Lessons Learned in NFL's Week 16...
By Scott Burks
Here are my thoughts on Week 16 in
the NFL...
Week 17 will be exciting for the AFC.
This is what we NFL fans live for: meaningful games in the last week of the
season. Five teams are vying for two wildcard spots (the Ravens, Jets,
Broncos, my Steelers, and Texans). My Steelers and Texans will be
playing the early games, and the Ravens and Broncos will be playing the late
afternoon games. Some of those teams will be tuning into the Sunday
night game: Bengals at Jets. They (and fans of those teams) will be
pulling hard for the Bengals to beat the Jets. Let's also hope that
the Bengals play their starters instead of going chicken-shit like a certain
coach in Indianapolis.
Speaking of which...
Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is
a fool for sitting his starters, killing a chance to go 16-0.
This affected me on a couple of levels. As a Steelers fan, I was
hoping the Jets would lose to the Colts to improve my team's chances of
reaching the playoffs. As an NFL fan, I was annoyed that this clown
did not appreciate the chance of becoming just the third team in NFL history
to have an undefeated season. Why you may ask? It's because he
wanted to give his starters a rest heading into the playoffs. You read
that right folks -- A REST.
Never mind that the Colts clinched home-field
advantage a few weeks ago, which by the way comes with a first-round bye.
Never mind that QB Peyton Manning is one of the most durable QBs in the
league, starting every game in his career. And never mind the fact
that Peyton and the other starters could get hurt IN THE PLAYOFFS.
It's just asinine all the way around.
Don't take my word for it. Colts fans
and folks in the media are ripping Caldwell for his decision. Gene Wojciechowski
of ESPN
ripped him a new one earlier today. Howard Bryant
did the same. Meanwhile, you have guys like Jeffri Chadiha who
made
brain-cramped arguments supporting Caldwell.
It seems counter-intuitive for an average,
competitive NFL coach to lose a game like that, especially with the chance
of being finishing undefeated at stake. Bottom line: to quote former
NFL coach Herm Edwards, "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! ...Hellooooooooo???"
The Eagles-Cowboys match-up next week will be
"must see" TV. The AFC is not
the only conference with the juicy storylines. The game between the
Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys will be for the NFC East division
title, and a possible #2 seed in the playoffs (if the Vikings lose their
next game). It also helps that these two teams cannot stand each
other. After watching the Cowboys beat up on the Redskins (and the
Eagles' sloppy play against Denver), I actually like the Cowboys chances in
this one.
Minnesota
Vikings coach Brad Childress should be fired if the Vikings do not advance
in the playoffs. Childress deserves to be fired for putting his
team through some unnecessary drama. All Chilly had to do was leave
well enough alone, and let QB Brett Favre do what he was brought in to do:
WIN FOOTBALL GAMES. Chilly had to show everyone who is in control,
when it was Favre who was in control since Day 1. Chilly lost his
right to bitch and complain when he picked Favre's ass up from the airport
DURING TRAINING CAMP, and allowed Favre to basically miss training camp
altogether. And Chilly thinks that HE should be in control???
Here's the deal:
Chilly was a dead man walking before Favre arrived this season. In
fact, Chilly got a contract extension because of Favre. As I said
before, Chilly should know his role, kiss Favre's rings, and shut the hell
up. Instead, Chilly had to show everyone that his little bald ass is
boss, and is ruining a potentially good thing in the process.
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