NFL Shockers

The old NFL adages say, "That's why they play the game" and "On any given Sunday." Both attest to the same basic principle: namely, that sometimes things don't go as expected on the football field.

And that was true in spades this past weekend.

Look at the Saints. They're playing for the top seed in the NFC playoffs, they're trying to right their ship after being upset by the Cowboys, they're playing at home, and they're hosting the 2-12 Buccaneers.

And they lose.

How do you let that happen?!

Likewise, the Vikings. They have a chance to gain ground on the Saints and home field advantage through the playoffs. They, too, need to right their ship. And they also get to play a team with nothing really to play for.

And they lose.

The Colts are playing at home. They're two games away from a perfect season. They're hosting the Jets, and they show that they're able to beat 'em. But wait! It's time for Indy's annual sabbatical. Every years, it seems, they go through the same pattern. They lock up their Division and playoff spot early, and then they have to debate their policy in end-of-the-season meaningless games. Each year, they opt to rest players and not try to win. And, more often than not, it doesn't work out well for them in the playoffs.

This year's case was even worse, however. For they did have something to play for: perfection. It was within their reach. But they passed on it in favor of resting and protecting their players. Even though they're guaranteed a bye week for rest and recuperation.

So the Colts inserted their back-ups, and they lost at home.

Perhaps the worst case of all, however, is the Giants. Clinging to playoff life, they have everything to play for in a home game -- indeed, their historic final home game in the Meadowlands. They're coming off a whooping of the division-rival Redskins. They seemed to have regained their early season mojo. And they get to host a team -- do we see a pattern here? -- with nothing to play for.

Not only do they lose the game, the Giants get absolutely beaten. It was a drubbing, an embarrassment, a public humiliation. Carolina came in and beat New York 41-9, knocking them out of the playoff hunt before their own fans. What an ugly and painful conclusion for a team that jumped out to a 5-0 start this season. Unbelievable.

And, finally, speaking of great starts and disappointing finishes... How 'bout them Broncos! They opened 2009 with an amazing 6-0 record, but now they enter the final week of the season needing a whole series of things to happen in order to make the playoffs (see below, compliments of SI.com).

Denver clinches a playoff spot with:

1) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR

2) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR

3) DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + HOU win OR

4) DEN win + BAL loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR

5) DEN win + BAL loss or tie + HOU win OR

6) PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss OR

7) PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss OR

8) PIT loss + BAL loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss OR

9) PIT loss + HOU loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss OR

10) MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss or tie

For our part, meanwhile, the landscape is pretty straightforward. We'll either end up as the 5th seed or the 6th seed in the NFC playoffs. We'll have to hit the road next weekend to play someone -- probably Arizona, but not necessarily.

The fascinating prospect is that we might go to Minnesota. More about that possibility tomorrow...