These are the picks for the 2003 season. The bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is only used to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
For 20 teams, the holidays won't be that happy because their players will be out of a job. Simply put, they will be out of the playoffs. Most lockers will be cleaned out by Monday as teams separate into individuals and go on with their lives with their actual families. Just over a third of the league's teams are fortunate enough to keep playing beyond week 17. Everyone else goes home.
It's been years since the current playoff format has changed and some important people within the league think the playoffs should be expanded to include two more teams in each conference for a grand total of 16 teams up from 12. Expansion over the years added Carolina, Jacksonville (1995), a new Cleveland franchise (1999), and the return of pro football to Houston (2002). The league has grown from 28 teams to 32 over that span but the playoff format remained the same. Expanding the playoffs would just be keeping up with the times.
One of the originators of the idea is New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. He made a push for it last year but didn't have the votes needed to encourage change. It was also on the heels of his Patriots team just missing the playoffs. They finished with a 9-7 record after a dramatic season finale win over Miami but were eliminated by the New York Jets who finished with the same record but edged N.E. thanks to the league's tiebreaker system.
Another benefit that attracts some owners to the idea is the revenue made from playoff games. If a team hosts a playoff game it can practically guarantee a sellout. On top of that, the ticket prices are marked up, making the take at the gate even more lucrative. Figure in television revenue and you're talkin' lots of dead presidents.
Besides the selfish motivation, Kraft does have a valid point to his argument. The NFL has more teams in its league than the National Basketball Association (29) and National Hockey League (30) but allows fewer teams into the post season. Not that the NFL would be trying to keep up with the Jones. It's more like allowing the opportunity the Jones give their teams.
Anything can happen in the playoffs. Years ago the Denver Nuggetts upset the Seattle Supersonics in the first round, the first time an eighth seed defeated the top seed in the NBA playoffs. And the Minnesota Wild did the same to the Dallas Stars earlier this year in the NHL playoffs. It's possible the Miami Dolphins could shut down the potent Kansas City offense and give the Chiefs defense an overdose of running back Ricky Williams in an upset.
Using this season as an example, the Dolphins would be the seventh seed in the AFC, followed by Cincinnati or Baltimore for the eighth if the playoffs were expanded. In the NFC, Green Bay and Minnesota still must decide the division winner. Seattle Would get a pass into the second season. The last seed would be between Tampa Bay and New Orleans, neither of which can finish with a record better than 8-8 and possibly 7-9 if both the Buccaneers and Saints lose their respective season finales.
Being a playoff team is an exclusive club. Parity makes upsets very possible from top to bottom. But if the playoffs are expanded, the possibility of a losing team slipping into the ball increases. Sorry to be a snob, but having losing teams in the playoffs cheapens the achievement. It will lead to more blowouts which makes for bad television.
The NFL was smart enough to stop expanding after the Texans. If the playoff expansion subject is brought up during the NFL meetings again, hopefully the league will come to a similar conclusion that bigger isn't better for the league.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Buffalo at New England - Saturday - W
Considering the result of the first meeting between the teams, who would had thought their seasons would had ended up this way? New England might say this is just another game, but they remember the 31-0 pasting at the hands of the Bills and intend to return the favor. The offensive line Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe wanted for Christmas never came so he and the Bills get buried by the Patriots.
Seattle at San Francisco - Saturday - L
Though Terrell Owens is done for the year after breaking his collarbone last week, the San Fran wide out's presence will still be noticed on the field. Owens worked with the younger wide outs during film sessions and taught them ingenious touchdown dances that would make Alvin Ailey proud. The Seahawks falter on the road again, this time to the 49ers.
Philadelphia at Washington - Saturday - W
What's the value of an owner's vote of confidence? Redskins owner Daniel Snyder publicly said head coach Steve Spurrier will return for next season. If Spurrier packed his bags in preparation of his firing, he can empty his luggage now but still can put his travel bags to good use by handing them out to his assistants since Snyder wants changes. The Eagles bowl the 'Skins over.
Jacksonville at Atlanta - L
The firing of head coach Dan Reeves didn't go over very well with the Atlanta players as many expressed anger over the decision. True dat, but the final insult was being handed over to Wade Phillips for the remaining games. It has quarterback Michael Vick looking over his shoulder to see if Rob Johnson is warming up on the sideline. Still livid, the emotional Falcons play a stinker of a game and fall to the Jaguars.
Cleveland at Cincinnati - L
Have they no pride? Trampled to the tune of 295 yards by Baltimore's Jamal Lewis, Cleveland let him run wild in the second half in the rematch for 205 yards. Still sore from the bruises, the Browns whiff on several tackles, allowing the Bengals to earn their ninth win of the season.
St. Louis at Detroit - L
Give props to the Lions as they almost completed a fourth quarter comeback against Carolina. The biggest obstacle for Detroit was that the offense had to take the field. No such prob for the Rams as they run up the score against Detroit.
Indianapolis at Houston - W
Indy is the sexy pick in the AFC for the playoffs. The offense goes 0-35 points in seven minutes. The defense has great acceleration but also torque for pulling the team out of tough situations. And the parts that make the team are some of the best in the league. But the playoff terrain hasn't suited the sporty Colts in the past. They'll speed by the Texans, but better change tires for the second season.
Chicago at Kansas City - W
Bickering in the K.C. locker room? I thought it was a house of peace and love ran by head coach Dick Vermiel. But that's what happens when there's a heavy dose of emotions added to the mix. It can take a group as peaceful and positive as the Oprah show and make them mad and belligerent as Jerry Springer. That fury will be turned towards the Bears as the Chiefs wallop Chi-town.
New York Jets at Miami - W
Now that the Dolphins are eliminated from the playoffs, let the speculating begin! Will head coach Dave Wanstead return next year? Can quarterback Jay Fiedler lead the team to a championship? Will the orange uniforms be locked into a safe and dropped into the middle of the Bermuda Triangle never to be seen again? There's lots of questions with fewer answers. But that's further down the road. First up is New York and the Dolphins have a solution for the Jets.
Dallas at New Orleans - L
NFL films will put the finishing touches on the New Orleans Saints 2003 highlight video shortly after the season concludes. A special feature only on the Saints' DVD is a music video for the lateral play and missed field goal that lost N.O. the game and cost them a possible playoff slot. "Yakety Sax," better known as the Benny Hill theme song, will be the tune accenting the ludicrous play. The Cowboys ain't joking around as they clown the Saints.
Tampa Bay at Tennessee - W
Funny how that terrible Right Guard commercial starring Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp reflects the fortunes of the team in 2003. Like Sapp at the beginning of the :30 spot, T.B. stunk up the joint, though the Bucs' problem is more than just body odor. Foul play by T.B. keeps the Titans smelling like roses as Tennessee enters the playoffs.
Minnesota at Arizona - L
Say whatcha want about Minnesota wide out Randy Moss and his 'do last week. It didn't affect his play, if not helped him. Because his name was covered on the back of his jersey, defenders didn't always realize it was him. Even a close eye on Moss by the Cardinals won't slow him or the Vikings down.
Carolina at New York Giants - W
Why is it that only Giants head coach Jim Fassell was fired but wanted to stay for the last two game, but his players quit? Another half-assed performance mercilessly ends the season as the Panthers grind down the Giants.
Denver at Green Bay - L
The performance by G.B. quarterback Brett Favre on Monday night was nothing short of amazing considering he played just after losing his father in a car accident. My sympathies to Favre and his family. Football is his best distraction from life, but a loss to the Broncos in the Upset of the Week won't be a relief to Favre.
Oakland at San Diego - W
If it wasn't for the announcement that head coach Marty Schottenheimer will be back to coach the Chargers next year, this game would had been an expensive classified ad: "Wanted: Qualified coach for either team. Experience a must. Must work well under pressure. Creative. High stress, high reward. Must be able to deflect abuse from all angles. Call..." Raiders owner Al Davis is waiting by the phone. The Chargers ring up a win.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore - W
Let me be the first to say it: Congratulations to Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis on his 2,000-yard season. Keynote speaker is former Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe. It will be vintage Sharpe like when he defended linebacker Ray Lewis before the Super Bowl: "This is the best running back in the league. An MVP! Why don't you ask him about that instead of the knee operations?" If Sharpe ever stops running his mouth, Lewis and the Ravens run through the Steelers.
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Super Bowl XXXVIII