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troutman · 12-31-2007, 09:46 AM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...nts/index.html

On the old momentum meter, here's how I'd have my up to the moment rankings at the start of the AFC tournament:

1. New England; 2. Indianapolis; 3. San Diego; 4. Jacksonville; 5. Tennessee; 6. Pittsburgh. I'm pretty certain that's about right.

In the NFC, strangely enough I'd have it: 1. Washington; 2. N.Y. Giants; 3. Seattle; 4. Green Bay; 5. Dallas; 6. Tampa Bay. While we can have differences of opinion in the league's junior varsity conference, it's hard to make the case that anyone in the NFC other than Washington is playing its best ball of the season as the playoffs approach.

While it was great to see the Giants play it to the hilt Saturday night against New England, I've got no qualms with playoff-bound teams like Jacksonville and Green Bay resting a bunch of starters Sunday. It sounds great to pontificate on doing whatever protects the integrity of the game, but with how hugely important the injury factor is in the NFL, doing what you deem best in regards to your team's health is just a common sense approach.

The downside to that approach is that you do risk losing something in terms of the momentum you take into the playoffs. That said, I consider myself very much a traditionalist who wishes every team would play it straight up right down to the last week of the season.

12-31-2007, 09:46 AM	#1898
troutman Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Crowsnest Pass Exp:	http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...nts/index.html On the old momentum meter, here's how I'd have my up to the moment rankings at the start of the AFC tournament: 1. New England; 2. Indianapolis; 3. San Diego; 4. Jacksonville; 5. Tennessee; 6. Pittsburgh. I'm pretty certain that's about right. In the NFC, strangely enough I'd have it: 1. Washington; 2. N.Y. Giants; 3. Seattle; 4. Green Bay; 5. Dallas; 6. Tampa Bay. While we can have differences of opinion in the league's junior varsity conference, it's hard to make the case that anyone in the NFC other than Washington is playing its best ball of the season as the playoffs approach. While it was great to see the Giants play it to the hilt Saturday night against New England, I've got no qualms with playoff-bound teams like Jacksonville and Green Bay resting a bunch of starters Sunday. It sounds great to pontificate on doing whatever protects the integrity of the game, but with how hugely important the injury factor is in the NFL, doing what you deem best in regards to your team's health is just a common sense approach. The downside to that approach is that you do risk losing something in terms of the momentum you take into the playoffs. That said, I consider myself very much a traditionalist who wishes every team would play it straight up right down to the last week of the season.