NFL17 Division Cherry Picks: Chaff Aside & Eight Seeds Alive, Goddess Ceres Asks, 'Who's Got Destiny?'
Green Bay Packers
New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
They are the juggernauts of the oh-so sticky-glove era, winners of four (4) of the last eight (8), seven (7) of the last thirteen (13) NFL championships and almost half (13) of the last thirty (30) AFC - NFC Super Bowl births. That’s alot of Bowl Babies, “by gosh by golly.”
They are the haughty half of eight remaining teams in the division playoff round, teams who have in recent times won their Conference hardware (Halas / Hunt) and are again in position to punch their ticket to SB51 in hopes of hoisting the vaunted Lombardi trophy, again.
The rich getting richer? It’s been the unaltered economic state going back to the days of Nixon and will likely continue on with Trump directing the flow, so why buck the trend, eh? Ugh.
It’s in divisional play where bye guys (no pun) in the Patriots, Falcons, KC & Dallas will now be tested under the brightest of lights and fiercest foes. Simply stated, this is “the best of times,” for football viewers.
Unlike the NCAA championships (March Madness) where Rd-1 of 34 games displays some of the most exhilarating and unexpected outcomes, NFL’s wild card stage is largely an exercise in separating chaff (hull) from the wheat (seed), i.e., threshing or thrashing, as it were. While Derek Carr’s presence would’ve had an impact, injuries plague every team and the WC is becoming semi-pathetic.
Did any unbiased, rationally-minded prognosticator really believe that Detroit, Oakland or Miami stood a serious chance of advancing? And the one team some thought (moi) might make it interesting, the Giants, they too looked like they didn’t belong (13-38 GB).
Atlanta Falcons
Kansas City Chiefs
Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans
They are the wannabes, the aspiring four remaining teams who’ve been out of the mix (Super) for so long (ATL, DAL, KC), or never in it (HOU), that they cannot rightly call themselves a standard-bearer, no matter the jersey sales (Dallas), and must earn their way back to where the big boys hang their hats (See; above).
Three of the four, Falcons, Chies & Cowboys, play host to a juggernaut, boosting their chances a bit but had better bring their best game or next Monday they’ll be spending the day planning the next family cruise.
Winner’s Tale
1) Always able: Easy ability to matriculate (24+ pts);
2) Fourth quarter defense that stops the scoring and bolts it down. Same holds true in college football and something Alabama genius Nick Saban overlooked this time (“Clemson’s Dabo Swinney may have the nation’s best progression (75-27) since taking the Tigers’ reins (2008) and is a top candidate to topple cartel. Explains the raise ($5M) (9.2.16)”);
3) Fewest turnovers; and
4) Reliable kicking game (50 yd+).
Cherry Picks Division Grade
Seattle (11-5-1) @ Atlanta (11-5) 1.14 Fox 4:35 EST
Almost four years to the date (1.13.13) when in the divisional it appeared Pete Carroll’s building project hadn’t yet matured. Seattle played Swing Time in Atlanta to roar back for 21 points in the 4th quarter, only to lose on a late Matt Ryan-led FG drive (30-28). Falcons “Mighty (Dan) Quinn” was Hawks’ DC then and next year when Seattle hoisted (SB48). A-Birds are a scoring machine (33+) with best PS kicker in Matt Bryant (92% (6-8 50+)) but DQ hasn’t built the top-stop (D) like he did in Emerald City. Awash in injuries, Seahawks’ defense still sticks while Rawls motors (6.ypc-DET). Earlier W6 battle is indicative (SEA 26-24): Close one where 4Q stoppage will decide it: Seahawks win.
Houston (10-7) @ New England (14-2) CBS 8:15
Osweiler battles Tannehill for ‘Rodney Dangerfield award (“no respect”)’ while facing maybe the best coach-QB tandem in history (Bill & Tom), in Foxborough, versus well-rested hosts with Tom in top form. Houston will need a Texas-sized shamrock to pull-off upset of the century. O’Brien has the defense clicking on all cylinders, even sans Mr. Celebrity (Watt), but the Pats, scoring experts they are, also play some D themselves, leading in all-important PPG rank (15.6), 2+ pts lower than next best, NYG (HOU 20.5), which goes to their W3 blanking of Texans (27-0). “Houston” would like to play for the crown in their NRG park come February but may have to satisfy still with the world’s Rollerball (‘75) championship (Ouch!). Patriots win.
Pittsburgh (12-5) @ Kansas City (12-4) 1.15 NBC 1:05
Fans of this former AFL power hope Andy Reid’s plan gets Chiefs back where Hank Stram got ‘em when KC did “matriculate” all over the Vikes (SB4). Steelers defense is rated (342 ypg (12)) but KC bests their guest on PPG, 19.4 < 20.4. It’s former Chiefs guru Haley designing Pitt’s scoring scheme (24.9 ppg), a smidgen up on Chiefs OC Childress (24.3). Steelers have big weapons in Brown, Bell, Big Ben and SB coach Tomlin who wants desperately to prove he’s more than a “cheerleader.” No ICBMs in KC but QB Smith is cool customer, Ware aches (rib) but is all-purpose, Kelce a top TE and Peters a game-changer. Digits and W4 win (43-14) say Steelers favorite but Ben’s gimpy (ankle) and Chiefs benefit from the home-field advantage: Kansas City wins.
Green Bay (11-6) @ Dallas (13-3) Fox 4:40
Packers get top TV slot, again, though, green & yellow would just assume face America’s Team sooner than later. Big Question: Will Dallas’ transplendent rookies in Prescott & Elliott hold up under bright lights or is middling GB defense (#22 / 21) enough to rattle their senses? Green Bay lit-up Vikes top D (#3 / 6) in W16 on a secondary that defected. No such discord in Dallas (#14 / 5). Boys W6 win at Lambeau (30-16) caught Pack in a state-of-funk, one since deodorized by a 7-game streak (sweet smell of success). GB still has a run void but Ramblin’ Man Rodgers is locked in. Long layoff helps veteran-led teams like Patriots but takes the edge off young Turks (Dak & Zeke). Jordy Nelson ribbed but was non-factor versus NYG. Experience trumps exuberance. Packers win.
Record: 83 - 91 - 3
Steven Keys
NFL HunchLine
Photo credit: P.Carroll-R.Sherman, wc.cca, A.Quintano, 2.2.14; NFL-sign, wikiproject; Goddess-Ceres, France, late.19c., wc, JLPC; R.Wilson, wc, 11.11.12, L.Maurer; T.Kelce, wc, 9.14.14, J.Beall; cherries, Hispalois, wc, 7.2.12, Caceres-Spain
Posted: 1.11.17 @ 11:28am EST; Copyright © 2017
