Going into the final weekend of the NFL season I was extremely enthralled at the amount of chances to watch good football games all weekend. There were many games with playoff implications, but there was a game on Saturday night that had more than playoff implications. There were many things about Saturday night’s game that intrigued me. The New England Patriots were in pursuit of a perfect season and both the New York Giants and the Patriots were already locked into their playoff spot. While excited about this game, I was nervous that the old adage of resting players for the playoffs would play a part in this historical game. I was also nervous that I would not be able to watch the game because it was on a subscription channel.
At the end of Saturday night I could not have been happier. The NFL Network caved to public outrage and aired the game for everyone to see. Most importantly the Patriots and the Giants threw “caution” to the wind and played their starters the entire game. The end result could not have been better…..Randy Moss and Tom Brady set their personal records….the Patriots set every record in the book including the first ever 16 and 0 regular season…..and Eli Manning and the Giants played like their name suggests, Giants, to compete with history despite the fact they did not even have to show up. The game on Saturday night made me ponder some interesting points.
As Sunday rolled in I wondered what teams would be “Manning” enough to put a product on the field despite the fact they did not have to show up. Washington needed a win and Dallas did not have to play because they already had home field locked up. Dallas played their starters in the beginning but got beat early by a better team. New Orleans and Minnesota both lost not only their game but any chance at the playoffs. Due to their opponents and the fact they could not help their seeding in the playoffs, Jacksonville did not need to play and nor did Seattle or Tampa Bay.
We were left Sunday night with an awesome scenario for the “Flex” game. Tennessee wins and they’re in…they lose they’re out and Cleveland is then in. Standing in Tennessee’s way was the high powered and dangerous Indianapolis Colts.
Would Indianapolis “Manning Up” and play to win? Of course not. In typical Tony Dungy-Peyton Manning fashion, Indianapolis ole’d their way to a pathetic loss, sitting their starters at the said designated time.
Kudos to the Patriots and the Giants and the “lesser” Manning. They showed up and gave the fans what they wanted and needed…..Quality effort…..Quality entertainment…..and a product worth the money that is put into it. Shame on the Indianapolis Colts and the “greater” Manning for not giving the Cleveland Browns a chance to make the playoffs and not giving the average sportsdude a product to watch on Sunday night.
What I find to be the best part of the story is that the Pats went 16 and 0, people got to see it and they were put to the test by one Manning that was willing to “Manning up” and play.
"Shame on the Indianapolis Colts and the “greater” Manning for not giving the Cleveland Browns a chance to make the playoffs"
The Colts have their own #### to think about. They have to play in the toughest division in football and have to play uber physical teams like the Jags and Titans twice a year! They are looking to heal up and win a Super bowl, not just lock in a play-off berth. Been there, done that! Colts had nothing to play for with the #2 seed locked in...
If the Browns wanted in the play-offs so badly they should have taken care of business the week before insted of losing to the bungling Bengals!!!
Cry me a river, you even whined about not getting the NFL network...sheesh, then change your damn cable provider or get a freaking dish!!! Dish networks are 10x better than cable and dont charge the NFL network as a PREMIUM channel like the cable networks TimeWarner and Comcast want to do.
I dont seem to remember reading in the US Constitution that watching football games on TV was a right afforded to all Americans.
First of all, if you don't know all of the information please refrain from making stupid comments. In the Philadelphia area, if you don't have Comcast then you do not get to watch the Phillies or the Flyers because they are only broadcasted on Comcast and not available on any dish provider.
Second, I hope the Colts end up having to play the Titans and they lose because that is what they deserve. I don't agree with resting players in a game that has playoff implications. You didn't see the best team in history do it, did you?
Just be happy that you got your title last year because you will not this year.
Shame on the Indianapolis Colts and the “greater” Manning for not giving the Cleveland Browns a chance to make the playoffs and not giving the average sportsdude a product to watch on Sunday night.
Why is it up to Peyton and the Colts to give a team a shot at making the playoffs? Thats what the 16 game schedule is for, they had 16 chances. The Cotls are in it to win another championship- not to put on a show....
Only fitting from an Eagles fan. That heroic effort by the Giants probably saved Couglhin's job, but cost him 3 three players and another early exit in the playoffs. Little "Manning Up" catch watch his big brother advance to the SB because his coach along with others that rested their starters are simply smarter. GO COWBOYS!!
Last edited by Towelboy on January 4th at 8:37 PM.
Sometimes no matter what the coaches do to hurt a teams persona...The fans and more so 'THE TEAM ' makes everyone PROUD! Will the Pats' go 19-0? I don't know, but with ' THE TEAM SPIRIT ', the fan spirit, and the support of the sometimes goofy coaches...WE GOT ONE H of a chance!!!
