down in NFL history.

i was glad to see Coach Gibbs & QB Brunnel lead the Redskins to the playoffs. even with an knee injury, Brunell plays tough & i have a lot of respect for Gibbs. i think they may be the team i ultimately root for in the NFC this post season. (just not against New England--in case i needed to clarify that lol)

and i shouldn't have to tell you how happy i was to see Favre play a real game. with a TD pass to win it for them. and a smile again. i'm waiting in agonized dread to hear what his plans are for next season. i know it's beating a dead horse--will he or won't he?--and for him to even speculate that maybe Green Bay doesn't want him back?? GIMME A BREAK! how can he doubt it when the crowd was chanting "one more year!" during that game. i hope with my whole heart that he comes back so that he doesn't go out on such a disappointing note. even if they don't make the playoffs, i would at least like him to have a winning record...

to think i would never see this again leaves me feeling like we're all being short-changed. it just doesn't feel right yet.

here we are at the post season though. where records & stats no longer matter. where it's Week One all over again but with sudden death implications. no room for bad decisions or games where you just don't have it. do or die baby...

in the AFC, Indy & Denver will sit out a week. both a blessing & a curse, that first round bye...as i said before, i feel much safer with the Patriots matched up against the Jags. they have a better record than New England & a kickass defense but even if Leftwich comes back as QB, i don't think they're strong enough offensively to beat the Patriots in Foxborough. (i may eat those words though if Bruschi isn't healthy enough to play. we won't go *there* right now.) i'm starting to hope for a shot at the Big Game which is a dangerous set-up for disappointment but you can't ever discount the Champs until someone eliminates them & a true fan has to BELIEVE (right?). and if the Steelers put the Bengals on ice, then New England would go to Denver & the Steelers would face the Colts, so the possibility still exists for not meeting Indy until the Conference game, if at all. (James we can still be friends if the Patriots have to beat on the Broncos right?) after all Plummer may choke in the postseason...and who knows?! so could Peyton--not like THAT hasn't happened before. =P

NFC seems a bit more mismatched to me. i think the red hot Redskins can do some damage to Tampa (watch that film from the New England matchup Joe!!!) and if Carolina is on, surely they can teach inexperienced Eli a thing or 2 about playoff games. Chicago didn't look that great on either side of the ball yesterday & Seattle seems to struggle at inopportune times. but a strong game by any of those teams is probable. so many teams with players and/or coaches with post season experience against those with little or none...

i will say this, if the Patriots get to the Super Bowl, i would be very afraid if *I* had to play them!

right now though...we're on Black Monday & the heads are starting to roll...

as of post time this is where we stand:

who won't be going anywhere:
Bill Belichick (Patriots) any other decision would be lunacy as Belichick is considered one of the best in the NFL
Mike Shanahan (Broncos) 2nd seed, 1st round bye, immense improvement, his job is safe
Brian Billick (Ravens) owner already confirmed his job is secure
Lovie Smith (Bears) you can't argue with the leaps this team has made this year, they've got nowhere to go but up under his leadership at this point
Marvin Lewis (Bengals) has done a bang-up job making this team into a contender
Romeo Crennel (Browns) 1 year in, not a horrible season, he'll have some time there to work on building that team
Jack Del Rio (Jaguars) has his team in the playoffs with a great record, if he could just get some offense this would be a scary freaking team
Nick Saban (Dolphins) just one year in Miami & they are looking to be the next runner up in the AFC East, a team to be taken seriously, especially when you note that his time under Belichick is resulting in the Dolphins being modeled after the Super Bowl Champs
Tom Coughlin (Giants) got his team to the playoffs, has to mean something right?
Andy Reid (Eagles) between key injuries & the TO distraction, you have to figure he'll have another shot next season since nothing was working in his favor this year
Bill Cowher (Steelers) once again in the playoffs, well-balanced & a threat to any opponent, plus can you picture him coaching anywhere but Pittsburgh??
Mike Holmgren (Seahawks) 1st seed in the NFC playoffs, nuff said
John Gruden (Bucs) made it back to the playoffs & had a much better season than anyone predicted
Joe Gibbs (Redskins) saved his job yesterday for sure by making the post season

those confirmed out:
Dick Vermeil (Chiefs) officially retired
Mike Tice (Vikings) fired
Mike Sherman (Packers) fired & probably should have been years ago as i feel he has held this team back on so many levels
Mike Martz (Rams) fired
Dick Jauron (Lions) interim coach after Mariucci was canned but everything points to this being just a temporary solution to finish out a disaterous season

the rumors:
Dennis Green (Cardinals) some noticeable improvements this year, a new stadium coming but there are rumblings that some support personnel changes will be suggested & if he fights them, he'll be unemployed as well...which frankly would be a shame since this team finally appears to be on the upswing
Jim Mora (Falcons) some run-ins with management & the media, blown shot at the playoffs, not standing on very stable ground right now...
Bill Parcells (Cowboys) the owner welcomes him to stay, says he respects his knowledge & experience, so his job appears safe...but there are rumors that Parcells may actually retire instead
Dom Capers (Texans) lots & lots of talk that he will be the next head coach sent packing, was speculated it could have even happened after yeterday's game but nothing confirmed...yet
Jim Haslett (Saints) conflicting reports on this front, one saying he's done, another saying he can't be held accountable for this year's turn of events & will be given another shot at it next year...it would be pretty crappy to fire him after what he had to work with this season
Norv Turner (Raiders) some dissention & a horribly disappionting season (0-6 in division games) have led to some talk about his run in Oakland coming to a close
Marty Schottenheimer (Chargers) here's a team with so much talent it's ridiculous, ended the undefeated reign of the Colts this season, should have made the playoffs & ended up bombing out big time...plus there's been some talk of issues between him & the office...could prove interesting

and some personal opinions:
Mike Mularkey (Bills) something isn't sitting well in Buffalo & the talent is there somewhere, strong defense for sure, a shake-up & some fresh ideas may be in order...
John Fox (Panthers) seems like he has saved his neck, for the moment anyway, but his team has been inconsistent the 2nd half of the season & with the talent they have to work with, that shouldn't be the case...if they get eliminated early in the playoffs, i wouldn't be stunned if he was handed a pink slip
Tony Dungy (Colts) for sure they will take him back whether he wins in the post season or not but i wonder: will he want the mental distraction after the death of his son...or will he opt to retire & spend more time with his family in the wake of that heartbreaking tragedy?
Herm Edwards (Jets) i am sure his job is secured if he wants to stay in New York (New Jersey? lol...) but with his run of bad luck & some very interesting coaching positions available (& potentially becoming available), could he be tempted to try his hand somewhere else?
Mike Nolan (49ers) something has to wake up this team & it doesn't look like this guy got the job done but maybe they'll let him have one more crack at it...
Jeff Fisher (Titans) been a rough season & i wouldn't find it shocking if he were gone but this one could go either way

and there we have it. NFL 2005 comes to a close. see you in the playoffs! things are just getting warmed up...

GO PATRIOTS!!!