Played Like a Fool
“So all is not lost. It only feels like it is.”
That line pretty much sums up how things are over here regarding the New York Giants. Not great right now. The post season seems merely a dream at this point and with the way the team looked against Denver on Thursday, I have to wonder if the high point of the year was when they pounded Oakland at home in Week…well, whatever week that was. Back when they were winning, let’s just say.
Here’s Osi Umenyiora, after the Giants had the stuffing beat out of ‘em by the Broncos: “We’re not a bad team. We’re a good football team. We just played bad today. We’ll get it right. We’ll get it right.”
Seems like I’m not the only one in denial.
Though we still have games to go in Week 12 of the National Football League schedule, let’s take a look at those teams still in the mix for some playoff bravado. Before checking out the complicated American Football Conference, let’s start with the National Football Conference. Amazingly, the Giants are still among the living. Check that: It only feels like they are.
NFC
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings have earned the first round byes. Arizona has a three-game lead over San Francisco in the West division, so they look pretty good, and despite with the Philadelphia Eagles (and NYG) do, the Dallas Cowboys should be able to hang on and claim the East. Even though they are based out of Texas. Whatever. The wild card contenders:
Green Bay Packers
Record: 7-4
Remaining schedule: home to Baltimore; at Chicago; at Pittsburgh; home to Seattle; at Arizona.
Prognosis: Though the records of the opponents might not show it, that’s a tough schedule. The only gimmie there is the Seattle game. They’ll need to win the home games and grab that Chicago game to get in.
Probability of post season: Probably.
Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 6-4
Remaining Schedule: home to Washington; at Atlanta; at NYG, home to San Fran; home to Denver; at Dallas
Prognosis: Considering that they’ve split with the G-Men and Cowboys already, a lot depends on their remaining division games. The game in Georgia is no picnic, either. If they take care of business at home, they should get in. Fortunately, for Eagles-haters like myself, those games against the 49ers and Broncos will feature desperate visitors.
Probability of post season: Probably.
NYG
Record: 6-5
Remaining Schedule: home to Dallas; home to Philly; at Washington; home to Carolina; at Minnesota
Prognosis: Need to win four of these games. Beating Dallas and Philly would certainly help things right off the bat. If they can still keep the season meaningful by the time they get to Carolina, I’d be thrilled.
Probability of post season: All signs point to FUCK!
Atlanta Falcons
Record: 5-5
Remaining Schedule: home to Tampa Bay; home to Philly; home to New Orleans; at NY Jets; home to Buffalo; at Tampa Bay
Prognosis: Are you kidding me? Tampa Bay twice! The Saints game is tough and the Eagles offer no chance to rest, so the Bucs double header tied to a bad Bills team and an inconsistent Jets squad could put things to nine wins. That’s not going to be enough.
Probability of post season: Probably not.
