"No, Please, After You"

Week 16 was a remarkable one in the NFL. So many compelling games, and so many surprising outcomes.

For the moment, however, we turn our attention to just two.

I am reminded of the 'politeness battles' that you sometimes see at the entrance to a building or at a small traffic intersection. Two people arrive at the same spot at the same time, and each one politely defers to the other. "After you," the one gestures. "No, please, after you," the other responds in kind. And what follows is several quick moments of partial starts, hesitations, and magnanimity as each party insists that the other go first.

So it is at the top of the NFC.

Going into Week 13, the Saints were 11-0 and thinking about a perfect season. The Vikings, meanwhile, were 10-1 and thinking about the top seed in the NFC. But then Minnesota got embarrassed by the Cardinals: they fell two games behind the Saints, and question marks began to emerge.

Both top NFC teams held serve in Week 14, and so we entered Week 15 with the Saints inching ever closer to perfection and with the Vikings still thinking #1 seed and in excellent position for the #2.

But then the Saints got upset at home by the Cowboys. It was an amazing game, as the Saints were presumably the cream of the NFC crop and the Cowboys were in the midst of their December swoon. The quest for 16-0 was dead, and the Vikings could make up ground.

But, no. The Vikings had to leave the friendly confines of the Metrodome again, and again they got embarrassed by their hosts -- this time the Panthers -- by a score of 26-7.

Finally, in Week 16, the same scenario again.

The Saints were upset at home. Again. As with the Cowboy game, they spotted their opponents too many points at the beginning, and then couldn't quite score enough to win in the end. Yet this time it wasn't the Cowboys -- a legitimate playoff contender -- but the hapless Buccaneers. Woe is New Orleans!

Once again, the Saints had politely gestured to the Vikings: "Here, we're opening the door for you!" And, once again, the Vikings replied, "No, please, after you!"

Minnesota went on the road again -- where they have become suspiciously ineffective -- and they too managed to lose to a lousy team with nothing to play for but pride. As in the Saints/Bucs game, the Vikings spotted the Bears a big early lead. And then, after roaring all the way back, they lost the contest in overtime.

And while the Saints and Vikings keep politely waiting for the other, it looks like the Eagles are going to go barging through the door, instead.