Week 17 Reflections

Questionable coaching decisions, playing with unspeakable heart, and resting starters contributed to the NFL landscape getting altered heading into the playoffs, and the swelling anticipation of perfection became reality as the 2007 season drew to a close.

In Chicago, the Saints needed some serious help to make the playoffs but it all started with them needing a win against last year's NFC Champions. Coach Sean Payton vowed that one element of his game plan would include keeping the ball out of Devin Hester's hands. One 55-yard TD catch and 64-yard TD punt return later, Hester and the Bears played with passion as they beat the Saints 33-25.

Speaking of passion, you can't ignore the burgundy, yellow, and white flowing mightily from our nation's capital. The Redskins welcomed Dallas to it's domicile hoping to come away with a win that would vault them into the playoffs. Many believed that Minnesota would sneak in due to their date with the uninspired Broncos and Dallas' unbeaten road record this year. Denver decided to end their season on a mile-high note for their fans by squeezing out an exciting 22-19 victory while Washington gave it 150% at the same time that Dallas played at about 30%.

The result of these two games: The Redskins filled up the last NFC wild-card slot while questions muddy the Dallas waters regarding their momentum going into the playoffs.

Green Bay played its starters for a half and gave it their all defeating hapless Detroit 34-13 and securing their position as the most dominating team in the NFC heading into the post-season.

In Indianapolis, the Colts rested their first team most of the game and played other members of their team that seemed lost and confused on the field. All this did was allow Tennessee to find its way to filling the last AFC wild-card slot and give them a date with San Diego this Sunday.

Pittsburgh strolled through the regular season seemingly on their way to securing the 3rd seed. That scenario was downplayed before their game against the Ravens and it seemed to work as Baltimore defeated the Steelers 27-21. This loss gave Pitt the #4 seed, another battle vs. J-town who stomped them in Week 15, and, if they win, a date with New England.

The Patriots went into The Meadowlands with about as much momentum as a team can have going into a regular season finale. With NY playing all of its starters, New England expected a tough game, and they sure got it. The Giants ran all over the Pats defense and pressured Brady like you should in order to beat this AFC juggernaut, but once again, the Pats found a way to win for the 16th time this season!

Other notes from Week 17:

• Congratulations to Cleveland! They definitely deserve some recognition for their Cinderella season as they landed on the improbable door step of the playoffs only to not get in when Indy's "practice squad" stunningly couldn't subdue the Titans. The Dawg Pound has a lot to look forward to next season.
• Thanks to Devin Hester, there are two return specialists that don't get enough attention: The Browns' Josh Cribbs and Houston's Andre Davis, who together returned three for scores last Sunday (2 by Davis.)
• Only one team managed to go through the entire 2007 season without allowing a 100-yard rusher: the Baltimore Ravens....who are not in the playoffs.
• Dallas rushed for a franchise-low 1 yard vs. Washington.
• How bad is the NFC? Four of the six playoffs teams entered the playoffs with a loss while one of them, Tampa (9-7) enters the playoffs on a two-game losing streak.
• Who would have ever thought that we'd see a week in the NFL where the top three scoring teams of the week were Arizona (48), Atlanta (44), and Houston (42)?