Posted by Rich DeLeo
on 11/25/2003, 11:04 am
Board Administrator
We are coming down the home stretch for the NFL season, and teams are starting to line up for either a ticket to the playoffs, or a fight for survival. Last years Super Bowl teams, Oakland and Tampa Bay are a combined 8-14. Tampa is fighting for the last spot in the NFC picture, while the Raiders kissed their season goodbye weeks ago. Several other prominent teams are struggling to survive, namely the Steelers and Dolphins. However, Miami is in a little better position to make the post season than the Steelers are. Pittsburgh needs to win all 5 remaining games, while Baltimore and Cincinnati must each lose at least 2 games apiece, which could happen. Pittsburgh plays both teams, but they will need some help from other teams. The Giants with their loss Monday night to Tampa, saw their playoff hopes take a major hit. Green Bay and San Francisco are also in a little hot water as far as making the playoffs are concerned. The feel good stories are in Carolina and Cincinnati, and even Kansas City. The playoffs could have a largely different flavor if the season stays on its present course. The surprise of the season is Dallas. I am sick of "Americas Team". They are not my team, and I don't want them to succeed, EVER!!! And it looks like they will make the playoffs with Bill Parcells at the helm in his first season in Dallas. Let go Eagles!! Knock the Cowboys out, please! Seattle has put together a nice season, very quietly I might add. The sad thing about all of the mediocrity is that there could be one or more teams that are under .500 in the playoffs, which would cheapen the entire season. Some division winners might get in at 8-8. (Does the AFC North ring a bell here?) As teams fight to survive, some coaches might not. I think that Jim Haslett (Saints), Jim Fassel (Giants), Dave Wanstedt (Dolphins), Steve Spurrier (Redskins), Dan Reeves (Falcons), Herman Edwards (Jets), Marty Schottenhemier (Chargers) and Bill Callahan (Raiders) will not survive into 2004. Tony Dunge is making the Glaser Bros look bad. Dunge has taken the Colts to a 9-2 record, first place in the AFC South, and headed toward a second or first place finish in the conference, which will give them home field advantage, for at least one game. New England is also having a great season, and they could be a sleeper along with Tennessee. So the last 5 weeks will be a true survival course for many of the aforementioned teams and coaches.
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