Week 14 Review: Playoff-bound teams can't let down
Week 14: Review | Judgements
You can see it happening each week, more and more as we move toward the end of the NFL season. How can you not notice the hitting intensify the deeper we get?
The playoff smell is permeating the league with three weeks to go, which means the level of play is rising.
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Don't worry about the Pats getting complacent after wrapping up the AFC East. (AP) |
For a good part of two months, the season seemed to flounder along, the play not nearly up to the level we expect. But in recent weeks, we're getting better play. The tackling is crisper, the execution better (OK, except for the Browns).
Now comes the tough part for the league's five teams that have clinched division titles, four of them doing so Sunday. How do you maintain the same intensity?
After the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New York Jets to clinch the AFC North, it was clear how they would stay focused. They don't think what they've done so far is all that big a deal. The Patriots and Colts and Eagles all probably feel the same way. They've been there.
In Atlanta, it looked like the Falcons might be enjoying their first division title a bit too much Sunday. Maybe that's to be expected for a young team with a first-year coach, but they should be warned: Rings don't come with division titles.
It will be tricky for the coaches of those teams to keep the intensity up, while protecting valuable assets from injuries. Playing for playoff position doesn't have the same meaning as playing for playoff entry.
The only three divisions still to be decided are the NFC North, the NFC West and the AFC West. Here's a quick look at each.
NFC North: The Packers own a one-game lead over the Vikings after rallying to beat the Lions on Sunday. Green Bay plays Minnesota on Christmas Eve, so this one is still up in the air. Green Bay can wrap up the division by winning at Minnesota, a place they've traditionally struggled to win.
NFC West: Does anybody want this division? The Seahawks took control of it with a hard-fought victory at Minnesota. But they still have to play the Jets on the road before closing out with the Falcons at home. St. Louis still has the Eagles and Jets the last two weeks. A .500 record just might win this division.
AFC West: The Chargers at 10-3 have a two-game lead over Denver with three to go. Only a total collapse by San Diego, would seem to be between the Chargers and a division title. Denver has road games at Kansas City and Tennessee before closing at home against the Colts. San Diego plays at Cleveland and at Indianapolis before closing at home against the Chiefs. The Chargers look good.
