Three Shocking Things About Week 16



1. Packers Still In Playoff Hunt - I had these same Packers making the playoffs in my preseason picks with a last hurrah for Brett Favre. However, after the miserable start, the stuttering play throughout the season, the chances of this happening were somewhere between miserable and none. Following their victory over the Vikings, they can make the playoffs with

1) GB win + NYG win + GB clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over NYG, OR
2) GB win + NYG loss or tie + STL loss or tie, OR
3) GB win + NYG loss or tie + CAR win, OR
4) GB win + NYG loss or tie + ATL win, OR
5) GB tie + NYG loss + STL loss + ATL loss or tie + CAR loss or tie

Basically, a win at Chicago does it. I'm not saying it's impossible but don't hold your breath. Still, the fact that they are still in the hunt speaks volumes not of the resiliency of the Pack but the weakness of the NFC this season.



2. Colts Lose AGAIN - I get it already. Flushed by victory after victory during the regular season only to see themselves stumble and fall once the games began to matter, the Colts have decided on a different philosophy. Stumble and fall into the playoffs thereby paving the way for a successful post season. I'm buying it but I don't think the rest of the NFL is.



3. Cowboys Humiliated Again - Ok, perhaps it is even MORE surprising that they were humiliated at the hands of the Iggles considering where everyone believed the Iggles were headed when Donovan McNabb went down for the season. Nonetheless, it's plain ole ugly and the best part of it is watching the sagging shoulders of all those bloody Tony Romo Lovers as reality begins to weigh down upon them like a doomed outcome. "We were noncompetitive," coach Bill Parcells said. "There's nothing good to say. We just didn't make any plays at all, either side of the ball. Just awful." Get used to it Bill. As in, first round of the playoffs you'll be singing the same auld song.

*****

BITS AND BOBS

--- Oh how long the breath will be held not counting on the Jets to shock the NFL and their fans with one more victory and a playoff berth. Eric Mangini will not win coach of the year what with the Saints' miraculous comeback from the depths of nowhere and obscurity but he certainly held together a team going nowhere fast and gives Jets fans everywhere reason to believe in the future.

--- What is it about the NFC? Chances of teams making the playoffs with a losing record has the Schadenfreudists howling with delight but the guess here is sanity will prevail.